Happy Birthday Art Tatum 1909-1956

[Mendocino]

The best jazz pianist ever.

Nearly blind from an early age, it was said his hearing was so sharp that he tell the denomination of a dropped coin.

Developed a sometimes dizzying technique that is hard for two good pianists to follow while playing together.

Could play by ear almost anything on one listening.

The great Fats Waller was playing in a club when Tatum entered. Waller stopped performing and said "I'm just a piano player, but God is in the house tonight".

Sergei Rachmaninoff proclaimed Tatum the greatest pianist, in any genre.

[supernova]

1. Art Tatum plays Dvorak

This is awesome!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYcZGPLAnHA

[ellie]

2. And he was from Toledo!

[Mendocino]

3. We also have

(or from the immediate area)Teresa Brewer, Jamie Farr, Danny Thomas, Gloria Steinem, Tom Scholz, Anita Baker, Charlie Weaver, Katie Holmes, Scott Hamilton, Jim Leyland, Jerry Glanville, Madeline Murray O'Hare and Gene Krantz. On the downside: PJ O'Rourke.