1927 – 2013

Don Shirley

American-Jamaican jazz pianist and composer

church musicianpianistcomposer
Born
1927-01-19, Pensacola
Died
2013-04-06
Birthplace state
Florida

Biography

Donald Walbridge Shirley was born in Pensacola, Florida in 1927 and worked as a church musician, pianist, and composer until his death in 2013. He recorded numerous albums for Cadence Records during the 1950s and 1960s, blending jazz with classical elements. His compositions included organ symphonies, piano concerti, a cello concerto, three string quartets, a one-act opera, and works for organ, piano, and violin, along with a symphonic poem based on James Joyce's Finnegans Wake and variations on the 1858 opera Orpheus in the Underworld.

Occupation

Don Shirley is recorded as a church musician, a pianist and a composer, born in Florida (1927–2013).

Connections to Florida

Don Shirley was born in Pensacola, Florida in 1927. Explore other notable figures from Florida, historic sites connected to this era, and the full colonial and statehood history of the state using the links below.

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Native Heritage
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Settlement
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Notable People
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Frequently asked about Don Shirley

Who was Don Shirley?
Don Shirley was American-Jamaican jazz pianist and composer, born in Florida (1927 – 2013).
When and where was Don Shirley born?
Don Shirley was born on 1927-01-19 in Pensacola.
When did Don Shirley die?
Don died on 2013-04-06.
What was Don Shirley known for?
Don Shirley is recorded as a church musician, a pianist and a composer.
Source

Biographical content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Source: Wikipedia.

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