Oscar Peterson

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The following article was researched and written by Poonam Sidhu. More contributors.

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Significance of Oscar Peterson

Oscar Peterson was an exceptionally well known Canadian. He was a legendary jazz pianist in Canada and around the world. Oscar Peterson was extremely significant because he was born into a poor black family in Montreal. Oscar Peterson was the only coloured man when he played with the Johnny Holmes band and felt left out. On one occasion, the Ritz Carlton Hotel rejected their performance because Oscar was black. Despite the issues and challenged he has had to face Oscar Peterson continued to work with dedication and earned himself a legendary name. He has given Canada the gift of his music. Many wish and dream they could play like him. Also, his parents had a big hand in his success. His father was just a railroad worker when he started to teach Oscar Peterson to play the piano. Despite facing challenges such as, racial discrimination, doubts about a music career and so on, he worked through it all and overcame the challenges. Oscar Peterson did not let anything get in the way of his passion. He was well known around the world and many were and still are very impressed with his work. He has played with many famous musicians such as Nat King Cole and Art Tatum.

Oscar Peterson is extremely significant, he has performed for almost five decades, and is recognized by many people around the world. In 1997 he received a Grammy for Lifetime Achievement and an International Jazz Hall of Fame Award. Oscar Peterson is still to this day known as one of the best jazz pianists in Canadian history. Many Canadians love and recognize Oscar Peterson for his great music, someone named Count Basie said "That Oscar Peterson plays the best ivory box I've ever heard". (Barris, 2002: 2). He has also been mentioned in magazines such as The Downbeat Magazine where he has been recognized and awarded for being the best jazz pianist. He has worked long and hectic days, months and years but never gave up. He pulled through everything and believed in himself. In 1984, Oscar Peterson started to suffer from arthritis. This caused him trouble in walking at times, and sometimes his performances were cancelled due to the pain in his hands. In 1993, he suffered from a stroke. After two years of having his stroke, Oscar Peterson started to play again. It took him a great deal of physiotherapy and patience to be cured and play again. He did not let any setbacks come in the way of his music. Even after Oscar Peterson suffered from a stroke and had arthritic pain, he did not let these things slow him down. "Not even his stroke of 1993 diminished his determination to play at his greatest level of capability". (Barris, 2002: 224). He said

"The stroke meant an adjustment, that's all. It was not so much an encumbrance. I just play, and the only long term effect is fatigue. But that's also a part of growing old". (Barris, 2002, 4). Oscar Peterson has courage and hope and continues to present his music exceptionally well to Canadians. He is a remarkable person, who has influenced and continues to influence people to never give up their passion. He is a primary example of what one can achieve with dedication and enthusiasm.

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Background for Oscar Peterson

Oscar Peterson is a legendary Canadian jazz musician. He is an astonishing pianist who prefers to use the Bosendorfer piano. His mother's name was Kathleen Olivia John and fathers name Daniel Peterson. Daniel Peterson was a porter with the Canadian Pacific Railway. Daniel Peterson and Kathleen both married in 1917 and lived in a black community in St. Henri Montreal. Oscar Peterson was born in a limestone house on Montreal's Delise street on August 15, 1925. Oscar Peterson, his siblings, and his father carried a great passion for music. As Daniel Peterson was working one day, he found an organ and taught himself to play it. He then spread the love of music throughout his whole family. He was an extremely strict father who demanded the best from his children. He exposed his children to music and became a huge inspiration for them. Daniel and Kathleen Peterson had five children. Oscar was the fourth child. Fred was the oldest, he died of tuberculosis when he was 15, there was Daisy who became Oscar Peterson's music teacher, Charlie, Oscar, and May. Oscar originally started out playing the trumpet but eventually stopped because it strained his lungs. Oscar is grateful to his parents for always supporting him, especially his father, his father taught him and helped him become a great pianist.. " My dad would leave and give us each a task pianistically" (Barris, 2002: 26). Oscar said to journalist Harold Dingman in early 1946. Oscar Peterson also owed a great deal to his mother, he said she was always there for him and believed in him when others did not. " I owe a good deal to my mother," Oscar said "When I wanted to swing she backed me up and said she thought there might be some future in it". (Barris, 2002: 26)

People started to pay attention to Oscar Peterson while he was in high school. Paul De Marky influenced Oscar Peterson significantly. Paul De Marky believed in Oscar Peterson and also made him believe in himself. Oscar started his career at a young age. He was only 14 when he won the national amateur talent contest that his sister Daisy got him the audition for. He appeared on Canadian radio stations such as, CKAC, CBM, and CBC. In 1942, Oscar played with the Johnny Holmes band in and around Montreal. Oscar Peterson played with Maynard and Percy Ferguson, Nick Ayoub and Al Baculis. Oscar Peterson was the only black man in this band, he faced prejudicial racism and felt left out. At the end of 1947, Oscar Peterson was playing with a trio in the Alberta Lounge in Montreal. He played with Ozzie Roberts and Clarence Jones. They were usually broadcasted on the radio. This is how Norman Granz discovered Oscar Peterson, he heard them on the radio and drove to the Alberta Lounge in Montreal and met Oscar Peterson for the very first time. Norman Granz helped Oscar Peterson's career by taking him to New York and giving him a chance to perform at the Carnegie Hall performance of his Jazz at the Philharmonic. Oscar played with Robert Brown and won the hearts of the audience. Oscar then toured North America with Robert Brown, and later decided to form his own trio, including Charlie Smith. Oscar than had to replace one of his trio members. He replaced him with Herb Ellis, they were known as the most devoted and hardworking trio.

In 1950 to 1955 Oscar Peterson was voted the best pianist in the downbeat magazine reader polls. In the early 50`s Oscar Peterson met his idol, Art Tatum, they eventually became very close friends and played together. The trio that consisted of Oscar Peterson, Robert Brown, and Herb Ellis made their first debut in Japan in 1953. They produced a numerous amount of albums and became known as most excellent trio's. In 1958 Herb Ellis retired from the band, and they introduced a new member, Ed Thigpen. In 1960, Oscar Peterson, Ray Ed, Butch Watanabe and composer Phil Nimmons opened the Advanced School of Contemporary Music in Toronto, Ontario. Unfortunately because of financial problems the school had to close down. The year of 1962 was one of the most challenging years for Oscar Peterson and his trio. They worked long hours and had an unbelievably hard work load. In 1964, Oscar Peterson's major composition Canadiana suite was released and that is also the year A German millionaire named Hans Georg Brunner-Schwer who adored jazz, asked Oscar to play at his engagement. Oscar Peterson also recorded in Germany with Hans Georg Brunner-Schwer. In 1965, Ed Thigpen and Ray Brown left the trio, leaving Oscar Peterson alone. Around 1966, Oscar Peterson formed many trio's with Louis Hayes, Bobby Durham, and Sam Jones. Oscar still recorded with the German millionaire Hans Georg Brunner-Schwer and ended up recording fifteen albums. Oscar then joined a trio that consisted of Joe Pass and Niels Pederson, and he became very well known to Canadians for his exceptional accomplishments. Around 1977 Oscar started to do more solo performances and started to tour less and has continued to do so.

Oscar Peterson has a great personality. He is driven to be perfection. He is not a person to resent people or hold grudges. Oscar Peterson hardly ever had conflicts with other musicians, he has a sense of humour and loves practical jokes. Oscar Peterson is a person who knows who he is, knows what he wants and knows what his position is in the world. Oscar Peterson also owes a lot to his sister Daisy, who was his music teacher. He referred to his sister as " the lady who meant an awful lot to my life; without her I would not be sitting here tonight". (Barris, 2002, 225). He said the people who influenced him were Art Tatum, Nat Cole, and teddy Wilson. Oscar said "Tatum out of a sense of fear; Wilson out of a sense of hope; and Cole out of a sense of love. (Barris 2002, 226).

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Bibliography for Oscar Peterson

A Tribute to Oscar Peterson. 2001. Regal Recordings. 2 November. 2004 <http://www.oscarpeterson.com/op/index.html>.

Barris, Alex. A Musical Biography. Toronto, Ontario : Harper Collins Ltd, 2002. 1-244.

Gerber, Louis. Oscar Peterson. 3 February. 2000. Cosmopolis. 03 Oct. 2004. <http://www.cosmopolis.ch/english/cosmo3/peterson.htm>.

Lees, Gene. Oscar Peterson. Toronto, Ontario: Lester & Orpen Dennys, 1988. 1 -294.

Lees, Gene . The Will to Sing. Toronto, Ontario: Key Porter Books Ltd, 2000. 1 -328.

Lucas, Ralph. Oscar Peterson. 2001. Northern Stars, Screen Arts Incorporated. 4 October. 2004. <http://www.northernstars.ca/composers/petersonbio.html>.