Erroll Garner: « I wrote “Misty” from a beautiful rainbow I saw when I was flying from San Francisco to Chicago. At that time, they didn’t have jets and we had to stop off in Denver. When we were coming down there was a beautiful rainbow. This rainbow was fascinating because it wasn’t long but very wide and in every color you can imagine. With the dew drops and the windows being misty, that fine rain, that’s how I named it “Misty.” I was playing on my knees like I had a piano, with my eyes shut. There was a little old lady sitting next to me and she thought I was sick because I was humming. She called the hostess, who came over, to find out I was writing “Misty” in my head. By the time I got off the plane, I had it. We were going to make a record date, so I put it right on that date. I always say that wherever she is today that old lady was the first one in on “Misty” ». This quote can be found in « Notes and Tones: musician to musician interview », a 1977 book written by Art Taylor, drummer.
That performance took place at the Singer Laren Concertzaal (Netherlands) in 1962. Misty first appeared in 1955 on Garner’s album entitled Contrasts. As you may know, Erroll Garner could not read music. Everything he did was by ear. He had other people write down his compositions, conceived in his head, for him. He started to play the piano at 3 years old as his siblings were taking piano lessons from a local teacher in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He would sit nearby and listen. Then, he would reproduce on the piano exactly what the teacher had just played. He attended the George Westinghouse High School ; coincidentally, other famous jazz pianists went to that high school as well; Billy Strayhorn, Mary Lou Williams, Ahmad Jamal... To go back to Misty, it’s still one of the famous jazz standards, thanks to its feature in many movies and the vocal versions – with lyrics by Johnny Burke – of Johnny Matis, Sarah Vaughan, Etta James, Ella Fitzgerald, etc. Nearly a thousand versions/covers of Misty exist.
#errollgarner #misty #jazz #jazzpiano #piano
Erroll Garner wrote “Misty” mid-flight, humming it into existence while the world blurred past the window. A rainbow, a foggy pane, a melody fully formed before the plane even landed.
#errollgarner #misty #jazzhistory #jazzpiano #musicstory
Take a trip back to 1954. Jazz pianist Erroll Garner was aboard a turbulent commercial flight traveling from San Francisco to Chicago. As he gazed out the window, a breathtaking scene caught his eye: a vivid, brilliant rainbow cutting through a rain-misted, stormy sky. ☁️🌈 Struck by sudden, overwhelming inspiration, a sweeping, romantic melody began to form in his mind.
Because he couldn't write music, Garner had to commit the complex tune to memory on the spot. He frantically began "playing" the invisible keys on his knees, tapping out the rhythm while humming the melody with intense, obsessive concentration. He was humming so loudly and moving so erratically that a concerned fellow passenger genuinely thought he was having a medical emergency! ✈️👩💼 The flight attendant rushed over to intervene, only to find a musical genius desperately trying to keep a masterpiece from slipping out of his memory.
As soon as the plane touched down in Chicago, Garner practically sprinted to a hotel piano to capture the tune. By the time his hands hit the keys, the iconic jazz standard “Misty” was born.
What makes this story even more incredible is Garner’s background. He was a self-taught prodigy who began playing the piano at the astonishing age of three by mimicking the sounds he heard on the phonograph. Despite his immense talent and eventual global fame, Garner never learned to read or write sheet music. He possessed a "photographic" memory for sound—if he heard a song once, he could play it perfectly. "Misty" didn't just become a hit; it became a massive cultural touchstone. With lyrics later added by Johnny Burke, the song became a crossover smash and a standard piece of repertoire for vocal legends like Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, and Frank Sinatra. It even inspired Clint Eastwood's classic 1971 thriller, Play Misty for Me.
Erroll Garner’s story is a beautiful reminder that profound artistry comes strictly from the soul.
💾 Save this post to keep the magic alive, and share it with a fellow music lover! #ErrollGarner #Misty #JazzPiano #PianoLegends #MusicHistory
Erroll Garner - Misty (1954)
Recorded in 1954, “Misty” is one of those jazz standards that feels timeless. It started as an instrumental by Erroll Garner, but it became even bigger later when lyrics were added and different artists began covering it. Still, that original piano version is hard to beat.
Garner’s playing is what makes this song special. He had this really unique style, his left hand keeps a steady, almost orchestral rhythm, while his right hand floats over it with these soft, emotional melodies. It’s not rushed at all. He lets the notes breathe, which is why the song feels so smooth and almost dreamlike.
There’s also something slightly unpredictable about how he plays. The timing isn’t perfectly straight, he plays around the beat in a way that gives the song its character. It feels human, not mechanical.
The melody itself is beautiful. Simple, but super expressive. It’s the kind of tune that sticks with you after one listen, which is probably why it became such a standard in jazz and beyond.
One of the smoothest, most recognizable jazz pieces ever made.
#errollgarner #misty #1954 #50s #jazz #piano #classic #tune
While I’ve long admired Vladimir Horowitz’s brilliant piano playing, I only recently started watching videos of him performing and being interviewed, getting to know the amazing (and hilarious!) personality behind the music. He’s so full of joy and enthusiasm (and an incredible laugh!), and he often looks genuinely surprised by the sounds coming out of the piano — as if he’s discovering the music in real time. That’s something I also love about Erroll Garner, and it’s a wonderful reminder that the musician is simply the vessel. Any musicians come to mind for you who look genuinely surprised and delighted by the sounds they’re creating? I’d love to hear!
#VladimirHorowitz #ErrollGarner #PianoJoy #PianoMagic #JazzPiano #ClassicalPiano #MusicIsAGift #Improvisation #PianoLegend #MusicalDiscovery #InTheMoment #LiveMusicMagic #JoyInMusic #SurpriseAndDelight #CreativeJoy #PureJoy #ArtIsLife #FindYourJoy
O pianista e compositor de jazz estadunidense, conhecido por tocar swing e balada, tocando sua composição mais conhecida "Misty". A composição gravada pela primeira vez em 1956 com Mitch Miller e sua orquestra, tornou-se um padrão de jazz. Filho de uma família de músicos, começou a tocar piano aos três anos de idade e foi autodidata, permaneceu absorvendo músicas e reproduzindo-as de memória durante toda a sua vida, nunca aprendendo a ler música.
🤍👁️🤍
#errollgarner #misty #jazz #pianojazz #jazztrio #60smusic #jazzhistory
Erroll Garner born this day in 1921. Misty is one of my favourite songs. Sitting here by the River Saône I feel in the mood to play this piece on his anniversary. Trying a French guitar by @ameliebouvret #bornthisday #errollgarner #frenchguitarluthiers
What a thrill it is for me whenever I get to accompany the amazing Norm Lewis. Here he is thrilling the Birdland crowd with his amazing version of the Johnny Burke - Erroll Garner classic “Misty”. And how fitting that he sang it in tribute to Johnny Mathis, who sang his last concert a few weeks ago after an incredible multi decade career. We love you, Norm and we all wish you a happy birthday. Thank you for giving us the gift!
#jimcarusoscastparty #normlewis #misty #errollgarner #johnnyburke #Birdland
Erroll Garner wrote “Misty” after seeing a beautiful rainbow while flying, humming the melody to himself until it became one of the most timeless jazz standards ever recorded. A reminder that some of the greatest music begins as a simple moment of inspiration, long before it ever reaches the stage or the studio.
Learn Guitar from Legends at jazzlegendlessons.com
#jazz #errollgarner #misty #jazzstandards #jazzguitar
Yesterday’s soundcheck took a while to setup, but luckily I stumbled into a grand piano backstage 😬🎹
There’s no better feeling than playing a real piano; the feel, the emotions, the expression. Digital keyboards have tried to imitate the acoustic sound for years but there’s no comparison
Happy to have a moment of musical therapy on the road, even though all the stage techs had to maneuver around me to grab equipment and cables lol. Nonetheless, I think they enjoyed the background music while they built the stage 🎶
Can you name this tune?
Misty di Erroll Garner 😎🎹❤️
#klausbellavitis #ritrattimusicali
#errollgarner #jazzoianist perte
🎹🎶 The great Erroll Garner delivered a lovely performance of his own “That’s my kick” in a historical concert at the Maison de la Radio back in 1973. It will surely mellow your day! 🎹🎶
#classicalmusiclovers #jazz #errollgarner #piano