Canadian jazz legend Oscar Peterson died Sunday (December 23rd) of kidney failure after a long illness. He was 82.
The jazz musician died at his home in Mississauga not far from Toronto.Over recent years, he has fought many illnesses, including a stroke.
Peterson is considered one of the greatest musicians of the 20th century.
Born Oscar Emmanuel Peterson on August 15, 1925, the young Peterson grew up in Little Burgundy, Montreal.
Peterson began his musical career at the age of 5 on the trumpet but at the age of 7, after falling ill with tuberculosis, turned to piano.
In 1949 he made his American debut at the renowned New York venue Carnegie Hall. He went on to sign with jazz label Verve Records.
In the 1950's, Peterson formed the Oscar Peterson Trio with Ray Brown and Charlie Smith. That became his launchpad for the great music he would then release for the next 50 years.
Peterson suffered a stroke in 1993 and was out of action for 2 years.
In 1997, he was given the Lifetime Achievement award from the Grammy's.
As recent as 2003, Peterson recorded the live DVD 'A Night In Vienna' for Verve but this year cancelled his gig at the Toronto Jazz Festival due to illness.
