Herbie Mann, Jazz Flutist, Dead At 73

Flutist Herbie Mann, who grew to acclaim incorporating world-music elements into jazz, died Tuesday in New Mexico of prostate cancer. He was 73.

One of the leading jazz flutists, Mann began his recording career in the '50s and released dozens of successful albums, including 1969's "Memphis Underground" (Atlantic), which hit No. 20 on The Billboard 200.

Mann fell in love with the rhythms of the many countries he visited, finding a special affinity for Brazil, where he recorded and toured several times. He helped usher in a bossa-nova craze in the U.S. with albums such as "Do the Bossa Nova with Herbie Mann" and "Herbie Mann/Joao Gilberto/Antonio Carlos Jobim."

Mann formed his own jazz label, Kokopelli Music, in 1992, then cut ties with it four years later. His last performance was May 3 at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.