Lancelot Henry Stuart Hayward (17 June 1916 – 9 November 1991[1]) was a jazz pianist who was born in Bermuda, where he lived until he settled in New York City at the age of 50. Blind since infancy, he received formal training in classical piano and was a self-taught jazz musician, eventually becoming one of Bermuda's best-known jazz artists. He was often the accompanist of choice for Carmen McRae, Marvin Gaye and others when they performed on the island.[2]
Lancelot Henry Stuart Hayward[1] was born in Bermuda to Henry Hayward and Olivia Lathan Hayward. Diagnosed as having juvenile glaucoma, he was almost totally blind by the time he was about 14 months old and beginning to walk.[1] At the age of 13, he went to Perkins School for the Blind in Massachusetts, United States, where he learned to read books and music written in Braille, but he returned to Bermuda three years later, when he was 16. Within a year of returning he had his first job as a musician and continued over the years to try to make a living through music in Bermuda. He also found seasonal work in Jamaica at Montego Bay and Ocho Rios.[1]
Hayward was married in 1940 to Mary Jackson, and they had a son Stuart (born in 1942) and a daughter, Sylvia (born 1951).[1]
As his career developed as a jazz pianist, as well as an arranger, Hayward became the most sought-after pianist on the island, called to play for visiting singers including Carmen McRae, Joe Williams, Sarah Vaughan, Arthur Prysock and Marvin Gaye. Hayward also formed an all-male chorus, the Mu-En Chorale.
According to his son, Hayward viewed his life in Bermuda as "one big struggle against the prejudices of the sighted and of whites, and against the generally cavalier attitude of the Bermuda government and the hotels toward local musicians."[3] In 1966, Hayward moved permanently to New York City.[1] There, the many jazz clubs at which he appeared included West Boondock, Jacques-in-the-Village and the Village Corner, where he appeared regularly for 16 years.[2] He formed his own chorus, the Lance Hayward Singers, performing a wide variety of music, from Bach to Duke Ellington. The Lance Hayward Singers continue to sing Hayward's arrangements under the direction of Claudia Marx.
^ abcdefStuart Hayward, "Lance Hayward - 'An Impressionable, Energetic Musician'", in Dale Butler, Triumph of the Spirit: The Heroes & Heroines of Bermuda, Part 1, Second Edition, The Writers' Machine, Bermuda, 2002, pp. 19-36.
^ ab"Lance Hayward Dies; Jazz Pianist Was 75" (obituary), New York Times, November 13, 1991.
^Stuart Hayward, "Lance Hayward", in Butler, Triumph of the Spirit, 2002, p. 30.
^Stuart Hayward, "Lance Hayward", in Butler, Triumph of the Spirit, 2002, p. 34.
Further reading
Stuart Hayward, "Lance Hayward - 'An Impressionable, Energetic Musician'", in Dale Butler, Triumph of the Spirit: The Heroes & Heroines of Bermuda, Part 1, Second Edition, The Writers' Machine, Bermuda, 2002, pp. 19–36.
External links
Official website for Lance Hayward Singers
"Lance Hayward Dies; Jazz Pianist Was 75", New York Times, November 13, 1991.
January 20, 2023
lance, hayward, lancelot, henry, stuart, hayward, june, 1916, november, 1991, jazz, pianist, born, bermuda, where, lived, until, settled, york, city, blind, since, infancy, received, formal, training, classical, piano, self, taught, jazz, musician, eventually,. Lancelot Henry Stuart Hayward 17 June 1916 9 November 1991 1 was a jazz pianist who was born in Bermuda where he lived until he settled in New York City at the age of 50 Blind since infancy he received formal training in classical piano and was a self taught jazz musician eventually becoming one of Bermuda s best known jazz artists He was often the accompanist of choice for Carmen McRae Marvin Gaye and others when they performed on the island 2 Contents 1 Biography 2 Honours and recognition 3 Discography 4 References 5 Further reading 6 External linksBiography EditLancelot Henry Stuart Hayward 1 was born in Bermuda to Henry Hayward and Olivia Lathan Hayward Diagnosed as having juvenile glaucoma he was almost totally blind by the time he was about 14 months old and beginning to walk 1 At the age of 13 he went to Perkins School for the Blind in Massachusetts United States where he learned to read books and music written in Braille but he returned to Bermuda three years later when he was 16 Within a year of returning he had his first job as a musician and continued over the years to try to make a living through music in Bermuda He also found seasonal work in Jamaica at Montego Bay and Ocho Rios 1 Hayward was married in 1940 to Mary Jackson and they had a son Stuart born in 1942 and a daughter Sylvia born 1951 1 As his career developed as a jazz pianist as well as an arranger Hayward became the most sought after pianist on the island called to play for visiting singers including Carmen McRae Joe Williams Sarah Vaughan Arthur Prysock and Marvin Gaye Hayward also formed an all male chorus the Mu En Chorale According to his son Hayward viewed his life in Bermuda as one big struggle against the prejudices of the sighted and of whites and against the generally cavalier attitude of the Bermuda government and the hotels toward local musicians 3 In 1966 Hayward moved permanently to New York City 1 There the many jazz clubs at which he appeared included West Boondock Jacques in the Village and the Village Corner where he appeared regularly for 16 years 2 He formed his own chorus the Lance Hayward Singers performing a wide variety of music from Bach to Duke Ellington The Lance Hayward Singers continue to sing Hayward s arrangements under the direction of Claudia Marx In 1991 at the age of 75 Lance Hayward died of pneumonia at Mount Sinai Hospital in Manhattan New York where he lived Honours and recognition EditApart from many accolades received from the US Canada Europe and Japan Hayward was given the following honours in Bermuda 4 1979 award from the Bermuda for Bermudians organisation and the Ministry of Community and Cultural Affairs 1980 awarded the Queen s Certificate and Badge of Honour 1984 award from National Heritage Music Committee for outstanding contribution to music in Bermuda 1985 becomes the first Bermudian to perform as a featured artist at the Bermuda Festival 1988 Bermuda Arts Council Lifetime Achievement Award 2001 posthumous award from Adlev Entertainment Productions presented at their first Entertainment Awards ShowDiscography EditBermuda Evening The Hayward and Hayward Vocal Ensemble 1950 Lance Hayward at the Half Moon Hotel 1959 Lance Hayward at the Half Moon Hotel Volume 2 1960 A Closer Walk 1984 Hayward and Hinton 1987 Killing Me Softly 1992 References Edit a b c d e f Stuart Hayward Lance Hayward An Impressionable Energetic Musician in Dale Butler Triumph of the Spirit The Heroes amp Heroines of Bermuda Part 1 Second Edition The Writers Machine Bermuda 2002 pp 19 36 a b Lance Hayward Dies Jazz Pianist Was 75 obituary New York Times November 13 1991 Stuart Hayward Lance Hayward in Butler Triumph of the Spirit 2002 p 30 Stuart Hayward Lance Hayward in Butler Triumph of the Spirit 2002 p 34 Further reading EditStuart Hayward Lance Hayward An Impressionable Energetic Musician in Dale Butler Triumph of the Spirit The Heroes amp Heroines of Bermuda Part 1 Second Edition The Writers Machine Bermuda 2002 pp 19 36 External links EditOfficial website for Lance Hayward Singers Lance Hayward Dies Jazz Pianist Was 75 New York Times November 13 1991 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Lance Hayward amp oldid 1111138306, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
