Oscar Emmanuel Peterson (August 15, 1925 – December 23, 2007) was a celebrated Canadian jazz pianist and composer, renowned for his exceptional technique and considered one of the greatest jazz pianists of all time. Born in Montreal, Quebec, to parents from the West Indies, Peterson grew up in a vibrant jazz culture. He initially played the trumpet and piano, but after a bout of tuberculosis at age seven, he focused solely on the piano. His early education included classical training, influenced by his father and sister, and later by Hungarian-born pianist Paul de Marky.

Peterson's career spanned over six decades, during which he released more than 200 recordings and won eight Grammy Awards, along with a lifetime achievement award from the Recording Academy. He was known as the "Maharaja of the keyboard" and "the King of inside swing" within the jazz community. His collaborations included duos with notable musicians like Sam Jones, Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen, and Joe Pass. The Oscar Peterson Trio, featuring Ray Brown and Herb Ellis, was particularly influential.

In 1949, Peterson made a significant impact in the United States by performing at Carnegie Hall in a concert organized by jazz promoter Norman Granz. He continued to tour globally with Granz's Jazz at the Philharmonic and recorded extensively for Granz's labels. Peterson's style was heavily influenced by Art Tatum and Nat King Cole, and his performances were characterized by a cascade of notes and a swinging rhythm.

Despite a stroke in 1993 that affected his left hand and mobility, Peterson continued to perform until 2006. His contributions to music were recognized with numerous accolades, including the Praemium Imperiale prize for music in 1999. Peterson's legacy is preserved through his recordings, compositions, and his autobiography, "A Jazz Odyssey: The Life of Oscar Peterson," published in 2002.