Erroll Garner
Erroll Louis Garner, born on June 15, 1921, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was a celebrated American jazz pianist and composer renowned for his swing playing and ballads. Garner, entirely self-taught, began playing piano at the age of three and never learned to read music, relying instead on his exceptional ear for music. By age seven, he was performing professionally, and he made his radio debut with the group Candy Kids. Garner's style, characterized by a distinctive swing and playful, free-form introductions, was influenced by pianists like Fats Waller and Art Tatum.
Garner moved to New York City in 1944, where he briefly collaborated with bassist Slam Stewart and played with Charlie Parker in 1947. His career took off with the release of his live album "Concert by the Sea" in 1955, which sold over a million copies by 1958 and solidified his status as an iconic figure in jazz. His best-known composition, "Misty," became a jazz standard and was featured in the 1971 film "Play Misty for Me."
Despite his inability to read music, Garner's remarkable musical memory allowed him to recreate performances after a single listening. He was a prolific composer, creating nearly 200 compositions and contributing to ballet, film, and television scores. Garner's influence and legacy were recognized with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and several Grammy nominations.
Erroll Garner passed away on January 2, 1977, in Los Angeles, California, leaving behind a rich legacy as one of the most distinctive and popular pianists in jazz history.
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