Art Tatum
Art Tatum, born Arthur Tatum Jr. on October 13, 1909, in Toledo, Ohio, was an American jazz pianist renowned for his extraordinary technical prowess and innovative contributions to jazz music. Despite being visually impaired from childhood, Tatum displayed an early aptitude for music, beginning with the violin before focusing on the piano. By his teens, he was performing professionally and had his own radio program.
Tatum's career took off when he moved to New York City at the age of 21, where he made significant recordings in the 1930s and 1940s, employing a stride-style left hand and varied right-hand techniques. He was known for his complex harmonic structures and spontaneous improvisations that included new chord progressions and intricate lines. Tatum's influence extended to many jazz musicians, including pianists like Bud Powell and Oscar Peterson.
In the 1940s, Tatum briefly led a successful trio and performed in formal jazz concert settings. Despite his declining popularity towards the end of the decade due to the rise of bebop, he continued to record extensively in the 1950s. Tatum's recordings, particularly those produced by Norman Granz, remain influential.
Tatum passed away from uremia on November 5, 1956, in Los Angeles, California, at the age of 47. Posthumously, he was awarded a Grammy in 1973, affirming his legacy as one of the greatest technical virtuosos in jazz history.
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