August 15

What I wrote in a Facebook post: 
Today, I celebrate the day Oscar Peterson was born! My friend and mentor Don Gallagher was taking his dads record collection (unbeknownst to me) and giving them to me when I was in 7th grade to check out. Almost all of them were the trumpet series Oscar did with the trumpet greats. I don't think Freddie was in the original series, that came later. In addition to the amazing swingin' music, I loved these album covers for whatever reason. (who would have guessed I would become friends with Jon Faddis back then, not me) These albums are so much of my DNA ( not that I sound anything like them yet, but sure taught me how to hear jazz). Then when CD's came along, my very first CD I bought was Stan Getz and Oscar. Stan was my father's favorite saxophone player. I was able to see Oscar three times. Once with my friend Mr. Bob MacKercher and we went to Windsor, Canada, once at Ravinia, and once receiving an award at the IAJE in Toronto. The great Oscar Peterson born on today's date!