Morello, who had impaired vision from birth, began his musical life learning the violin but, upon hearing his idol Jascha Heifetz play, decided he would never meet his standards and switched to drums.
Celebrated jazz drummer Joe Morello, best known for his work with The Dave Brubeck Quartet during the 1950s and 60s, has died. He was 82.
His passing on Saturday was announced on his website joemorello.net, and the New York Times said he died at his US home in Irvington, New Jersey. No cause of death was given.
"His impact on the world of music and on all those whose lives he touched will live forever," read a message on his site.
According to his online biography, Morello, who had impaired vision from birth, began his musical life learning the violin but, upon hearing his idol Jascha Heifetz play, decided he would never meet his standards and switched to drums.
He played everything from weddings to military marches before eventually taking up with The Dave Brubeck Quartet in 1955, initially for a two-month tour.
That turned into a collaboration lasting more than 12 years, during which Morello proved his ability to handle the difficult meters favoured by Brubeck.
Those included Take Five, a composition in 54 which became one of the most successful singles in jazz music, according to the New York Times.
The piece, alongside tracks including Kathy's Waltz and Strange Meadow Lark, featured on Brubeck's most famous album Time Out released in 1959.
After the quartet broke up in 1967, Morello taught drums, lectured and made solo appearances. In his later years, he also performed with his own band in the New York area.
Morello appeared on more than 120 albums and CDs, around half of which were with the Dave Brubeck Quartet.
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