Mike Wofford | |
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 Wofford in 2023 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | (1938-02-28)February 28, 1938 San Antonio, Texas, U.S. |
| Died | September 19, 2025(2025-09-19) (aged 87) San Diego, California, U.S. |
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| Instrument | Jazz piano |
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| Website | mikewofford |
Michael Wofford (February 28, 1938 – September 19, 2025) was an American jazz pianist and composer. He was an accompanist to singersSarah Vaughan (in 1979) andElla Fitzgerald (1989–1994).[1] He was known in the jazz community going back to the 1960s for the albumsStrawberry Wine andSummer Night.[1] He performed withShorty Rogers,Bud Shank,Joe Pass,Shelly Manne,Kenny Burrell, andZoot Sims.[1]
Michael Wofford was born inSan Antonio,Texas, on February 28, 1938; at age five, he and his mother moved toSan Diego,California.[2] At age seven, he began takingclassical piano lessons at a local music store. He admired men such asBéla Bartok,Igor Stravinsky,Paul Hindemith,John Cage, andArt Tatum. Wofford was introduced tojazz by a combination of his mother, who had been a professional singer prior to being married, andradio.[2][3]
Wofford attendedPoint Loma High School, where he embraced his love for jazz as asophomore. He played in area bands with men such asJohn Guerin,Don Sleet, andGary Lefebvre. At age 19, theSan Diego Symphony performed twocompositions of his which he had written at age 14 and 18 respectively. He attendedSan Diego State College but dropped out after a semester due to lack of devotion.[2]
In 1959, he accepted an invitation to play inHoward Rumsey's band, theLighthouse All Stars. After moving toLos Angeles, he was featured as the pianist inMel Tormé's 1962 albumComin' Home Baby!.[2] Through an association withOliver Nelson, he also worked onTV-film scoring for works such asM*A*S*H,The Godfather,The Godfather Part II,The Merv Griffin Show,The Bill Cosby Show, andYou've Got Mail; he also didpop-music sessions with figures such asJoan Baez,The Jackson 5,John Lennon, andCher.[2][3]
In 1964,record producer Albert Marx discovered Wofford and signed him and his trio (John Guerin ondrums and John Doling onbass) toEpic Records.[3] In 1966, Wofford released his first solo album,Strawberry Wine, which received critical acclaim. He continued touring with various prominent artists and recording before moving back to San Diego in the late 1970s. He continued to work with various artists, includingGeorge Lewis,Sérgio Mendes,Quincy Jones,James Moody,Harry Nilsson,Zoot Sims,John Klemmer,Sarah Vaughan, andElla Fitzgerald, becoming the latter two's pianist and conductor from 1979 to 1983 and 1989 to 1994 respectively.[2][3]
In 2000, Wofford married flutist Holly Hofmann; they recorded a 2006 duo album together at theAthenaeum Music & Arts Library in the San Diego neighborhood ofLa Jolla. The couple had three children: Melissa, Christopher, and Michael Wofford Jr.[2]
Wofford died fromhyponatremia on September 19, 2025, at the age of 87.[2]
WithElek Bacsik
WithKenny Burrell
WithGil Fuller
WithJohn Klemmer
WithShelly Manne
WithOliver Nelson
WithHoward Roberts
WithSonny Stitt
WithGerald Wilson
WithKenny Rankin
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