Bidding Farewell to 'Heart of Jazz' Legend George Shearing

It's ironic that a man who could conceivably be called the "heart of jazz" has passed away on Valentine's Day 2011. Sir George Shearing, blind, self-taught jazz pianist, "Lullaby of Birdland" composer, and "gentle jazz icon", died at 91. Sir George was not born to wealth and prestige. Quite the opposite; Shearing's parents supported nine children in 1920s London, on income from coal delivery and cleaning trains. The family was not too poor to recognize that young George was musically gifted despite his visual impairment. At three years old, Shearing began playing piano. He trained at Linden Lodge School for the Blind.

Although Shearing's musical ability earned him recognition and scholarships, Shearing remained connected to his roots. He played in the Mason Arms, in his local Lambeth neighborhood, for "25 bob a week" ($5). Shearing played accordion and piano in an all-blind band. Shearing's "Voicings," a double melody (diatonic) block chord style with additional fifth part that doubles the melody an octave lower, developed by Shearing earned him his star in the jazz world. Shearing's friendship with critic Leonard Feathers got him recognition on the BBC. From then on, Shearing was a star ascendant.

From London's Blitz, Shearing became an American crossover, literally. In 1947, he emigrated to the US to play in the American jazz scene. Shearing's quintet The Shearing Sound cut "September in the Rain" in 1949 for MGM and sold 900,000 copies. In 1952, "Lullaby of Birdland" (named for NYC jazz nightclub and mecca Birdland and jazz giant Charlie "Yardbird" Parker) was released. Both songs rocked the jazz world, being sung by such diverse artists as Chaka Khan, Insooni, jazz mistresses Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn and even Amy Winehouse. Shearing became a naturalized American citizen in 1956.

George Shearing has been covered with many musical laurels and rightly so. Shearing's style ushered in a "cool" jazz sound that has become to a large extent our modern "smooth jazz." His over 300 compositions earned a Royal Command Performance for Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip; an Ivor Novello; several honorary musical doctorates; a Horatio Alger; several Grammys; an AMA; a BBC Jazz "Lifetime Achievement Award;" presidential performances for Ford, Carter and Reagan; and a Queen's Birthday List knighthood into the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire.

Farewell, Shearing; your music plays on.