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.
Sweet Lorraine
Oscar Peterson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Can't believe it yet, but it's true,
I'll give you just one guess,
My sweet Lorraine said "yes"
Waiting for the time, soon to be,
When the bells will chime merrily,
(I'm so happy,) when it's raining I don't miss the sun,
Just think that I'm the lucky one
Who will lend her down the aisle
Each night I pray
That nobody steals her heart away,
Just can't wait until that happy day,
When I marry sweet Lorraine
Everything is set, skies are blue,
Can't believe it yet, but it's true,
I'll give you just one guess,
My sweet Lorraine said "yes"
Waiting for the time, soon to be,
When the bells will chime merrily,
(I'm so happy,) when it's raining I don't miss the sun,
For it's in my sweeties smile,
Just think that I'm the lucky one
Who will lend her down the aisle
Each night I pray
That nobody steals her heart away,
Just can't wait until that happy day,
When I marry sweet Lorraine
The lyrics to Oscar Peterson's "Sweet Lorraine" tell the story of a man who is overjoyed because the woman he loves has agreed to marry him. The writer describes how the skies are blue and everything is in place for their nuptials. The man cannot believe that he is going to marry the woman he loves, and he is ecstatic that she said "yes" when he proposed. The waiting period until the wedding day is filled with hope and anticipation, and the writer prays that nobody steals his future wife's heart away. This man is very lucky and grateful because he is the one who will walk her down the aisle.
The writer is so happy that he doesn't miss the sun even when it is raining because he can see the sun in his "sweetie's" smile. He takes comfort in the thought that he is the one who will take Lorraine down the aisle. He prays that nothing will interfere with his wedding plans, and he can hardly wait for the day he can call her his wife. The lyrics paint a picture of a happy and hopeful time in the man's life.
Line by Line Meaning
Everything is set, skies are blue,
The momentous occasion is near and the weather is beautiful.
Can't believe it yet, but it's true,
It's hard to believe that everything has gone according to plan, but it really has.
I'll give you just one guess,
Try to guess the special news that I have to share.
My sweet Lorraine said "yes"
My beloved Lorraine has agreed to be my wife, and I am over the moon about it!
Waiting for the time, soon to be,
The wedding day is quickly approaching.
When the bells will chime merrily,
The happy sound of church bells will be heard all around when we tie the knot.
(I'm so happy,) when it's raining I don't miss the sun,
My joy is so overwhelming that I don't even notice the bad weather, since I can always look at my beloved's smile to lift my spirits.
For it's in my sweeties smile,
My fiancé's smile is the only thing I need to brighten my day.
Just think that I'm the lucky one
I realize how fortunate I am to have found someone as wonderful as Lorraine.
Who will lend her down the aisle
I will be the one to proudly walk Lorraine down the aisle on our wedding day.
Each night I pray
I pray that our love remains strong and that nobody comes between us.
That nobody steals her heart away,
Although it's unlikely, I worry that someone might try to come between us and win Lorraine's heart.
Just can't wait until that happy day,
I am counting down the days until our wedding, which will be the happiest day of my life.
When I marry sweet Lorraine
The moment I've been waiting for - marrying the love of my life - is almost here.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: CLIFF BURWELL, CLIFFORD BURWELL, MITCHELL PARISH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@tuxguys
I hear Basie on the left, Oscar on the right...
...and the musical mid-brain, shared by the bass player, John Heard, and the drummer, Louie Bellson, is Right Dead Center.
**Sidney Vincent
I should be in bed, but cannot leave this music.
@103974845266495794584
I sympathize completely!
**IrishDutchman
I strongly recommend their duet album 'Yessir, That's My Baby'. The songs are all played in a similar format, the two of them taking turns. It's the best record I know, the last two tracks are simply flawless. Sadly, it's nowhere to be found on youtube. I think you can find a copy on Amazon though, you won't regret it.
@110096375294168789813
Although I've never heard it, didn't they have an LP on Pablo out in the '70's called "Satch and Josh?"
**IrishDutchman
Correct, but I prefer Yessir, That's My Baby.
@110096375294168789813
Thanks for the tip. I'll check it out.
@Redflowers9
Brings tears to eyes because you realize that beauty and happiness can be as close as a piano.
@alicewarner5172
❤❤Ahhhhhhh……..music to listen and dance to….love the bass😊😊😊…….cords so mellow to my ears…
@lucatonidecesare
Jazz da melhor qualidade, limpo, vassourinhas na batera, é muito bom!!!! Parabéns.
@Corrie121
I've just found joy...... listening to this magic. Thanks for sharing.
@miraclebigevent142
Let me break in. I bought their LPs in the '80s, watched the videos here, and bought CDs of their collaborations. Basie was a blues guy and, by this time of this recording, a leader, and an icon. In these sessions Oscar seemed to coax solos out of the Count. This wasn't a competition, but a collaboration of great music. God bless them both and thanks for posting!
@bach2117
Two giants doing their thing, always special.
@iansmith5425
Two contrasting piano geniuses making beautiful music. Wonderful.
@lionheartlev
Basie had the most delicate and lyrical touch of any pianist. His band could distract you, but pieces like this told the tale. And this is THE quintessential recording. Oscar Peterson and the others are exquisite too. This is my favorite jazz piano recording bar none.
@charlesbarry6730
Great pianists . RIP gentlemen.
@stanpommer3417
One of the sweetest songs, played by the best. Brings back memories of the time I lived in Lorraine, France, working in a coal mine.