Oscar Peterson, legendary jazz pianist, breathed his last at his home in Toronto, Canada, on 24th December 2007, succumbing to kidney failure at the age of 82. His death was confirmed by Neweduk Funeral Home in Mississauga, the Toronto suburb where Peterson lived. Peterson is survived by his fourth wife, Kelly, their daughter Celine, and his six children from previous relationships.
Looking back, Peterson’s 68-year-old career has been like a dream. The eight Grammy winner played with some of the biggest names in jazz, including Ella Fitzgerald, Count Basie and Dizzy Gillespie.
He also toured in a trio with Ray Brown on bass and Herb Ellis on guitar in the 1950s. Peterson won a much deserved lifetime achievement accolade in 1997. He received the country’s highest civilian honor and was made a Companion of the Order of Canada.
In 2005 he became the first living person other than a reigning monarch to obtain a commemorative stamp in Canada, where he is jazz royalty, with streets, squares, concert halls and schools named after him. Had he lived, he would have been presented with the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame Founder’s Award next year (08). He has more than 200 albums to his credit.
Big names in the field expressed their heartfelt loss at what is definitely an irreparable loss to the world of jazz. Pianist Jones labelled this as one of the saddest days of his life while Krall acknoeledged as to always have looked up to Peterson.
Others who have paid tribute to the jazz legend include Canada’s Governor General Michaelle Jean and Prime Minister Stephen Harper, and French president, Nicholas Sarkozy, who hailed Peterson as a ‘bright light of jazz‘. Jazz pianist Marian McPartland called Peterson ‘the finest technician that I have seen’.
He will always shine as an immortal star for his luminous style and unparalled techniques.
Source : PR-Inside
