Art Tatum Blind
To put this in context it means that he was 8 years old when the first jazz recordings were made.
Art tatum blind. Tatum s mother mildred hoskins was born in martinsville virginia around 1890 and was a domestic worker. Most jazz pianists improvise on a piece at the time of the performance and i think this was exactly what art tatum did. In 1909 they made their way from north carolina to begin a new life in toledo ohio.
I don t think tatum s t42 can be called an arrangement. Tatum was born in toledo ohio. Tatum who had perfect pitch was born into a musical family.
Incredible virtuoso and absolute genius. This weekend after working my way through his solo and group masterpieces on pablo which included such collaborators as roy eldridge lionel hampton and ben webster i m listening to a verve reissue 20th century piano genius recorded live at several beverly hills parties in the 50s. In 1927 tatum began playing on toledo radio station wspd as arthur tatum toledo s blind pianist during interludes in ellen kay s shopping chat program and soon had his own program.
His father arthur tatum sr was born in statesville north carolina and had steady employment as a mechanic. Art tatum defined the limits of the possible in jazz piano. Art tatum biography life interesting facts.
Legally blind and virtually self taught art tatum was a professional musician from his teens and became the most influential of the swing style pianists. Art tatum was born in todelo ohio in 1909. Today art tatum would have been 88.
He became almost entirely blind at an early age yet studied the classical piano repertoire despite this challenge. His father was an elder at grace presbyterian church. His music survives and continues to astound.
The couple had four children. First of all he couldn t even read notes. Broadcast los angeles 1940.
American jazz pianist art tatum was born on the 13 october 1909 in toledo ohio to mildred hoskins and arthur tatum sr. He was born legally blind. During 1928 29 his radio program was re broadcast nationwide.
His father played the guitar and his mother the piano. No words art tatum the greatest pianist ever.
