GEORGE SHEARING (pianist, composer, arranger) was born August 13, 1919 in Battersea, London, England. Congenitally blind since birth, Shearing is a respected artist and prolific composer whose works include “Lullaby of Birdland” and “September in the Rain” – recorded by his quintet and selling over 90,000 copies. Influenced by Teddy Wilson and Fats Waller, Shearing is also renowned for a piano technique called “Shearing’s voicing”. He has worked with a pantheon of jazz artists including Oscar Pettiford, Buddy deFranco, Stephane Grappelli, Jim Hall, Hank Jones, Neil Swainson and John Pizzarelli. A favourite of vocalists he collaborated with Nat King Cole, Carmen McCrae, Peggy Lee and most notably Mel Torme – with whom he earned two Grammy Awards. Included in his many honours is a knighthood awarded in 2006 for services to music.