"Nobody told me I was a child prodigy"

In this quote, Herbie Hancock is revealing surprise and possibly even a hint of disappointment that he was never notified or acknowledged as a child prodigy. A kid prodigy is someone who shows remarkable skill or ability in a particular area at a really young age. By mentioning that no one informed him he was a kid prodigy, Hancock is indicating that he was not aware of his own amazing abilities until later in life. This could be seen as a missed out on opportunity for him to totally welcome and develop his skills at a young age. It likewise speaks with the concept that in some cases our capacity is not acknowledged or supported by those around us, and we need to discover and cultivate it ourselves.