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.
Route 66
Oscar Peterson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Plan to motor west
Travel my way, take the highway that's the best
Get your kicks on route sixty six
It winds from Chicago to L.A.
More than two thousand miles all the way
Hey, get your kicks on route sixty six
Now you go through St. Louis
Joplin, Missouri
And Oklahoma City looks mighty pretty
Hey Janis, now you'll see Amarillo
Gallup, New Mexico
Flagstaff Arizona
Don't forget Winona
Kingman, Barstow, San Bernadino
Won't you get hip to this timely tip
When you make that California trip
Get your kicks on route sixty six
Now you go through St. Louis
Joplin, Missouri
And Oklahoma City looks mighty pretty
Hey Janis, now you'll see Amarillo
Gallup, New Mexico
Flagstaff Arizona
Don't forget Winona
Kingman, Barstow, San Bernadino
Won't you get hip to this timely tip
When you make that California trip
Get your kicks on route sixty six
Get your kicks on route six six
Get your kicks on route sixty six
Get your kicks on route six six
Whoo whoo
The lyrics to Oscar Peterson & Manhattan Transfer's song Route 66 are an invitation to take a road trip on the famous Route 66, which runs from Chicago to Los Angeles, and to make the most of the journey by enjoying all the sights along the way. The song is a tribute to the historic route which became known as the "Main Street of America", as it was the most direct route from east to west and a symbol of Americana. The song encourages the listener to "get your kicks" and enjoy the adventure that comes with taking a long and winding road trip, with the promise of adventure and discovery along the way.
The lyrics of the song take the listener through many of the cities and towns that can be found along Route 66, including St. Louis, Joplin, Oklahoma City, Amarillo, Gallup, Flagstaff, Winona, Kingman, Barstow, and San Bernadino. The song highlights the beauty of these locations, from the majesty of the Grand Canyon in Arizona to the pastoral landscapes of Missouri and Oklahoma. The song encourages the listener to take their time and enjoy the journey, rather than rushing to their destination.
Line by Line Meaning
If you ever
In the case that you decide to
Plan to motor west
Intend to travel towards the western United States by car
Travel my way, take the highway that's the best
Choose to follow my preferred route, which happens to be the optimal highway
Get your kicks on route sixty six
Find enjoyment in traveling along Route 66
It winds from Chicago to L.A.
The highway runs from Chicago, Illinois to Los Angeles, California and has many curves along the way
More than two thousand miles all the way
The length of Route 66 is over 2,000 miles from beginning to end
Hey, get your kicks on route sixty six
Encouragement to have fun while traveling down Route 66
Now you go through St. Louis
After leaving Chicago, the first major city you pass through is St. Louis
Joplin, Missouri
Another city you encounter after St. Louis is Joplin, in Missouri
And Oklahoma City looks mighty pretty
Oklahoma City appears very visually attractive and charming as you pass through it
Hey Janis, now you'll see Amarillo
Addressing Janis, a person who is now able to see Amarillo, a city on the route
Gallup, New Mexico
Gallup is a city located in New Mexico that you will pass through while traveling on Route 66
Flagstaff Arizona
Flagstaff is a city in Arizona you will come across while driving on the route
Don't forget Winona
Reminder not to overlook the small town of Winona, located on Route 66
Kingman, Barstow, San Bernadino
List of some of the cities you will also pass through on Route 66
Won't you get hip to this timely tip
Asking you to take notice of a helpful suggestion
When you make that California trip
If you are planning to travel to California
Get your kicks on route sixty six
Have a good time driving down Route 66
Get your kicks on route six six
A repetition of the previous line to emphasize the point
Get your kicks on route sixty six
A final reminder to have fun on the journey
Whoo whoo
An exclamation of excitement or enthusiasm
Lyrics © MUSIC ASSET MANAGEMENT (MAM)
Written by: Bob Troup
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind