Highly respected jazz pianist and composer George Shearing was born in
Battersea, London, England on August 13, 1919. Blind from birth, he began piano
lessons at the age of three and trained at Linden Lodge, a local school for the
blind. His talent soon began to be recognized and, as a young adult, he was
drafted into various ensembles led by leading musicians of the day including
Welsh bandleader Harry Parry and acclaimed violinist Stéphane Grappelli. In
1947, George Shearing emigrated to the USA and formed the George Shearing
Quintet two years later. After a series of well-rece...