GEORGE SHEARING

Biography

Sir George Albert Shearing (1919–2011) was born blind in Battersea, London, the youngest of nine children in a working-class family. His father delivered coal, and his mother cleaned trains; young George showed early musical talent by memorizing radio tunes and playing them on the family piano. He received piano lessons from a local teacher and continued at Linden College, a school for the blind in Wandsworth, until age 16. Rejecting scholarships, he chose paid gigs at local pubs like the Mason’s Arms, playing piano and accordion, and joined an all-blind band. Influenced by Teddy Wilson and Fats Waller, he made his first BBC broadcast and recordings in 1937 after connecting with Leonard Feather.[1][2][3][4][6]

In the 1940s, Shearing advanced in British jazz, joining Harry Parry’s band in 1940 and contributing to Stéphane Grappelli’s comeback during WWII, winning six consecutive Melody Maker Top Pianist polls. He emigrated to the US in 1947, forming his signature quintet (piano, guitar, vibraphone, bass, drums) that blended swing, bebop, Latin, and classical elements, pioneering 'modern chamber jazz.' Known for 'Shearing’s voicing'—block chords with locked hands—he composed over 300 songs, including 'Lullaby of Birdland,' and scored hits like 'September in the Rain' (900,000 copies). Recording for MGM, Capitol, and later Concord, he became a US citizen in 1956 and won two Grammys with Mel Tormé.[1][2][3][4][5][6]

Shearing disbanded his quintet in 1978, shifting to trios, duos, and solos, collaborating with figures like the Montgomery Brothers and Marian McPartland. His classical interests led to orchestra performances inspired by Debussy, Satie, and Delius. Honored with an OBE in 1996 and other awards, he died of heart failure in New York City at 91, leaving a legacy in cool jazz through innovative harmony and accessibility.[1][2][3][5]

Fun Facts

• Shearing turned down university scholarships at 16 to play pubs for '25 bob a week' (about £1.25 today), prioritizing paid work over formal education.
• His 1949 hit 'September in the Rain' with the newly formed quintet sold 900,000 copies almost overnight, launching his US fame.
• Blind from birth, he appeared on ABC’s 'The Comeback Story' discussing coping with blindness and later on 'The Pat Boone Chevy Showroom.'
• He credited jazz organist Milt Buckner with inventing the 'locked hands' block chord technique he popularized as 'Shearing’s voicing.'

Associated Acts

• The George Shearing Quintet
• George Shearing Trio
• Stéphane Grappelli and His Quartet - piano

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Teddy Wilson - early stylistic influence in stride-based jazz piano (records studied in late 1930s) [1930s]
• Fats Waller - early stylistic influence in stride-based jazz piano (records studied in late 1930s) [1930s]
• Art Tatum - initial piano style influence (general inspiration) [1930s-1940s]
• Glenn Miller Orchestra - reed section influenced his voicing technique (late 1930s-early 1940s arrangements) [1930s-1940s]

Key Collaborators

• Stéphane Grappelli - sideman in wartime band and later reunion (Grappelly Swingtette (1943+), The Reunion (Verve 1976)) [1940s, 1970s]
• Harry Parry - member of popular band (Radio Rhythm Club Sextet) [1940s]
• Mel Tormé - frequent recording partner, Grammy-winning albums (An Evening with George Shearing & Mel Tormé (1983), Top Drawer (1984), Mel and George “Do” World War II (1990)) [1979-1990s]
• Buddy DeFranco - led jazz quartet (early US performances) [1940s]
• Marian McPartland - duo performances (late career sets) [1970s-1990s]

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia
• MusicBrainz

Tags: #easy-listening, #jazz, #swing