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Johnny O'Neal
Jazz Great Johnny O'Neal 
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Johnny O'Neal, born October 10, 1956 in Detroit, Michigan, is an American 
Neo-bop jazz pianist and vocalist. His playing ranges from the technically 
virtuosic to the tenderest of ballad interpretations. Though unique in style, he 
is influenced by many jazz elders, including Oscar Peterson and Art Tatum. He 
has led many recording dates with jazz heavyweights such as Russell Malone and 
many others. He is a 1997 inductee of the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame.

In 1974, Johnny moved to Birmingham, Alabama and worked as a musician, never 
needing a day job to make ends meet. In Birmingham he worked with local noted 
jazz musicians, such as Jerry Grundhofer, Dave Amaral, Cleveland Eaton, and Ray 
Reach. He moved to New York City to perform with Clark Terry in 1981, and also 
landed a regular job at the Blue Note, accompanying such greats as Dizzy 
Gillespie, Ray Brown, Nancy Wilson, Joe Pass and Kenny Burrell. He was a member 
of Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers for two years from 1982-1983 and made his 
Carnegie Hall debut in 1985.




On the recommendation of Oscar Peterson, O'Neal portrayed Art Tatum in the 
2004 movie Ray, convincingly recreating Tatum's sound on the song  "Yesterdays".
A 2006 DVD "Tight" captured O'Neal at the height of his powers. Included is 
an interview with pianist Mulgrew Miller, who stated,


"In my generation of musicians there are two who are probably the most 
naturally talented. They both happen to be from Detroit. One is Kenny Garrett, 
the well-known saxophonist. The other is pianist Johnny O’Neal."


"There are so many outstanding things about Johnny’s playing. Two or three of 
the most outstanding: number one, the touch. Johnny has a million dollar touch. 
Very few people touch the piano like that to get that kind of sound and 
feeling…. The other thing is his feeling of swing, which is so natural. Then 
there’s Johnny’s personality, so engaging. And Johnny can play a ballad like few 
people, if any. I’ve always held his talent in the highest regard, and I think he’s a very special artist."

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