John Kitsco

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His dad delivered coal. His mom cleaned trains. But young
George Shearing started to play the piano at age 3 in England.

And the world was certainly a richer place having George
to play for the Queen, for three presidents and for ordinary
folks in small pubs and clubs.  Blind, self-taught, George
Shearing went on to work with the likes of Miss Peggy Lee,
Mel Torme, Nat King Cole, Carmen McCrae, Stephane
Grapelli. Perhaps you remember him for his famous Lullaby
of Bird Land or My Romance. Perhaps you just remember
George for his cool jazz, his sweet blend of classical, or
bebop and swing.  Some 300 songs that spanned an era from
the 1950's up to the l990's. 

George Shearing passed on Valentine Day, Feb. 14, 2011
of congestive heart failure but rest assured we shall never forget
his always beautiful and happy music.  George was 91.

I recall sitting in a small club in Chicago once where the
Woody Herman band played. I recall the late Ella Fitzgerald
and Miles Davis in a concert hall. The sound of jazz always special. The sound of George Shearing - never forgotten.
And its important to realize how so much of the music of today
owes so much to those of the past.