Veteran jazz drummer Roy Haynes died in Nᴀssau County, New York Tuesday at 99, his daughter Leslie Haynes-Gilmore said.

Haynes-Gilmore told The New York Times that her father pᴀssed away on the South Shore of Long Island following a brief illness.

Haynes’ time at his drum kit spanned more than 70 years, as he played alongside legendary figures such as Miles Davis, Charlie Parker and Sarah Vaughan, according to the paper.

The newspaper emphasized his innovations and longevity, calling him ‘an irrepressible force who proudly remained both relevant and stylish over a career spanning seven decades, having had a hand in every major development in modern jazz, beginning in the bebop era.’ 

Haynes was born March 13, 1925 and raised in the Boston neighborhood of Roxbury. He took to playing music in his teens and was playing full-time as a career by the age of 20.

Veteran jazz drummer Roy Haynes died in Nᴀssau County, New York Tuesday at 99, his daughter Leslie Haynes-Gilmore said. Pictured in 1981 in San Francisco, California

Haynes pictured backstage at NYC’s Blue Note nightclub on June 27, 2013 

In the 1940s, he collaborated with saxophone player Lester Young, and between the years of 1949 to 1952, served as a member of Charlie Parker’s quintet. Haynes in 1952 declined an offer to play alongside Duke Ellington to ply his craft in smaller bands that he had more creative room to work within.

Other notable names Haynes worked alongside included late legends such as Ray Charles, Thelonious Monk, Stan Getz and Art Blakey.

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Haynes also worked as a bandleader, releasing his debut album Busman’s Holiday in 1954, the paper reported.

Haynes’ albums as a bandleader included 1958’s We Three with bᴀss player Paul Chambers and piano player Phineas Newborn Jr.; and 1962’s Out of the Afternoon with Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Tommy Flanagan and Henry Grimes.

Haynes had also played on collaboration albums such as Eric Dolphy’s 1960 record Outward Bound, Oliver Nelson’s 1961 record The Blues and the Abstract Truth, Stan Getz’s 1962 record Focus and Chick Corea’s 1968 album Now He Sings, Now He Sobs.

Over his decadeslong career, Haynes won two Grammys on eight nominations, first in 1988 for his Blues For Coltrane – A Tribute To John Coltrane for Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Group. He also won for Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Individual Or Group for Like Minds in 1999.

The Grammys also presented him with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012. The Jazz Foundation of America presented him with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019.

In 1996, France’s government presented Haynes with the Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres. The New England Conservatory and Berklee College of Music also presented him with honorary doctorates. 

Haynes, who worked alongside included late legends such as Ray Charles, Thelonious Monk, Stan Getz and Art Blakey, was pictured in 2011 in NYC 

Over his decadeslong career, Haynes won two Grammys on eight nominations and was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award. Pictured in 2011 with former Grammys president Neil Portnow

Musician and educator Peter Erskine said Haynes embodied a futuristic sound 

Jazz author Ted Gioia hailed Haynes for what he described as ‘an amazing career’

A number of fans had lofty words of praise for the late jazz drummer amid news of his death

Haynes was fondly remembered by a number of people amid news of his pᴀssing. 

Musician and educator Peter Erskine said, ‘When you listened to Roy Haynes play, it was as if the music sent you a postcard saying, “Greetings from the future. Wish you were here!” RIP, maestro.’

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Jazz author Ted Gioia hailed Haynes for what he described as ‘an amazing career.’

‘RIP jazz drum legend Roy Haynes, who leaves us at age 99,’ Gioia said. ‘Along the way, he performed with John Coltrane, Lester Young, Miles Davis, Thelonious Monk, Charlie Parker, Chick Corea, Sarah Vaughan, Dave Brubeck, Stan Getz, and many, many others.’

Musician Emmet Cohen wrote, ‘ROY HAYNES! Rest in power to one of the most important innovators of American music, who forever changed the scope of drums, and left an indelible mark of excellence on this Earth!!!’

One fan called Haynes ‘one of the most important jazz drummers of our time!

‘Drums were the first instrument I learned and he had such an mᴀssive influence on the community as a whole. Real life legend who made it all the way to 99!’

Another said, ‘RIP Roy Haynes, one of the absolute greats.’

Haynes, pictured in LA in 1989, was called ‘one of the most important jazz drummers of our time’ in a memorial 

Haynes pictured at the Village Vanguard nightclub in NYC June 1, 1993 

Some users noted the recent spate of deaths of a number of prominent stalwart musicians, including Hayes, Lou Donaldson and Quincy Jones this month; and Benny Golson in September 

One user said they were ‘very heartbroken to hear the sad news,’ calling Haynes ‘connected to so many generations of Black Music.’

Some users noted the recent spate of deaths of a number of prominent stalwart musicians, including Hayes, Lou Donaldson and Quincy Jones this month; and Benny Golson in September.

‘We’ve just lost Lou Donaldson and Roy Haynes in less than a week,’ said one user. ‘May these legends live forever.’

Another said, ‘2024 has been heavy taking our elders up outta here,’ while another called Haynes ‘one of the greatest drummers who ever lived.’

Haynes and late wife Jesse Lee Nevels Haynes, who died in 1979, were parents to three children, the paper reported. Haynes is survived by his daughter and two sons, Craig and Graham, who are both musicians; eight grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.