The death has been recorded of Leon Bates, one of the leading US pianists of his generation.
Raised in Philadelphia, he played concertos with the foremost American orchestras and many in Europe. He recorded for Naxos, Orion and Performance Records.
See Bruce Duffie’s interview with Leon Bates.
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An elated performance of the Gershwin. “Who could ask for anything more ?”
I met Mr. Bates back in 1986. He played Rhapsody in Blue with the university orchestra. A friend and I asked him if he’d like to get a drink one night. We had a great time talking about music and just having fun. Nice guy, terrific pianist.
Mr Bates came and played with us at the Symphony Club reading orchestra in N. Philly around 1969. A rising star. RIP.
What a pity this fine artist’s career was shortened by Parkinson’s Disease.
He was the star pupil of Natalie Hinderas whose own career was cut short by illness though she left a legacy of influential recordins on the Desto label.
OMG! May Leon be in Heaven resting in peace. He is the one who started me singing when we in Germantown high school in 1967. I could give him a Dionne Warwick album, and the next day he came to school he could play it from memory. He played “Walk on by” for me, the first time I ever sang in public, in the school talent show. Linda Creed was also there at that time.