Oscar Peterson

Happy Birthday, Oscar Peterson...August 15, 1925-December 23, 1997...Duke Ellington called him the "Maharajah of the keyboard" and many others call him one of the greatest jazz pianists of all time. Born in Montreal, Canada, Peterson's father insisted that all of his five children learn a musical instrument and at age 5 Oscar began to learn trumpet. A bout of tuberculosis fortuitously sent Peterson to the piano instead and he quickly surpassed what his father and older sister Daisy could teach him. Under the tutelage of classical pianist Paul de Marky, Peterson's skills blossomed, as well as his interest in other music forms. His interest in rag-time and boogie-woogie earned him the childhood nickname "Brown Bomber of Boogie-Woogie".

In 1940, at the age of fourteen, he won the national music competition organized by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and dropped out of school to become a full time musician. He spent a few years with the Johnny Holms orchestra and then formed his own trio, gaining him popularity throughout Canada through live radio broadcasts from the Alberta Lounge in Montreal. It was the radio broadcasts that brought him to the attention of impresario Norman Grantz who presented his new found talent at a Carnegie Hall concert of "Jazz at the Philharmonic" in 1949. The relationship would continue throughout both of their lives.

Peterson joined Jazz at the Philharmonic as a full time touring member in 1950 at the age of 25 and was voted "Jazz Pianist of the Year" by the Downbeat Readers poll that same year, a title he would hold for the next consecutive 12 years. He toured the world with JATP as well as with his own trio. Peterson played with the best jazz musicians of his time, recording with Ray Brown, Joe Pass, Count Basie, Herbie Hancock, Clark Terry and Louis Armstrong to name a few. His beautiful understated recordings with Ella Fitzgerald and Roy Eldridge are regarded as some of his best.

Although he worked in duo, trio, quartet, small band and big band settings, he preferred his famous trio with Herb Brown and Ray Ellis, a group he called the "most stimulating". When popular solo albums by pianists Bill Evans and McCoy Tyner hit the scene in the late 50's, Peterson responded with solo efforts of his own which proved so popular that he continued to record solo throughout his career. He was also an excellent singer with a warm baritone voice in the vein of Nat King Cole.

Peterson was also active as a teacher, composer, discographer and and a firm defender of the rights of Canada's multicultural community. His activism on the part of racial minorities earned him  the Companion of the Order of Canada, Canada's highest civilian honor. His music awards and honors were numerous and included 8 Grammys and the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

In 1993, Peterson suffered a stroke which severely affected his left hand. That coupled with the arthritis he had suffered since youth restricted his playing at the end of his life but he continued to play, tour and record. He died quietly at home at the age of 82.