Oscar Peterson Portrait

Oscar Peterson Portrait

Oscar Peterson

Widely regarded as one of the greatest jazz pianists of all time, Oscar Peterson performed with legendary figures such as Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Dizzy Gillespie, and Louis Armstrong. Born to a railway porter and a domestic worker, Peterson grew up in the St. Antoine District. His first piano teacher was his sister, Daisy Peterson Sweeney, who nurtured his talent from a young age. Although he initially played the trumpet, a childhood battle with tuberculosis damaged his lungs and forced him to shift to the piano, where he would develop his signature style. As a Canadian artist in the mid-20th century, Peterson was breaking new ground, showing that world-class jazz artistry could come from north of the U.S. border. His early performances in Montréal venues such as Rockhead’s Paradise and Café St-Michel helped shape the city’s jazz culture, connecting him with both local audiences and visiting musicians. Through his talent and determination, Peterson not only became an international jazz icon but also highlighted the St. Antoine District’s crucial role in the development of Canadian and global jazz.

Kerry Waghorn

Waghorn, Kerry, Portrait of Oscar Peterson, 26 September 1978, Box. 10527, 2950269, Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Library and Archives Canada

26 September, 1978

Library and Archives Canada

Library and Archives Canada

Portrait

Drawing