Famous Pittsburghers: Erroll Garner

Written by Grace Regan

Image courtesy of NPR

Erroll Louis Garner, Born June 15th, 1921, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was a prominent jazz pianist and considered one of the frontiers of jazz music. 

Erroll Garner was most known for his swing playing and jazz ballads. “Misty,” his most well-known piece, is considered to be a jazz standard.

Garner started playing piano at the age of 3, and by account of his older sister Martha,  Erroll was self-taught and an ear-player, learning music by simply listening to it. He remained an ear-player his whole life and never learned to read music. 

At age 7, Erroll appeared on KDKA radio with a group named The Candy Kids, and by the age of 11, he was playing on Allegheny Riverboats. 

He later moved to New York City, where he furthered his career and cemented his legacy as a virtuoso in the jazz community. 

With all his success, Erroll Garner was denied admission to the Pittsburgh Music Union because of his inability to read music. The union decided in 1956 to make Garner an honorary member. 

Garner died on January 2nd, 1977, at the age of 55, and came back home to be buried in Pittsburgh. 

Garner’s legacy lives on in the jazz and R&B world by remaining true to his distinct sound and raw talent.