Country

:

Trinidad and Tobago

Birth

:

February 27, 1914 in Tunapuna, Trinidad

Death

:

February 28, 1983 in Sydney, Australia

 

Winifred Atwell was a Trinidadian-born pianist who became one of the most popular and successful classical music artists of the mid-20th century. Born on February 27, 1914, in Tunapuna, Trinidad, Atwell was the youngest of six children. Her father was a pharmacist, and her mother was a music teacher who taught her children to play the piano. Atwell showed an early talent for music and began playing the piano at the age of four. Atwell's family moved to Port of Spain when she was nine years old, and she continued her music education at St. Joseph's Convent. She won a scholarship to study at the Royal Academy of Music in London when she was 16 years old. Atwell was the first black student to attend the academy, and she faced discrimination and racism from some of her fellow students and teachers. However, she persevered and graduated with honors in 1936. After graduation, Atwell began performing in London's West End theaters and nightclubs. She quickly gained a reputation as a talented and versatile pianist who could play a wide range of musical styles, from classical to jazz to popular music. Atwell's signature style was a blend of classical music and boogie-woogie, a fast-paced, rhythmic style of piano playing that originated in African American communities in the United States. Atwell's big break came in 1951 when she recorded a version of "The Black and White Rag," a piece of music written by George Botsford in 1908. Atwell's version became a huge hit in the United Kingdom and around the world, selling over a million copies. The song became Atwell's signature tune and was often used as the theme music for her television appearances. Atwell continued to record and perform throughout the 1950s and 1960s, becoming one of the most popular and successful classical music artists of her time. She recorded over 800 songs and sold over 20 million records worldwide. Atwell's music was particularly popular in the United Kingdom, where she had several top 10 hits and was a regular performer on television and radio. Atwell's success was not limited to the music industry. She was also a trailblazer for black women in the United Kingdom, breaking down barriers and challenging stereotypes. In 1956, she became the first black person to perform at the Royal Variety Performance, an annual event attended by members of the British royal family. Atwell was also a philanthropist who supported a number of charitable causes, including the British Red Cross and the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. Atwell's career began to decline in the 1970s as musical tastes changed and she struggled with health problems. She suffered a stroke in 1977 that left her partially paralyzed and unable to play the piano. Atwell retired from performing and returned to Trinidad, where she lived until her death on February 28, 1983. Despite her decline in popularity in later years, Atwell's legacy as a pioneering classical music artist and trailblazer for black women in the United Kingdom lives on. She was posthumously inducted into the Black Cultural Archives Hall of Fame in 2016, and her music continues to be celebrated and enjoyed by fans around the world.

More....