Billy Taylor (19!1-!010)

Billy Taylor, a pianist mentored by Art Tatum who could play any jazz style flawlessly and whose graceful keyboard choices were matched only by his power to pass the joys of love on TV and radio, and in books and classrooms, died in New York on December 28 of a heart attack. He was 89. [Photo by Hank O'Neal]

A jazz giant who eschewed alcohol and drugs, Billy defiedthe jazz-musician stereotypes found in pulp fiction and picture of the 1950s.