Oscar Emmanuel Peterson 1925-2007
The World of Music Mourns One of the World's Finest Jazz Pianists
A brief look at the life of Oscar Peterson, who received 7 Grammys, the IMC UNESCO Music Award, and the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame Founders Award.
Oscar Emmanuel Peterson was born in Montreal on 25 August 1925, the fourth of 5 children, to Olivia and Daniel Peterson. His father, an immigrant from the West Indies, was an ardent music lover who insisted that Oscar should have every possible musical opportunity.
At first Peterson learned both piano and trumpet and if it hadn't been for a serious bout of tuberculosis, he might have become one of the world's greatest Jazz trumpeters. Instead he gave up the trumpet to concentrate on the piano. Peterson was classically trained at the Montreal Conservatory and also studied with Lou Hopper and Paul deMarky, the Hungarian classical pianist.
The Influence of Benny Goodman
As a young boy Peterson admired Benny Goodman. After hearing Goodman on the radio he decided to change his style. Jazz became his life. He soon found himself in great demand playing for Canadian radio stations and dance orchestras including the Johnny Holmes Orchestra, one of Canada's most popular bands. In 1949 Peterson received international acclaim when he toured with bassist Ray Brown in Jazz at the Philharmonic groups.
A Prolific Recording Career for the Giant of Jazz
His first recording, at the age of 19, was I Got Rhythm arranged in boogie-woogie style. Duke Ellington called him the "maharajah of the keyboard”. Others called him the "Giant of Jazz" or the "Brown Bomber of Boogie-Woogie", a nickname that reflected his similarity in build to the boxer Joe Louis. Peterson stood 6'3" tall and weighed 250 pounds!
Peterson was famous for being able to play in every known jazz style, and some would even say, unknown styles as well. During his long recording career he recorded more than 200 albums.
He drew on the music of many American songwriters always seeking new ways to present their music. He accompanied almost every famous name including Ella Fitzgerald, Charlie Parker, Billie Holliday, Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong and Stan Getz.
Peterson was no stranger to royalty and was frequently invited to perform for heads of state, including Queen Elizabeth II and President Richard Nixon. He frequently acted as a musical ambassador for the Canadian government during his many tours of Europe, the Far East, Russia, Africa and South America.
The Performer Demands Silence
When performing, Peterson gave the impression of being relaxed and friendly but woe betide any audience who didn't pay attention. He insisted on total silence from his audiences. On one occasion he left the stage for nearly half an hour because he thought the audience was not listening.
An Accomplished Composer
Oscar Peterson was also an accomplished composer. His major works include A Canadian Suite (1963) portraying musical scenes of his homeland and the Royal Wedding Suite (1981) celebrating the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana.
Prizes and Awards
Peterson won almost every prize the world of music could offer including seven Grammy's and the IMC/UNESCO International Music Prize in 2000. He was made Commandeur, L'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in 1989. In addition, the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame recently announced that Peterson had been awarded the Founders Award. It was to have been presented on 1 March 2008.
In later years Peterson suffered from arthritis. Following a stroke in 1993 which affected his left hand, he kept playing. He died at his home in Mississauga, Toronto, on 23 December 2007. Oscar Peterson's autobiography, A Jazz Odyssey: My Life in Jazz: the Life of Oscar Peterson edited by Richard Palmer and published by Continuum, London 2002, is a rich source of information about the life of this much-loved musician.
- Source: A Jazz Odyssey: My Life in Jazz: the Life of Oscar Peterson, ed.Richard Palmer, Continuum, London 2002.
