RIP, Erroll Garner (1921-1977)

Jazz pianist Erroll Garner died of cancer on January 2, 1977, in Los Angeles.  He was 55 years old.  Garner is buried in Pittsburgh's Homewood Cemetery.

As critic Scott Yanow notes, Garner was a "brilliant virtuoso who sounded unlike anyone else."

Garner's best-known composition, "Misty," is a jazz standard.

In his book, The 101 Best Jazz Albums, Len Lyons recommends Garner's album, Concert by the Sea, which he calls "the steadiest selling jazz album in history." The album is available on CD from Amazon.com.

Garner plays "Misty" here:

Robert
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