Art Tatum
October 13, 1909 – November 5, 1956
Even though he was mostly blind, Art Tatum was one of jazz’s greatest pianists. Tatum was considered a child prodigy and was able to pick up the fine art of piano playing by copying what he heard on the radio or player-piano rolls. As a child with perfect pitch, he could instantly tell if a piano was out of tune. In the mid ’20s, he studied piano at a Toledo music school. Word of his prowess began to spread through jazz circles, and before long, jazz greats like Duke Ellington, Fletcher Henderson and Louis Armstrong were looking him up when they passed through Toledo. Tatum later spent time in New York, playing local clubs and making records. As one of the premier jazz pianists of the ’30s, Tatum was able to tour Europe and play the top venues Los Angeles and New York. He made numerous solo albums throughout his career, as well as recordings with the likes of Lionel Hampton, Roy Eldridge, and Ben Webster. Art Tatum was just 47 when he died of uremia on November 5, 1956.
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