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Erroll Garner Biography

Pianist / Composer / Jazz Musician

A self-taught pianist who never learned to read music, Erroll Garner was nevertheless one of the most popular jazz musicians of the 1950s. His swinging piano and gift for melody kept him on the top of the charts, and his most memorable tune, "Misty" (lyrics added by Johnny Burke) was a pop hit for five different artists between 1959 and 1975.

Extra credit: In 1971 Garner re-recorded "Misty" for the Clint Eastwood directorial debut, Play Misty For Me.

Four Good Links

Erroll Garner

Rolling Stone's profile and discography

Some Notes on Garner

Commentator's asides from a jazz site

Interview with Ken Burns

The filmmaker explains why he didn't included Garner in his PBS documentary on jazz

Erroll Garner

Some notes on his style

Vital Stats

Birth

15 June 1921

Birthplace

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Death

2 January 1977
(age 55)

Best Known As

The guy who wrote the song "Misty"