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.
Without a Song
The Oscar Peterson Trio Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Without a song the road would never bend
When things go wrong a man ain't got a friend
Without a song
That field of corn would never see a plow
That field of corn would be deserted now
A man is born but he's no good no how
Without a song
And I'll get along as long as a song, strong in my soul
I'll never know what makes the rain to fall
I'll never know what makes that grass so tall
I only know there ain't no love at all
Without a song
I've-a got my trouble and woe and, sure as I know, the Jordan will roll
And I'll get along as long as a song, strong in my soul
I'll-a never know what makes that rain to fall
I'll never know what makes the grass so tall
I only know there ain't no love at all
Without a song
The Oscar Peterson Trio's song "Without A Song" speaks to the inherent power and importance of music in our lives. The opening lyric "Without a song the day would never end" sets the tone for the rest of the song, implying that music is an essential part of our human experience. The second line furthers this idea, saying that without music the road would never bend, suggesting that music helps us navigate the twists and turns of life.
As the song continues, it delves into some of the deeper emotional implications of music. The line "When things go wrong a man ain't got a friend" speaks to the idea that music can be a source of solace and comfort in difficult times. The following lines, "That field of corn would never see a plow / That field of corn would be deserted now / A man is born but he's not no good no how / Without a song" suggest that without music, there would be no growth or productivity in our lives.
Line by Line Meaning
Without a song the day would never end
Music brings a sense of completeness to life, making all moments worth living and extending their duration.
Without a song the road would never bend
Music gives life direction and purpose, guiding us through the ups and downs of our journey.
When things go wrong a man ain't got a friend
Music is always there for us, providing comfort and solace when we feel alone and abandoned in our troubles.
Without a song
Music is essential to the human experience, permeating all aspects of our lives and giving it meaning.
That field of corn would never see a plow
Without music, life would be barren and unproductive, devoid of the creativity and inspiration that drives progress.
That field of corn would be deserted now
Without music, there would be no reason to cultivate the land or build civilizations, as life would lack vitality and purpose.
A man is born but he's no good no how
Without music, life would be meaningless and purposeless, leaving no hope for human fulfillment or achievement.
I got my trouble and woe but, sure as I know, the Jordan will roll
Despite life's difficulties, music gives us hope and resilience, reminding us that life's river will continue to flow with or without us.
And I'll get along as long as a song, strong in my soul
As long as we have music in our hearts, we can overcome any trial or tribulation, rising above our circumstances to achieve greatness and fulfillment.
I'll never know what makes the rain to fall
Music is a mystery, impossible to fully comprehend or explain, yet it brings beauty and wonder into our lives nevertheless.
I'll never know what makes that grass so tall
Like the natural world around us, music is a force to be reckoned with, both inexplicable and transformative in its impact on our lives.
I only know there ain't no love at all without a song
Music is the language of love, bringing people together and forming lasting connections that transcend time and space.
I've-a got my trouble and woe and, sure as I know, the Jordan will roll
Despite life's hardships, music gives us hope and enables us to face our problems with courage and strength.
And I'll get along as long as a song, strong in my soul
With music as our guide, we can overcome any obstacle and achieve our dreams, transforming our lives and the world around us.
I'll-a never know what makes that rain to fall
The power of music is beyond human understanding, a force that defies explanation yet enriches our lives beyond measure.
I'll never know what makes the grass so tall
Just as the natural world is a mystery to us, music continues to intrigue and inspire, a force of awe and wonder that moves us to heights of creativity and achievement.
I only know there ain't no love at all without a song
Love and music are inseparable, giving life its deepest meaning and enriching our lives with joy and fulfillment.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BILLY ROSE, EDWARD ELISCU, VINCENT YOUMANS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind