Eddie Heywood
A smooth jazz pianist whose elegant compositions, like 'Canadian Sunset,' defined sophisticated cool for a postwar generation.
1915–1989 (age 74)·American jazz pianist and composer·Birthday: December 4·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Eddie Heywood crafted a sound that was the audio equivalent of a tailored suit—sleek, polished, and effortlessly cool. Born into a musical family in Atlanta in 1915, he was a professional pianist by his teens, eventually moving to New York where his refined style found a home in the swing era. He led his own sextet in the 1940s, producing a stream of sophisticated instrumentals that blended swing with a nascent, accessible form of bebop. His career was nearly derailed in the 1950s by a paralysis that affected his hands, but his determination led to a remarkable comeback. Heywood's legacy is sealed by his compositions, which became standards beyond the jazz world, providing the soundtrack for countless mid-century moments with their urbane melody and gentle swing.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Eddie was born in 1915, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Eddie Was Born
The biggest hits of 1915
#1 Movie
The Birth of a Nation
Eddie's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1915Born
The Lusitania is sunk by a German U-boat
President: Woodrow Wilson
1920Started school
Women gain the right to vote in the US
Home: $3,395President: Woodrow Wilson"Swanee" — Al Jolson
1928Became a teenager
Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin; Mickey Mouse debuts
President: Calvin Coolidge"Ol' Man River" — Paul WhitemanBest Picture: Wings
1931Could drive
The Empire State Building opens as the world's tallest
Gas: $0.17/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Minnie the Moocher" — Cab CallowayBest Picture: Cimarron
1933Could vote
FDR's New Deal launches; Prohibition ends
Gas: $0.18/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Stormy Weather" — Ethel WatersBest Picture: Cavalcade
1936Turned 21
Jesse Owens wins four golds at the Berlin Olympics
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"The Way You Look Tonight" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: The Great Ziegfeld
1945Turned 30
WWII ends; atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $4,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Sentimental Journey" — Les Brown & Doris DayBest Picture: The Lost Weekend
1955Turned 40
Rosa Parks refuses to give up her bus seat
Gas: $0.29/galHome: $9,550Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Rock Around the Clock" — Bill Haley & His CometsBest Picture: Marty
1965Turned 50
US sends combat troops to Vietnam
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,600Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" — The Rolling StonesBest Picture: The Sound of Music
1975Turned 60
Fall of Saigon ends the Vietnam War
Gas: $0.57/galHome: $27,600Min wage: $2.10/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Love Will Keep Us Together" — Captain & TennilleBest Picture: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
1985Turned 70
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1989Died at 74
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
Key Achievements
- Composed the jazz standard "Canadian Sunset," which became a massive pop hit for Andy Williams in 1956.
- Led the successful Eddie Heywood Sextet in the 1940s, recording hits like "Begin the Beguine" and "The Man I Love."
- Successfully resumed his performing career after a period of partial paralysis, demonstrating remarkable perseverance.
Did You Know?
His father, Eddie Heywood Sr., was also a well-known jazz musician from Atlanta.
The paralysis that interrupted his career was diagnosed as a form of focal dystonia.
His composition "Land of Dreams" was used as the theme music for the long-running radio show "The Museum of Modern Art Summer Concert Series."
“The piano is a conversation, not a speech; you have to leave space for the other voices.”
