Herman "Sonny" Blount, from Alabama. His multi-faceted career as a jazz pianist/arranger/bandleader ranged from the swing era of the 1930's to the free jazz 1960's to the postmodern 1980's. His big band existed as a commune of sorts, living at various times in Chicago, New York, and Philadelphia. He was one of the first to use synthesizers in jazz; he also used early electric keyboards like the clavioline. Sometimes he'd drop his guard and talk to you like an earthling.