The Life of Art Tatum
Author Taylor Jr. who goes by the name of Art Tatum is said to be the greatest jazz pianist of all time, known for his famous two-handed runs. Art was born in October 13, 1909 in Toledo, OH to pianist Mildred Hoskins and Guitarist Arthur Tatum Sr. Completely blind by cataracts in one eye and nearly blind in the other, Art played music by ear, mimicking the sounds he heard from other musicians such as Fats Waller. He played so well that by age three he was considered a prodigy. At the age of fifteen, Tatum attended Columbus school for the blind, and later attended Toledo school of music.
In the year of 1927, Art started playing on Toledo radio station WSPD as ‘Author Tatum, Toledo’s Blind Pianist’. He also played …show more content…
He recorded his first four solo sides on the Brunswick label in March 1933. Tatum returned to Ohio and played around the American Midwest – Toledo, Cleveland, Detroit, Saint Louis, and Chicago in the mid-1930s. He also played stints at the Three Deuces in Chicago and in Los Angeles played at The Trocadero, the Paramount and the Club Alabama. In 1937, he returned to New York, where he appeared at clubs and played on national radio programs. The following year he embarked on the Queen Mary for England where he toured, playing for three months at Ciro’s Club owned by bandleader Ambrose. In the late 1930s, he returned to play and record in Los Angeles and New York.
In 1941, Tatum recorded two sessions for Decca Records with singer Big Joe Turner, the first of which included “Wee Wee Baby Blues”, which attained national popularity. Two years later Tatum won Esquire magazine’s first jazz popularity poll. Perhaps believing there was a limited audience for solo piano, he was inspired by Nat King, Cole’s successful Jazz trio to form his own trio in 1943 with Tiny Grimes, guitarist, and bassist Slam Stewart. Tatum, recorded with the trio for almost two years. Grimes abandoned the group, but Tatum continually returned to his
Author Taylor Jr. who goes by the name of Art Tatum is said to be the greatest jazz pianist of all time, known for his famous two-handed runs. Art was born in October 13, 1909 in Toledo, OH to pianist Mildred Hoskins and Guitarist Arthur Tatum Sr. Completely blind by cataracts in one eye and nearly blind in the other, Art played music by ear, mimicking the sounds he heard from other musicians such as Fats Waller. He played so well that by age three he was considered a prodigy. At the age of fifteen, Tatum attended Columbus school for the blind, and later attended Toledo school of music.
In the year of 1927, Art started playing on Toledo radio station WSPD as ‘Author Tatum, Toledo’s Blind Pianist’. He also played …show more content…
He recorded his first four solo sides on the Brunswick label in March 1933. Tatum returned to Ohio and played around the American Midwest – Toledo, Cleveland, Detroit, Saint Louis, and Chicago in the mid-1930s. He also played stints at the Three Deuces in Chicago and in Los Angeles played at The Trocadero, the Paramount and the Club Alabama. In 1937, he returned to New York, where he appeared at clubs and played on national radio programs. The following year he embarked on the Queen Mary for England where he toured, playing for three months at Ciro’s Club owned by bandleader Ambrose. In the late 1930s, he returned to play and record in Los Angeles and New York.
In 1941, Tatum recorded two sessions for Decca Records with singer Big Joe Turner, the first of which included “Wee Wee Baby Blues”, which attained national popularity. Two years later Tatum won Esquire magazine’s first jazz popularity poll. Perhaps believing there was a limited audience for solo piano, he was inspired by Nat King, Cole’s successful Jazz trio to form his own trio in 1943 with Tiny Grimes, guitarist, and bassist Slam Stewart. Tatum, recorded with the trio for almost two years. Grimes abandoned the group, but Tatum continually returned to his