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Jazz pianist Oscar Peterson dies Jazz legend Oscar Peterson dies
(30 minutes later)
Jazz pianist and composer Oscar Peterson has died of kidney failure at the age of 82, according to Canadian media reports. Jazz pianist and composer Oscar Peterson has died of kidney failure at his home in Toronto, at the age of 82.
Peterson was one of jazz's most recorded musicians. Peterson was one of jazz's most recorded musicians, and was famous for his fast-playing virtuoso style.
He made more than 200 albums and won eight Grammy awards, including a lifetime achievement honour in 1997 He made more than 200 albums and won eight Grammy awards, including a lifetime achievement honour in 1997.
He released I Got Rhythm as his first single at the age of 19 and performed with greats such as Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker and Herbie Hancock. He released his first single at the age of 19 and performed with greats such as Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, Duke Ellington and Nat "King" Cole.
The Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame announced last month that it was to present the star with its Founder's Award in 2008, to celebrate "a brilliant jazz pianist and composer" who showed "musical dexterity and energetic performances".The Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame announced last month that it was to present the star with its Founder's Award in 2008, to celebrate "a brilliant jazz pianist and composer" who showed "musical dexterity and energetic performances".
Oscar Peterson in a BBC performance in 1971Peterson, who had a working-class upbringing in Montreal, won a talent contest organised by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) when he was 14 years old.Oscar Peterson in a BBC performance in 1971Peterson, who had a working-class upbringing in Montreal, won a talent contest organised by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) when he was 14 years old.
Canada made him a Companion of the Order of Canada - the country's highest civilian honour. He was also the first living Canadian to be depicted on a stamp. "The world has lost the world's greatest jazz player," Hazel McCallion, mayor of Mississauga, Ontario, and Peterson's close friend, told CBC News.
Peterson, who died at his home in Toronto, was married four times and had five children, all by his first wife. "He's been going downhill in the last few months, slowing up," she added.
His studio and live partners included Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Count Basie and Stan Getz.
Gifted at improvisation, Peterson said in 2005 how live free-form jazz could enable "moments of great beauty to emerge".
He was made a Companion of the Order of Canada, the country's highest civilian honour, and he was the first living Canadian to be depicted on a stamp.
Peterson was married four times and had five children, all by his first wife.