Paw Prints TidBits for October

The theme of this issue of Paw Prints TidBits is music. From Broadway show tunes to Gregorian chant, music gives us a way to express our joy, sorrow, wonder, awe and more. As Friedrich Nietzsche said, "Life without music would be a mistake." So enjoy this month's anecdote about an amazing jazz musician, George Shearing. The sidebar contains some tongue-in-cheek musical definitions, plus a couple of signs seen around our part of the world.

The Paw Prints homepage this month features more music-related trivia, including anecdotes about composers, singers, conductors, and all manner of musicians.

If you have any comments or suggestions, don't hesitate to contact us.

Anecdote of the Month

George Shearing (1919– )

A n e c d o t e   1 . . .

Asked by an admirer whether he had been blind all his life, Shearing replied. "Not yet."

A n e c d o t e   2 . . .

One afternoon, at rush hour, Shearing was waiting at a busy intersection for someone to take him across the street when another blind man tapped him on the shoulder and asked if Shearing would mind helping him to get across.

"What could I do?" said Shearing afterward. "I took him across and it was the biggest thrill of my life."

B i o g r a p h i c a l . N o t e . . .

British-born, U.S. jazz pianist, arranger and composer. Blind from birth, he made his name in British jazz clubs before settling in the United States in 1947. His compositions include the jazz standard "Lullaby of Birdland" (1945). His autobiography, Lullaby of Birdland" was published by Continuum in February 2005. In 2006 the honour of Knighthood was conferred upon him by Queen Elizabeth II.

M o r e . I n f o r m a t i o n . . .

Visit George Shearing's web site for a brief biography, discography and news about this talented musician.

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