About Larry Young
Lived 1940 – 1978 (aged 37). Larry Young was an American jazz musician, pianist, organist, composer and musician.
Larry Young (also known as Khalid Yasin [Abdul Aziz]; October 7, 1940 – March 30, 1978) was an American jazz organist and occasional pianist. Young's early work was strongly influenced by the soul jazz of Jimmy Smith, but he later pioneered a more experimental, modal approach to the Hammond B-3.
Biography Born and raised in Newark, New Jersey, United States, Young attended Newark Arts High School, where he began performing with a vocal group and a jazz band. He was also the cousin of the drummer Jimmie Smith.
Young played with various R&B bands in the 1950s, before gaining jazz experience with Jimmy Forrest, Lou Donaldson, Kenny Dorham, Hank Mobley and Tommy Turrentine. He died there on March 30, 1978, while being treated for what is said to have been pneumonia. However, the actual cause of his death is unclear.
Discography As leader Recording date Title Label Year released Notes 1960–08 Testifying New Jazz 1960 1960–09 Young Blues New Jazz 1960 1962–02 Groove Street Prestige 1962 1964–11 Into Somethin' Blue Note 1965 1964–12,1965–01,1965–02 Larry Young in Paris: The ORTF Sessions Resonance 2016 rec. for French radio 1965–11 Unity Blue Note 1966 1966–07 Of Love and Peace Blue Note 1967 1967–09 Contrasts Blue Note 1968 1968–02 Heaven on Earth Blue Note 1969 1969–02 Mother Ship Blue Note 1980 LT series 1973 Lawrence of Newark Perception 1975 1975 Fuel Arista 1975 1976 Spaceball Arista 1976 1977 The Magician Acanta/Bellaphon 1977
As sideman
With Miles Davis Bitches Brew (Columbia, 1970) – rec. 1969 Big Fun (Columbia, 1974) – 1969 sessions only
With Grant Green Talkin' About! (Blue Note, 1965) – rec. 1964 His Majesty King Funk (Verve, 1965) I Want to Hold Your Hand (Blue Note, 1966) – rec. 1965 Street of Dreams (Blue Note, 1967) – rec. 1964
With Gildo Mahones I'm Shooting High (Prestige, 1964) – rec. 1963 The Great Gildo (Prestige, 1965) – rec. 1963-64
With John McLaughlin Devotion (Douglas, 1970) Love Devotion Surrender with Carlos Santana (Columbia, 1972)
With The Tony Williams Lifetime Emergency (Polydor, 1969) Turn It Over (Polydor, 1970) Ego (Polydor, 1971)
With others Joe Chambers, Double Exposure (Muse, 1978) – rec. 1977 Jimmy Forrest, Forrest Fire (New Jazz, 1960) Jimi Hendrix, Nine to the Universe (Reprise, 1980) - on one track, rec. 1969 Etta Jones, Love Shout (Prestige, 1963) – rec. 1962-63 Pony Poindexter and Booker Ervin, Gumbo! (Prestige, 1963) - with bonus tracks on CD Woody Shaw, In the Beginning (Muse, 1983) - rec. 1965. also released as Cassandranite. Thornel Schwartz and Bill Leslie, Soul Cookin' (Argo, 1962) - Young listed as "Lawrence Olds" Buddy Terry, Natural Soul (Prestige, 1968) – rec. 1967 Love Cry Want (Nicholas/Gallivan/Young), Love Cry Want (Newjazz.com, 1997 ) - rec. 1972
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Important facts
People in Larry Young's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Larry Young's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Larry Young?
American jazz musician (1940-1978)
When was Larry Young born?
Larry Young was born on 7 October 1940 in Newark.
When did Larry Young die?
Larry Young died on 30 March 1978 in New York City.
What was Larry Young's occupation?
Larry Young was a jazz musician, pianist, organist, composer and musician.
What nationality was Larry Young?
Larry Young was American.
Sources & further reading
· DBpedia: Larry Young (musician)
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Larry Young. https://biography.guide/larry-young/
MLA: "Larry Young." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/larry-young/.
Chicago: "Larry Young." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/larry-young/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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