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George Shearing

February 10, 2024

Sir George Albert Shearing[1] OBE (13 August 1919 – 14 February 2011) was a British jazz pianist who for many years led a popular jazz group that recorded for Discovery Records, MGM Records and Capitol Records. Shearing was the composer of over 300 songs, including the jazz standards "Lullaby of Birdland" and "Conception", and had multiple albums on the Billboard charts during the 1950s, 1960s, 1980s and 1990s.[2]

George Shearing
Shearing in 1959
Background information
Born(1919-08-13)13 August 1919
Battersea, London, England
Died14 February 2011(2011-02-14) (aged 91)
New York City, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)Musician
Instrument(s)Piano
Years active1937–2011
Labels
Websitewww.georgeshearing.net

Biography edit

Early life edit

Born in Battersea, London, Shearing was the youngest of nine children. He was born blind to working-class parents: his father delivered coal and his mother cleaned trains in the evening. He started to learn piano at the age of three and began formal training at Linden Lodge School for the Blind, where he spent four years.[3]

Though he was offered several scholarships, Shearing opted to perform at a local pub, the Mason's Arms in Lambeth, for "25 bob a week"[4] playing piano and accordion. He joined an all-blind band, Claude Bampton's Blind Orchestra, during that time, and was influenced by the records of Teddy Wilson and Fats Waller.[2] Shearing made his first BBC radio broadcast during this time, after being befriended by Leonard Feather, with whom he started recording in 1937.[3]

In 1940, Shearing joined Harry Parry's popular band. Around 1942 he was recruited by Stéphane Grappelli (domiciled in London during World War II) to join his band, which appeared at Hatchets Restaurant in Piccadilly in the early years of the war, and subsequently toured as "the Grappelly Swingtette" from 1943 onward.[5] Shearing won six consecutive Top Pianist Melody Maker polls from this time onward.[6] Around that time he was also a member of George Evans's Saxes 'n' Sevens band.[citation needed]

United States years edit

Shearing immigrated to the United States, where his harmonically complex style mixing swing, bop and modern classical influences gained popularity. One of his first performances was at the Hickory House. He performed with the Oscar Pettiford Trio and led a jazz quartet with Buddy DeFranco, which led to contractual problems, since Shearing was under contract to MGM and DeFranco to Capitol Records.[citation needed]

In 1949, he formed the first George Shearing Quintet, a band with Margie Hyams (vibraphone), Chuck Wayne (guitar), later replaced by Toots Thielemans (listed as John Tillman), John Levy (bass), and Denzil Best (drums). This line-up recorded for Discovery, Savoy, and MGM, including the immensely popular single "September in the Rain" (MGM), which sold over 900,000 copies; "my other hit" to accompany "Lullaby of Birdland". Shearing said of this hit that it was "as accidental as it could be."[4] At this time Jack Kerouac heard him play in Birdland and describes the performance in Part Two of On the Road.

Shearing's interest in classical music resulted in some performances with concert orchestras in the 1950s and 1960s, and his solos frequently drew upon the music of Satie, Delius, and Debussy for inspiration. He became known for a piano technique known as "The Shearing Sound", a type of double melody block chord, with an additional fifth part that doubles the melody an octave lower. With the piano playing these five voices, Shearing would double the top voice with the vibraphone and the bottom voice with the guitar to create his signature sound. (This piano technique is also known as "locked hands" and the jazz organist Milt Buckner is generally credited with inventing it.[7] In Shearing's later career he played with a more conventional piano technique while maintaining his recognizable improvisational style.)

In 1956, Shearing became a naturalized citizen of the United States.[4] He continued to play with his quintet, with augmented players through the years, and recorded with Capitol until 1969. He created his own label, Sheba, that lasted a few years. Along with dozens of musical stars of his day, Shearing appeared on ABC's The Pat Boone Chevy Showroom. Earlier, he had appeared on the same network's reality show, The Comeback Story, in which he discussed how to cope with blindness.[citation needed]

Later career edit

In 1970, he began to "phase out his by-now-predictable quintet"[2] and disbanded the group in 1978. One of his more notable albums during this period was The Reunion, with George Shearing (Verve 1976), made in collaboration with bassist Andy Simpkins and drummer Rusty Jones, and featuring Stéphane Grappelli, the musician with whom he had debuted as a sideman decades before.

Later, Shearing played in a trio, as a soloist, and increasingly in a duo. Among his collaborations were sets with the Montgomery Brothers, Marian McPartland, Brian Q. Torff, Jim Hall, Hank Jones, Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen and Kenny Davern. In 1979, Shearing signed with Concord Records, and recorded for the label with Mel Tormé. This collaboration garnered Shearing and Tormé two Grammys, one in 1983 and another in 1984.

Shearing remained fit and active well into his later years and continued to perform, even after being honoured with an Ivor Novello Lifetime Achievement Award in 1993. He never forgot his native country and, in his last years, would split his year between living in New York and Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire, where he bought a house with his second wife, singer Ellie Geffert. This gave him the opportunity to tour the UK, giving concerts, often with Tormé, backed by the BBC Big Band. He was appointed OBE in 1996. In 2007, he was knighted. "So", he noted later, "the poor, blind kid from Battersea became Sir George Shearing. Now that's a fairy tale come true."[8]

He was the subject of This Is Your Life in 1992 when he was surprised by Michael Aspel while performing at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club.[citation needed]

In 2004, he released his memoirs, Lullaby of Birdland, which was accompanied by a double-album "musical autobiography", Lullabies of Birdland. Shortly afterwards, however, he had a fall at his home and retired from regular performing.[9]

On 14 February 2011, Shearing died from heart failure at 91.[9]

In 2012 Derek Paravicini and jazz vocalist Frank Holder did a tribute concert to the recordings of Shearing. Ann Odell transcribed the recordings and taught Paravicini the parts, as well as being the MD for the concerts. Lady Shearing also endorsed the show, sending a letter to be read out before the Watermill Jazz Club performance.[citation needed]

Personal life edit

Shearing was married to Trixie Bayes, with whom he had his only child Wendy, from 1941 to 1973. Two years after his divorce he married his second wife, the singer Ellie Geffert.[10] He was a member of the Bohemian Club and often performed at the annual Bohemian Grove Encampments. He composed music for two of the Grove Plays.[11]

Awards and honors edit

Discography edit

As leader edit

As sideman edit

With Nat King Cole'

With Nancy Wilson

  • The Swingin's Mutual! (Capitol, 1961)
  • Hello Young Lovers (Capitol, 1962)
  • R.S.V.P. (Rare Songs, Very Personal) (MCG, 2004)
  • Guess Who I Saw Today (Capitol, 2005)

With others

Filmography edit

  • 2003: George Shearing – Jazz Legend
  • 2004: George Shearing: Lullaby of Birdland[14]
  • 2004: Swing Era – George Shearing
  • 2004: Joe Williams with George Shearing: A Song is Born[15]
  • 2005: Duo Featuring Neil Swainson

References edit

  1. ^ Randel, Don Michael (1996). The Harvard Biographical Dictionary of Music. Belknap Press.
  2. ^ a b c Richard S. Ginell. "George Shearing". Retrieved 26 February 2007.
  3. ^ a b "George Shearing Biography". allaboutjazz.com. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
  4. ^ a b c "George Shearing (interview with Les Tomkins): "How I Found the Sound" from the National Jazz Archive". National Jazz Archive. 18 March 2020. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  5. ^ Balmer, Paul (2003). Stéphane Grappelli: A Life in Jazz. Bobcat Books. pp. 130–134. ISBN 9781847725769.
  6. ^ Gelly, Dave (2014). An Unholy Row. Equinox Publishing. p. 12. ISBN 978-1-84553-712-8.
  7. ^ "Locked Hands". https://mps-music/. MPS. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
  8. ^ "Sir George Shearing". Telegraph.co.uk. 14 February 2011.
  9. ^ a b Vacher, Peter (15 February 2011). "Sir George Shearing obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
  10. ^ "Jake Coyle, "Jazz Pianist George Shearing Dies at 91"". Apnews.myway.com. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
  11. ^ Magee, David; music by George Shearing (1970). The bonny cravat: a Grove play with book & lyrics. San Francisco: Bohemian Club.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  12. ^ "Golden Plate Awardees of the American Academy of Achievement". www.achievement.org. American Academy of Achievement.
  13. ^ "Jazz winners span generations". news.bbc.co.uk. 30 July 2003. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
  14. ^ "George Shearing: Lullaby of Birdland". View.com. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
  15. ^ "Joe Williams with George Shearing: A Song is Born". View.com. Retrieved 28 September 2014.

External links edit

  • George Shearing – official website
  • George Shearing discography at Discogs  
  • George Shearing at IMDb
  • George Shearing 3 March 2006 at the Wayback Machine discography at VH1
  • Receives Honorary Doctorate from DePauw University. 1 June 2002
  • Sir George Shearing obituary. The Guardian, 15 February 2011

February 10, 2024
george, shearing, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, june, 201. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources George Shearing news newspapers books scholar JSTOR June 2013 Learn how and when to remove this template message Sir George Albert Shearing 1 OBE 13 August 1919 14 February 2011 was a British jazz pianist who for many years led a popular jazz group that recorded for Discovery Records MGM Records and Capitol Records Shearing was the composer of over 300 songs including the jazz standards Lullaby of Birdland and Conception and had multiple albums on the Billboard charts during the 1950s 1960s 1980s and 1990s 2 George ShearingShearing in 1959Background informationBorn 1919 08 13 13 August 1919Battersea London EnglandDied14 February 2011 2011 02 14 aged 91 New York City U S GenresJazzbebopswingcool jazzOccupation s MusicianInstrument s PianoYears active1937 2011LabelsMGMCapitolConcordSavoyWebsitewww georgeshearing net Contents 1 Biography 1 1 Early life 1 2 United States years 1 3 Later career 1 4 Personal life 2 Awards and honors 3 Discography 3 1 As leader 3 2 As sideman 4 Filmography 5 References 6 External linksBiography editEarly life edit Born in Battersea London Shearing was the youngest of nine children He was born blind to working class parents his father delivered coal and his mother cleaned trains in the evening He started to learn piano at the age of three and began formal training at Linden Lodge School for the Blind where he spent four years 3 Though he was offered several scholarships Shearing opted to perform at a local pub the Mason s Arms in Lambeth for 25 bob a week 4 playing piano and accordion He joined an all blind band Claude Bampton s Blind Orchestra during that time and was influenced by the records of Teddy Wilson and Fats Waller 2 Shearing made his first BBC radio broadcast during this time after being befriended by Leonard Feather with whom he started recording in 1937 3 In 1940 Shearing joined Harry Parry s popular band Around 1942 he was recruited by Stephane Grappelli domiciled in London during World War II to join his band which appeared at Hatchets Restaurant in Piccadilly in the early years of the war and subsequently toured as the Grappelly Swingtette from 1943 onward 5 Shearing won six consecutive Top Pianist Melody Maker polls from this time onward 6 Around that time he was also a member of George Evans s Saxes n Sevens band citation needed United States years edit Shearing immigrated to the United States where his harmonically complex style mixing swing bop and modern classical influences gained popularity One of his first performances was at the Hickory House He performed with the Oscar Pettiford Trio and led a jazz quartet with Buddy DeFranco which led to contractual problems since Shearing was under contract to MGM and DeFranco to Capitol Records citation needed In 1949 he formed the first George Shearing Quintet a band with Margie Hyams vibraphone Chuck Wayne guitar later replaced by Toots Thielemans listed as John Tillman John Levy bass and Denzil Best drums This line up recorded for Discovery Savoy and MGM including the immensely popular single September in the Rain MGM which sold over 900 000 copies my other hit to accompany Lullaby of Birdland Shearing said of this hit that it was as accidental as it could be 4 At this time Jack Kerouac heard him play in Birdland and describes the performance in Part Two of On the Road Shearing s interest in classical music resulted in some performances with concert orchestras in the 1950s and 1960s and his solos frequently drew upon the music of Satie Delius and Debussy for inspiration He became known for a piano technique known as The Shearing Sound a type of double melody block chord with an additional fifth part that doubles the melody an octave lower With the piano playing these five voices Shearing would double the top voice with the vibraphone and the bottom voice with the guitar to create his signature sound This piano technique is also known as locked hands and the jazz organist Milt Buckner is generally credited with inventing it 7 In Shearing s later career he played with a more conventional piano technique while maintaining his recognizable improvisational style In 1956 Shearing became a naturalized citizen of the United States 4 He continued to play with his quintet with augmented players through the years and recorded with Capitol until 1969 He created his own label Sheba that lasted a few years Along with dozens of musical stars of his day Shearing appeared on ABC s The Pat Boone Chevy Showroom Earlier he had appeared on the same network s reality show The Comeback Story in which he discussed how to cope with blindness citation needed Later career edit In 1970 he began to phase out his by now predictable quintet 2 and disbanded the group in 1978 One of his more notable albums during this period was The Reunion with George Shearing Verve 1976 made in collaboration with bassist Andy Simpkins and drummer Rusty Jones and featuring Stephane Grappelli the musician with whom he had debuted as a sideman decades before Later Shearing played in a trio as a soloist and increasingly in a duo Among his collaborations were sets with the Montgomery Brothers Marian McPartland Brian Q Torff Jim Hall Hank Jones Niels Henning Orsted Pedersen and Kenny Davern In 1979 Shearing signed with Concord Records and recorded for the label with Mel Torme This collaboration garnered Shearing and Torme two Grammys one in 1983 and another in 1984 Shearing remained fit and active well into his later years and continued to perform even after being honoured with an Ivor Novello Lifetime Achievement Award in 1993 He never forgot his native country and in his last years would split his year between living in New York and Chipping Campden Gloucestershire where he bought a house with his second wife singer Ellie Geffert This gave him the opportunity to tour the UK giving concerts often with Torme backed by the BBC Big Band He was appointed OBE in 1996 In 2007 he was knighted So he noted later the poor blind kid from Battersea became Sir George Shearing Now that s a fairy tale come true 8 He was the subject of This Is Your Life in 1992 when he was surprised by Michael Aspel while performing at Ronnie Scott s Jazz Club citation needed In 2004 he released his memoirs Lullaby of Birdland which was accompanied by a double album musical autobiography Lullabies of Birdland Shortly afterwards however he had a fall at his home and retired from regular performing 9 On 14 February 2011 Shearing died from heart failure at 91 9 In 2012 Derek Paravicini and jazz vocalist Frank Holder did a tribute concert to the recordings of Shearing Ann Odell transcribed the recordings and taught Paravicini the parts as well as being the MD for the concerts Lady Shearing also endorsed the show sending a letter to be read out before the Watermill Jazz Club performance citation needed Personal life edit Shearing was married to Trixie Bayes with whom he had his only child Wendy from 1941 to 1973 Two years after his divorce he married his second wife the singer Ellie Geffert 10 He was a member of the Bohemian Club and often performed at the annual Bohemian Grove Encampments He composed music for two of the Grove Plays 11 Awards and honors editPerformed at Royal Command Performance for Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip Performed for US Presidents Gerald Ford Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan 1968 Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement 12 1975 Honorary degree of Doctor of Music from Westminster College Salt Lake City Utah 1978 Horatio Alger Award for Distinguished Americans 1983 Grammy Award An Evening with George Shearing amp Mel Torme 1984 Grammy Award Top Drawer 1993 Ivor Novello Award for Lifetime Achievement 1994 Honorary degree of Doctor of Music from Hamilton College in New York 1996 Included in Queen s Birthday Honours List invested by Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace as an Officer of the Order of the British Empire for services to music and Anglo US relations 1998 Received the first American Music Award by the National Arts Club New York City 2002 Honorary degree of Doctor of Music from DePauw University in Indiana 2003 Lifetime Achievement Award from BBC Jazz Awards 13 2007 Knighted for services to musicDiscography editAs leader edit Pianology London Records 1948 Piano Solos with Rhythm Savoy 1950 Shearing in Hi Fi MGM 1955 The Shearing Spell Capitol 1955 Midnight on Cloud 69 with Red Norvo Savoy 1956 Black Satin Capitol 1956 Velvet Carpet Capitol 1956 Lullaby of Birdland MGM 1957 The Shearing Piano Capitol 1957 Latin Escapade Capitol 1957 Burnished Brass Capitol 1958 Taking a Chance on Love with Billy Eckstine Teddi King MGM 1958 Jazz Conceptions MGM 1958 In the Night Capitol 1958 Latin Lace Capitol 1958 Rap Your Troubles in Drums MGM 1959 Blue Chiffon Capitol 1959 Shearing on Stage Capitol 1959 Beauty and the Beat with Peggy Lee Capitol 1959 George Shearing Goes Hollywood MGM 1959 The Shearing Touch Capitol 1960 Satin Brass Capitol 1960 Latin Affair Capitol 1960 White Satin Capitol 1960 On the Sunny Side of the Strip Capitol 1960 George Shearing and the Montgomery Brothers Jazzland 1961 Mood Latino Capitol 1961 Jazz Moments Capitol 1962 San Francisco Scene Capitol 1962 Night Mist Capitol 1962 Satin Affair Capitol 1962 Smooth amp Swinging MGM 1962 Soft and Silky MGM 1962 Concerto for My Love Capitol 1962 Shearing Bossa Nova Capitol 1962 Sassy Meets Shearing with Sarah Vaughan Camay 1962 Touch Me Softly Capitol 1963 It s Easy to Remember Ace of Clubs 1963 Jazz Concert Capitol 1963 Out of the Woods Capitol 1964 Old Gold and Ivory Capitol 1964 It s Real George Coronet 1965 Rare Form Capitol 1966 New Look Capitol 1967 Shearing Today Capitol 1968 The Young George Shearing 1968 The Fool on the Hill Capitol 1969 Out of This World Sheba 1971 The Heart and Soul of Joe Williams and George Shearing Sheba 1971 Music to Hear Sheba 1972 G A S George Albert Shearing Sheba 1972 As Requested Sheba 1972 Light Airy amp Swinging MPS BASF 1973 The Way We Are MPS BASF 1974 Continental Experience MPS BASF 1974 My Ship MPS 1975 The Reunion with Stephane Grappelli MPS 1977 The Shearing Piano Capitol 1977 The Many Facets of George Shearing MPS 1978 Windows MPS 1978 Two for the Road with Carmen McRae Concord Jazz 1978 500 Miles High MPS 1979 Lullaby of Birdland MGM 1979 Getting in the Swing of Things MPS 1980 Blues Alley Jazz with Brian Torff Concord Jazz 1980 On a Clear Day with Brian Torff Concord Jazz 1980 Alone Together with Marian McPartland Concord Jazz 1981 An Evening with George Shearing amp Mel Torme Concord Jazz 1982 First Edition with Jim Hall Concord Jazz 1982 Top Drawer with Mel Torme Concord Jazz 1983 Live at the Cafe Carlyle with Don Thompson Concord Jazz 1984 An Evening at Charlie s with Mel Torme Concord Jazz 1984 Grand Piano Concord Jazz 1985 An Elegant Evening with Mel Torme Concord Jazz 1986 George Shearing amp Barry Tuckwell Play the Music of Cole Porter Concord 1986 More Grand Piano Concord Jazz 1987 Breakin Out Concord Jazz 1987 Dexterity with Ernestine Anderson Concord Jazz 1988 A Vintage Year with Mel Torme Concord 1988 A Perfect Match with Ernestine Anderson Concord Jazz 1988 The Spirit of 176 with Hank Jones Concord Jazz 1989 George Shearing in Dixieland Concord Jazz 1989 Piano Concord Jazz 1990 Mel and George Do World War II with Mel Torme Concord Jazz 1991 Get Happy EMI 1991 I Hear a Rhapsody Live at the Blue Note Telarc 1992 How Beautiful Is Night with the Robert Farnon Orchestra Telarc 1993 That Shearing Sound Telarc 1994 Walkin with Neil Swainson Grady Tate Telarc 1995 Paper Moon Telarc 1996 Favorite Things Telarc 1997 Live at the Forum Bath 1992 BBC Music 2000 Just for You Live in the 1950s 2000 Back to Birdland Telarc 2001 Out of This World 2001 The George Shearing Trio 2002 Like Fine Wine Mack Avenue 2004 The Classic Concert Live with Mel Torme Gerry Mulligan Concord Jazz 2005 Live Jazz from Club 15 2006 As sideman edit With Nat King Cole Nat King Cole Sings George Shearing Plays Capitol 1962 With Nancy Wilson The Swingin s Mutual Capitol 1961 Hello Young Lovers Capitol 1962 R S V P Rare Songs Very Personal MCG 2004 Guess Who I Saw Today Capitol 2005 With others Claude Bolling Concerto for Classic Guitar and Jazz Piano with Angel Romero Angel 1979 Count Basie Blee Blop Blues Green Line Records 1990 1954 and 1955 recordings Dave Brubeck Young Lions amp Old Tigers Telarc 1995 Michael Feinstein Hopeless Romantics Concord 2005 John Pizzarelli The Rare Delight of You Telarc 2002 Tito Puente Mambo Diablo Concord Jazz Picante 1985 Joe Williams Here s to Life piano on title track only Telarc 1994 Filmography edit2003 George Shearing Jazz Legend 2004 George Shearing Lullaby of Birdland 14 2004 Swing Era George Shearing 2004 Joe Williams with George Shearing A Song is Born 15 2005 Duo Featuring Neil SwainsonReferences edit Randel Don Michael 1996 The Harvard Biographical Dictionary of Music Belknap Press a b c Richard S Ginell George Shearing Retrieved 26 February 2007 a b George Shearing Biography allaboutjazz com Retrieved 7 March 2016 a b c George Shearing interview with Les Tomkins How I Found the Sound from the National Jazz Archive National Jazz Archive 18 March 2020 Retrieved 26 March 2021 Balmer Paul 2003 Stephane Grappelli A Life in Jazz Bobcat Books pp 130 134 ISBN 9781847725769 Gelly Dave 2014 An Unholy Row Equinox Publishing p 12 ISBN 978 1 84553 712 8 Locked Hands https mps music MPS Retrieved 10 November 2022 Sir George Shearing Telegraph co uk 14 February 2011 a b Vacher Peter 15 February 2011 Sir George Shearing obituary The Guardian Retrieved 19 June 2018 Jake Coyle Jazz Pianist George Shearing Dies at 91 Apnews myway com Retrieved 28 September 2014 Magee David music by George Shearing 1970 The bonny cravat a Grove play with book amp lyrics San Francisco Bohemian Club a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint multiple names authors list link Golden Plate Awardees of the American Academy of Achievement www achievement org American Academy of Achievement Jazz winners span generations news bbc co uk 30 July 2003 Retrieved 28 September 2014 George Shearing Lullaby of Birdland View com Retrieved 28 September 2014 Joe Williams with George Shearing A Song is Born View com Retrieved 28 September 2014 External links editGeorge Shearing official website George Shearing discography at Discogs nbsp George Shearing at IMDb George Shearing Archived 3 March 2006 at the Wayback Machine discography at VH1 Receives Honorary Doctorate from DePauw University 1 June 2002 Sir George Shearing obituary The Guardian 15 February 2011 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title George Shearing amp oldid 1187757340, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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