Career
Initially, Freeman was classically trained. His reputation as a jazz pianist grew in the 1940s after working with Art Pepper and Shorty Rogers. Numerous collaborations followed in the 1950s with Chet Baker and Shelly Manne.
In 1957 he collaborated with André Previn on the album Double Play!, where they both played piano, accompanied only by Manne on drums.
In 1991, Mariah Carey wrote her own lyrics to Freeman"s "The Wind" for her album Emotions. Freeman had written "The Wind" with original lyrics by Jerry Gladstone.
lieutenant had been performed as an instrumental piece during the 1950s and 1960s by the likes of Baker, Leo Wright, and Stan Getz, and had been sung by vocalist June Christy (on The Misty Mission Christy). Freeman"s piano is featured on Baker"s 1954 recording of "The Wind" (featured on Chet Baker with Strings).
Freeman remained busy in music throughout his life, transitioning from jazz pianist to film scoring and composition before his death in Las Vegas in 2002.
He had no grandchildren.
