Oscar Levant

American comedian, composer, pianist and actor (1906-1972)

Born: 26 December 1906
Pittsburgh
Died: 14 August 1972
Beverly Hills
Country: United States
Active: 1923–
Discography: 1 album

Biography

Oscar Levant was a jazz musician who played piano. Oscar Levant was born on 26 December 1906 in Pittsburgh and died on 14 August 1972 in Beverly Hills. The music is usually filed under jazz and classical music. Honours include star on Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Oscar Levant (December 27, 1906 – August 14, 1972) was an American concert pianist, composer, conductor and actor born in Pittsburgh, U.S., from Russian-emigrant parents. Levant studied under Zygmunt Stojowski and Arnold Schoenberg, and has 33 albums as a pianist, having recorded works of numerous classical composers. For a period of time during the 1940s, he was the highest paid concert pianist in the United States. Levant composed for over 75 Hollywood movies and Broadway plays. He acted in supporting roles in musicals starring Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly, and also in several movies, including The Barkleys of Broadway (1949), An American in Paris (1951), The Band Wagon (1953) and his friend George Gershwin's biopic Rhapsody in Blue (1945; where he played himself). He was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960 for recordings featuring his piano performances.

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