Jazz Musician. Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, he was one of the most distinctive jazz pianist of all and noted for his classic compostions.
A self-taught artist, he was a professional pianist at age seven and began to play regularly on Pittsburgh's KDKA radio station with a group called The Candy Kids. He developed a unique style of piano playing and toured throughout the world from the 1940s to 1970s, mostly with his own three-piece trio.
He wrote more than 200 songs, including "All the Things You Are," "Dreamy," "Solitaire," "Laura," "Cocktail Time," and the all-time standard favorite, "Misty." He also wrote scores for movies, Broadway shows, ballets, and concerts, and was a regular at recording sessions. He died of cancer at the age of 55.
A self-taught artist, he was a professional pianist at age seven and began to play regularly on Pittsburgh's KDKA radio station with a group called The Candy Kids. He developed a unique style of piano playing and toured throughout the world from the 1940s to 1970s, mostly with his own three-piece trio.
He wrote more than 200 songs, including "All the Things You Are," "Dreamy," "Solitaire," "Laura," "Cocktail Time," and the all-time standard favorite, "Misty." He also wrote scores for movies, Broadway shows, ballets, and concerts, and was a regular at recording sessions. He died of cancer at the age of 55.
Jazz Musician. Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, he was one of the most distinctive jazz pianist of all and noted for his classic compostions.
A self-taught artist, he was a professional pianist at age seven and began to play regularly on Pittsburgh's KDKA radio station with a group called The Candy Kids. He developed a unique style of piano playing and toured throughout the world from the 1940s to 1970s, mostly with his own three-piece trio.
He wrote more than 200 songs, including "All the Things You Are," "Dreamy," "Solitaire," "Laura," "Cocktail Time," and the all-time standard favorite, "Misty." He also wrote scores for movies, Broadway shows, ballets, and concerts, and was a regular at recording sessions. He died of cancer at the age of 55.
A self-taught artist, he was a professional pianist at age seven and began to play regularly on Pittsburgh's KDKA radio station with a group called The Candy Kids. He developed a unique style of piano playing and toured throughout the world from the 1940s to 1970s, mostly with his own three-piece trio.
He wrote more than 200 songs, including "All the Things You Are," "Dreamy," "Solitaire," "Laura," "Cocktail Time," and the all-time standard favorite, "Misty." He also wrote scores for movies, Broadway shows, ballets, and concerts, and was a regular at recording sessions. He died of cancer at the age of 55.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
Family Members
Advertisement
