Erroll Garner

Garner started to learn the piano at the age of 3, however he never learned to read music and could only play by ear. By the time he was 7, he could be heard playing with  the ”Candy Kids” on KDKA, a local radio station in Pittsburgh. He began playing on the Allegheny riverboats at the age of 11, and in 1937, at the age of 14, he joined local saxophonist Leroy Brown. Garner moved to New York City in 1944 where he worked with Slam Stewart and Charlie Parker. He made numerous appearances on the “Tonight Show” and was Johnny Carson’s favorite jazz musician. He was well known for his fantastic memory; once after attending a classical concert by Emil Gilels, Garner found that he could play the music that was performed, through recall.

Garner toured internationally & domestically while recording on a continual basis; he remained musically active all his life.