December 24, 200718 yr Oscar Peterson passed away at his Toronto suburb home last night. Excerpt from the Associated Press release: TORONTO (AP) -- Oscar Peterson, whose early talent and speedy fingers made him one of the world's best known jazz pianists, died at age 82. Born on Aug. 15, 1925, in a poor neighborhood southwest of Montreal, Peterson obtained a passion for music from his father. Daniel Peterson, a railway porter and self-taught musician, bestowed his love of music to his five children, offering them a means to escape from poverty. He quickly made a name for himself as a jazz virtuoso, often compared to piano great Art Tatum, his childhood idol, for his speed and technical skill. He was also influenced by Nat King Cole, whose Nat King Cole Trio album he considered ''a complete musical thesaurus for any aspiring Jazz pianist.'' In 2005 he became the first living person other than a reigning monarch to obtain a commemorative stamp in Canada, where he is jazz royalty, with streets, squares, concert halls and schools named after him.
December 24, 200718 yr Sad news indeed... He was set to receive a special NEA Jazz master's award at the upcoming IAJE conference. He will be missed in the Canadian - indeed, the world jazz scene.
December 24, 200718 yr the school I got my Bachelor's from has a concert hall called "Oscar Peterson hall"
December 25, 200718 yr May he R.i.p... ...the ears of the devil off with his music. Nah, just kidding. :P It's always sad when a fellow musician dies, no matter his style (except for any member of N'Sync or John Cage). Rest in Peace. (I didn't know the guy, but he looks like a nice person)
December 25, 200718 yr Worth reading... Oscar Peterson, who once said playing piano gave him 'extreme joy,' dead at 82 - Yahoo! Canada News Peterson's feel for rhthym "Drove the whole bus," say fellow musicians - Yahoo! Canada News
December 27, 200718 yr Oscar Peterson is a Jazz Jehova to me, and this news is very very sad... :sadtears: R.I.P. Boogie-Woogie
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