He 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 month.
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 Ray Brown, Ben Webster, Herb Ellis, Ed Thigpen, Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen, Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Clark Terry, Joe Pass, 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 resumed 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, proof that Oscar Peterson is still regarded as one of the greatest jazz musicians ever to play.
His work has earned him seven Grammy awards over the years and he was elected to the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 1978. He also belongs to the Juno Awards Hall of Fame and the Canadian Jazz and Blues Hall of Fame.
He was made an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1972, and promoted to Companion, its highest rank, in 1984. He is also a member of the Order of Ontario, a Chevalier of the National Order of Quebec, and an officer of the French Ordre des Arts et des Lettres.
He has received the Roy Thomson Award (1987), a Toronto Arts Award for lifetime achievement (1991), the Governor General's Performing Arts Award (1992), the Glenn Gould Prize (1993), the award of the International Society for Performing Artists (1995), the Loyola Medal of Concordia University (1997), the Praemium Imperiale World Art Award (1999), the UNESCO Music Prize (2000), and the Toronto Musicians' Association Musician of the Year award (2001).
From 1991 to 1994 he was chancellor of York University in Toronto.
In 2004 the City of Toronto named the courtyard of the Toronto-Dominion Centre Oscar Peterson Square.
Peterson's niece, Sylvia Sweeney, is a Canadian journalist and documentary film producer. Her 1992 film In the Key of Oscar is about Peterson.
On August 15, 2005 Peterson celebrated his 80th birthday at the HMV flagship store in Toronto. A crowd of about 200 gathered to celebrate with him there. Diana Krall sang happy birthday to him and also performed a vocal version of one of Peterson's songs "When Summer Comes". The lyrics for this version were written by Elvis Costello, Krall's husband. Canada Post unveiled a commemorative postage stamp in his honour. This marked the first time that a Canadian postage stamp was created celebrating an individual who was still alive other than Queen Elizabeth II. The event was covered by a live radio broadcast by Toronto jazz station, jazz.fm.
Old Folks
The Oscar Peterson Trio Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Like the seasons, he'll come and he'll go
Just as free as a bird and as good as his word
That's why everybody loves him so
Always leaving his spoon in his coffee
Tucks his napkin up under his chin
And that yellow cow-pie is so mellow it's ripe
Every Friday he'll go fishing, down on his favorite lake
But he only hooks a perch or two, the whale got away
Looks like we warm the steak
Someday there'll be no more Old Folks
What a lonesome old town this will be
Children's voice at play, will be still for a day
The day they take the Old Folks away
The song "Old Folks" by The Oscar Peterson Trio is a ballad that tells the story of an elderly man that everybody knows and loves. He is affectionately called "Old Folks" and is portrayed as being free-spirited, always coming and going like the seasons. The lyrics describe him as being both carefree like a bird and as being true to his word. It's clear that the people in the town have a deep fondness for him.
The second verse of the song talks about some of the unique quirks that make "Old Folks" who he is. He is depicted as leaving his spoon in his coffee and tucking his napkin under his chin. Additionally, he has a love for a particular type of cow pie that he enjoys. While this may typically be seen as odd behavior, the song makes it clear that the townspeople love and accept him anyway.
The final verse of the song is a bittersweet reflection, preparing listeners for a day when "Old Folks" will no longer be around. The absence of this beloved figure will be felt throughout the town, the sounds of children playing will be silenced for a day. It is a poignant reminder of how much one person, even a seemingly simple person like "Old Folks," can have an impact on the lives of those around them.
Line by Line Meaning
Everyone knows him as Old Folks
He's well known by everyone as 'Old Folks'
Like the seasons, he'll come and he'll go
Just like the passing of seasons, he comes and goes
Just as free as a bird and as good as his word
He's free-spirited and always keeps his word
That's why everybody loves him so
This is why he's loved by everyone
Always leaving his spoon in his coffee
He's forgetful and often leaves his spoon in his coffee
Tucks his napkin up under his chin
He always tucks his napkin under his chin when eating
And that yellow cow-pie is so mellow it's ripe
He enjoys eating ripe yellow cow-pie (dung)
But you needn't be ashamed of him
There's no need to feel embarrassed about him
Every Friday he'll go fishing, down on his favorite lake
Every Friday, he goes fishing at his favorite lake
But he only hooks a perch or two, the whale got away
He only manages to catch small fish, not the big ones he's after
Looks like we warm the steak
It seems we'll have to settle for less than ideal food, like steak that needs warming up
Someday there'll be no more Old Folks
One day, 'Old Folks' won't be here anymore
What a lonesome old town this will be
The town would be really lonely without him
Children's voice at play, will be still for a day
The playful sounds of children will be silenced for a day
The day they take the Old Folks away
This is the day when they take 'Old Folks' away
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DEDETTE LEE HILL, WILLARD ROBISON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind