The Resume

(October 13, 1909-November 5, 1956)
Born in Toledo, Ohio
Jazz pianist known for radically reinventing pop standards
Signature tunes include 'Tea for Two' and 'Tiger Rag'

Why he might be annoying:

Some critics felt his playing was too ornamental, showing off his technique at the expense of the song.
In group settings, he would refuse to defer to other musicians and complained 'A band hampers me.'
Another musician said that he could drink an entire pitcher of beer 'down the hatch in three or four stupendous swallows.'
He drank a case of beer and two quarts of whiskey a day, contributing to his early death from kidney failure.

Why he might not be annoying:

He developed cataracts as a child, limiting his vision.
He was struck with a blackjack while being mugged, leaving him blind in his left eye (1930).
He had perfect pitch.
His playing was so energetic, his records often sound like there's a second pianist.
Fats Waller introduced him by saying, 'I only play piano, but tonight God is in the house.'
Other admirers included Charlie Parker ('I wish I could play like Tatum's right hand'), Dave Brubeck ('I don't think there's any more chance of another Tatum showing up than another Mozart') and Dizzy Gillespie ('First you speak of Art Tatum, then take a long deep breath, and you speak of the other pianists').

Credit: C. Fishel

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• Alcohol Contributed to My Death
• Blind Musicians
• C. Fishel's Profiles [Series 53]
• Celebrities Born on the Same Date [October] (Ranked: 10131909)
• Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award (Ranked: 1989)
• I Died in 1956 (Ranked: 47)
• I Had Renal Failure
• I'm Buried at Angelus-Rosedale Cemetery [Los Angeles]
• I'm Buried at Forest Lawn Glendale Cemetery [Calif]
• Jazz Artists
• Look at My Keyboard
• My Song was Inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame (Ranked: 1978)
• My Song was Inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame (Ranked: 1986)
• Profiles 35501-35750 (Ranked: 35575)
• Visually Impaired

Year In Review:

For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2023, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2022, Out of 8 Votes: 25.00% Annoying
In 2021, Out of 17 Votes: 47.06% Annoying
In 2019, Out of 55 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
In 2018, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
In 2017, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2016, Out of 8 Votes: 62.50% Annoying
In 2015, Out of 3 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2014, Out of 18 Votes: 50.0% Annoying