Erroll Garner
Erroll Garner could not read a note of music, yet he wrote "Misty" — one of the most recorded songs of all time — and made a solo piano sound like a full orchestra. He is jazz's great joyous outsider, ranked number 25 in jazz journalist Gene Rizzo's list of the greatest jazz pianists. Rizzo's phrase for the effect says it best: Garner "sounded like an orchestra," and he did it while grinning.
This profile covers who Erroll Garner was, how a self-taught non-reader became a global star, what made his behind-the-beat, orchestral style so infectious, and the recordings and scores to explore.
The short answer: Erroll Garner (1921–1977) was an American pianist and composer, entirely self-taught and unable to read music, whose swinging, orchestral solo style and the ballad "Misty" made him one of jazz's best-loved figures.
Life and career
Garner was born in Pittsburgh in 1921 and was self-taught from around the age of three, picking up only the briefest informal pointers from schoolmates Dodo Marmarosa and Billy Strayhorn. He left for New York in 1944, and gigs with Slam Stewart's trio at the Three Deuces on 52nd Street built his reputation. His mid-1940s treatment of "Laura" was a minor hit, and in 1947 he cut four tracks with Charlie Parker for Dial — he was never really a bebopper, but he absorbed enough to stay current.
His breakthrough was Concert by the Sea (1956), a live album that was a huge success and has never gone out of print. Managed by Martha Glaser, he played sold-out rooms, festivals and television, and in 1958 became the first jazz artist to sign an exclusive deal with the classical impresario Sol Hurok. He died in 1977.
Style and influence
Garner's sound is unmistakable: his left hand thrummed full chords four-to-the-bar like a rhythm guitarist, while his right spun expressive, behind-the-beat melodies that seemed to lag and then catch up. The push-and-pull between the steady left and the loitering right is the source of that famous swing — and of the orchestral fullness Rizzo describes. He called Garner's records "angstless celebrations of beauty," and the description fits a player who made joy the whole point.
As a composer he needed only one tune to secure his place. "Misty," written in 1954, became a jazz standard and a pop hit, recorded by everyone from Johnny Mathis to Sarah Vaughan and Frank Sinatra. Garner had no real disciples — his style was too personal to copy — but as the spiritual heir of Fats Waller and Earl Hines he kept the older, joyous tradition alive.
Essential recordings
Garner's catalogue is large and consistently upbeat; these are the entry points:
| Recording | Label / year | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Concert by the Sea | Columbia, 1956 | His biggest success and one of the best-selling jazz albums ever; never out of print |
| Contrasts | EmArcy, 1955 | Contains the first recording of "Misty," his signature composition |
| "Laura" (Serenade to Laura) | Savoy, 1945 | The mid-1940s hit that first drew wide attention to his style |
| Complete Charlie Parker on Dial | Jazz Classics reissue, 1947 | His rare bebop meeting with Charlie Parker, captured on four tracks |
Play Erroll Garner's music
"Misty" is the obvious place to begin — a gorgeous, singable ballad that every pianist should have in their hands. From there, try his romping take on "I'll Remember April" or his early hit "Laura," and listen for the strumming left hand under the lagging melody. Several are open on MuseScore below in arrangements from approachable to advanced.
Where Erroll Garner ranks among jazz pianists
Rizzo places Garner 25th and treats him as one of jazz's most purely enjoyable pianists. See the full list in our guide to the best jazz pianists of all time, and compare him with the stride showman he descended from, Fats Waller, and his fellow Pittsburgh forebear, Earl Hines. To understand the harmony behind "Misty," start with our guide to jazz chord progressions.
Frequently asked questions
Did Erroll Garner really not read music?
Correct. Garner was entirely self-taught and never learned to read musical notation, yet he composed the standard "Misty" and built one of the most distinctive styles in jazz. He worked and memorized everything by ear.
What is Erroll Garner's most famous song?
"Misty," which he composed in 1954 and first recorded in 1955. With lyrics later added by Johnny Burke, it became a jazz standard and a major pop hit and remains one of the most recorded songs of all time.
What should I listen to first?
Start with Concert by the Sea (1956), his best-loved album, then explore Contrasts for the original "Misty." Both capture his orchestral, always-swinging solo style.