Oscar peterson early life

Childhood and Early Life

Jazz pianist and composer Oscar Peterson was born to immigrant West Indian parents in Montreal, Canada on the 15 August 1925. His father Daniel Peterson was gifted musically and played the piano and trumpet, and his mother was Olivier John.

He had four siblings.

Peterson grew up in the area of Little Burgundy in Montreal where he was exposed to jazz music. His father, as well as his sister Daisy, taught himto play classical piano.

Education

Oscar Peterson studied piano with Paul de Marky, a Hungarian born pianist who had been taught by Istvan Thomas, a pupil of Franz List.

Rise to fame

At age 14, Oscar Peterson won a talent concert. He subsequently was offered work on a Montreal radio show, and this led to a position in the Johnny Holmes Orchestra. Between 1945 and 1949, he recorded with Victor in Montreal.

He initially favored the boogie-woogie style then later, influenced by Nat King Cole, he adopted the swing