Born in Montreal, Canada, Peterson began learning trumpet and piano from his father at the age of five, but by the age of seven, after a bout of tuberculosis, he concentrated on the piano. Some of the artists who influenced Peterson during the early years were Teddy Wilson, Nat "King" Cole, James P. Johnson, and the legendary Art Tatum, to whom many have tried to compare Peterson in later years. In fact, one of his first exposures to the musical talents of Art Tatum came early in his teen years when his father played an Art Tatum record to him and Peterson was so intimidated by what he heard that he didn't touch the piano for over a week.
He soon developed a reputation as a technically brilliant and melodically inventive jazz pianist, and became a regular on Canadian radio. His United States introduction was at Carnegie Hall, New York City in 1949 by Norman Granz; owing to union restrictions his appearance could not be billed.
Some of his musical associates have included Lester Young, Ray Brown, Ben Webster, Herb Ellis, Ed Thigpen, Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen, Louis Armstrong, Stéphane Grappelli, Ella Fitzgerald, Clark Terry, Joe Pass, Count Basie, and Stan Getz. An important step in his career was joining impresario Norman Granz's labels (especially Verve records) and Granz's Jazz at the Philharmonic package, with which he was able to play with the major jazz artists of the time. Granz was also his manager for most of Peterson's career. Some cognoscenti assert that Peterson's best recordings were made for the MPS label in the late 'sixties and early 'seventies. For some years subsequently he recorded for Granz's Pablo Records after the label was founded in 1973 and in more recent years for the Telarc label.
In 1993, Peterson suffered a serious stroke that weakened his left side and sidelined him for two years. However he overcame this setback and went back to touring, recording, and composing on a limited basis. In 1997 he received a Grammy for Lifetime Achievement and an International Jazz Hall of Fame Award. He died on December 24th, 2007 of kidney failure.
Love Walked in
Oscar Peterson Lyrics
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Love walked right in and brought my sunniest day
One magic moment and my heart seemed to know that love said hello
Though not a word was spoken
One look, and I forgot the gloom of the past
One look and I had found my future at last
One look and I had found a world completely new
One magic moment and my heart seemed to know that love said hello
Though not a word was spoken
One look and I had found a world completely new
When love walked in with you
The lyrics to Oscar Peterson's Love Walked In are about the transformative power of love. The song expresses how love can come into a person's life unexpectedly, like a ray of sunshine breaking through the clouds. The singer sings about how love lifted him out of the darkness and brought him into a brighter and more hopeful place. The lyrics also suggest that love can change a person's perspective on life - the past is forgotten and the future is suddenly full of new possibilities. The moment when love is first felt is described as a magical one, where even without words being spoken, the heart knows that love has arrived.
The song's message is universal and timeless - it speaks to the experience of falling in love and the joy that comes with it. The melody and tempo of the song also convey this sense of joy and lightness. The use of the piano and the swinging rhythm creates a feeling of momentum, as if the music is carrying the listener along on a journey. The instrumental break in the middle of the song adds to this feeling and provides a moment of reflection before the final verse.
Overall, Love Walked In is a beautiful song about the power of love to transform and uplift us. It is a reminder to appreciate the magic moments in our lives and to always be open to the possibility of finding love.
Line by Line Meaning
Love walked right in and drove the shadows away
The entrance of love in my life was so powerful that it eliminated all the darkness and negativity that was present before.
Love walked right in and brought my sunniest day
Love's arrival in my life was nothing less than experiencing the brightest day under the sun.
One magic moment and my heart seemed to know that love said hello
In just a single magical moment, my heart could sense that love had arrived and greeted me.
Though not a word was spoken
Love's presence was so powerful that it didn't even require words to express its arrival.
One look, and I forgot the gloom of the past
With just one look from you, all the darkness and sadness from my past were erased as if they never existed.
One look and I had found my future at last
In that one look from you, I saw my entire future, which made me realize that you are the one for me.
One look and I had found a world completely new
With a single glance from you, I was transported to a brand new world that was full of hope, love, and positivity.
When love walked in with you
The moment you walked in with love, my life changed forever, and now I can't imagine my life without you.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind