English jazz pianist George Shearing was born on this date in 1919 in London. The youngest of nine children of working-class parents, Shearing was blind at birth and went on to compose more than 300 songs and become one of the most beloved jazz pianists of the 20th century.

Shearing was born in Battersea, London and began playing piano at the age of three. He took lessons at the Linden Lodge School for the Blind while he was a student there. Although offered scholarships to several schools he opted to start gigging on both piano and accordion at a young age. He was a member of Claude Brampton’s Blind Orchestra and made his first record at the age of 18. During World War II he played in French jazz violinist Stephane Grappelli’s band in the UK. During the 1940s Shearing won the Top Pianist award from Melody Maker magazine six consecutive years during the 1940s.

After the war George Shearing immigrated to the United States and began leading his own quintet in 1949. Although the personnel and instrumentation changed periodically, he played in the quintet format for most of the next 20 years. George Shearing became a naturalized United States citizen in 1956.

Beginning in the early 1970s Shearing began to tire of his quintet playing and often thereafter could be found performing solo or in as part of a duo. His quintet formally disbanded in 1978. Shearing made appearances in a duo setting with bassist Brian Torff, singer Mel Torme (with whom he won two Grammys in the 1980s), and pianists Marian McPartland and Hank Jones. Shearing had a fall in his home in 2004 and did not perform in public after that. He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2007 and passed away in 2011 at the age of 91.

Lullaby of Birdland is probably George Shearing’s best-known composition. Here is a link to a live 1992 performance of the composer playing the tune in duet with bass:

"LULLABY OF BIRDLAND"