Art Tatum

Born: October 13, 1909 in Toledo, Ohio Died: November 5, 1956 in Los Angeles, California. American Art Tatum is widely acknowledged as one of the greatest jazz pianists of all time. From infancy he suffered from cataracts which left him blind in one eye and with only very limited vision in the other. A major influence on later generations of jazz pianists, he was hailed for the technical proficiency of his performances, which set a new standard for jazz piano virtuosity. Among the countless quotes of praise he garnered, jazz critic Leonard Feather has called Tatum "the greatest soloist in jazz history, regardless of instrument." In 1964, Art Tatum was inducted, posthumously, into the DownBeat Jazz Hall of Fame. Tatum posthumously received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1989.