Peterson was born to West Indian Immigrants in Montreal, Quebec on August 15, 1925. At the age of five, he was beginning to learn the trumpet and piano, but after a bout with tuberculosis he could no longer play the trumpet and focused upon the piano. His earlier studies focused upon classical piano, but he was interested in jazz music. For many years he would practice the piano about four to six hours a day. In 1940, he won a nationwide music competition organized by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation at the age of fourteen. After which he dropped out of school and played in music halls, concerts and weekly radio shows.
Peterson’s career took off when Norman Granz took him under his label. Apparently Granz was in a cab and listening to a radio show, and they were playing a recording of Peterson’s concert. Granz would remain Peterson’s manager for most of his career, and they formed a close friendship. Granz, one of the first music organizers to attempt to desegregate jazz concerts. Peterson also credits Granz with standing up for him and other black musicians against the segregation south.
Peterson soon started the Oscar Peterson trio, which included Ray Brown, Charlie Smith, Herb Ellis, Irving Ashby, Barney Kessel. But the definitive trio was Ray Brown and Herb Ellis. Herb Ellis, a white musician, was controversial in the segregationist times. From the late 1950s, he was recognized as one of the most influential jazz pianists of the time.
Over the years, Oscar garnered eight Grammys, many lifetime achievements, Canadian Music Hall of Fame, Juno Music Hall of Fame, an Officer of the Order of Canada.
Peterson died of kidney at his home in Mississauga, Ontario at the age of 82.
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