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Austrian-American jazz keyboardist and composer, pioneer of jazz fusion and electronic instruments.Born in Vienna, Zawinul studied at the Vienna Conservatory before moving to the US in 1959. He gained fame with Cannonball Adderley's band, composed the hit 'Mercy, Mercy, Mercy', and became a key collaborator on Miles Davis' revolutionary albums 'In a Silent Way' and 'Bitches Brew'. Co-founded Weather Report in 1970, creating groundbreaking jazz fusion until 1986. Later led the Zawinul Syndicate until his death.

• Survived WWII in Vienna by playing accordion for occupying Soviet soldiers
• Pioneered the electric piano in jazz; his Wurlitzer on 'Mercy, Mercy, Mercy' became the first electric piano top-40 hit
• Weather Report's 'Heavy Weather' (1977) became the best-selling jazz fusion album ever, featuring the iconic 'Birdland'
• Died from a rare form of skin cancer after canceling his final tour, buried in a Viennese cemetery near Beethoven and Brahms