Album Notes

BIOGRAPHY

Roy Eaton

Roy Eaton first performed in Carnegie Hall on Thursday, June 17, 1937 as a Gold Medalist in a competition sponsored by the Music Education League of New York. In 1948, his Junior College year was spent at the University of Zurich, Switzerland after winning the Naumburg Scholarship from CCNY. In June 1950, he simultaneously graduated from CCNY (BSS, magna cum laude, Phi Bet Kappa) and the Manhattan School of Music (BM). He also won the first Kosciuszko Foundation Chopin Award. He made his American debut with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra performing Chopin’s F minor Concerto under George Schick in 1951. He was reengaged to perform Beethoven’s 4th the following season, and also made his New York Town Hall debut in 1952. His career was “temporarily “ interrupted by two years service in the US Army during the Korean conflict, then approximately thirty years in advertising at Young & Rubicam, V.P.Music Director of Benton & Bowles, and running his own production company. Memorable advertising jingles for Beefaroni, Kent Cigarettes, Post Honeycomb and Texaco were written and produced by him during his advertising career. He is currently on the faculty of the Manhattan School of Music. He returned to Carnegie Hall on December 9, 2002 as soloist with the NY Pops Orchestra led by Skitch Henderson.
1986 marked his return to the concert stage with a unique Alice Tully recital exploring the spiritual dimension of Chopin’s music called “The Meditative Chopin”. The N.Y. Times Tim Page said:
”The cumulative effect was deeply satisfying. One came much closer to the heart of Chopin—and by extension, to music itself”
The reaction of audiences around the world has been equally enthusiastic. A Moscow critic wrote:”
“There are occasions when this world gives us magic moments of inspiration, when our reason and our soul live a special life, which is unfettered by mundane earthly laws. It was exactly this kind of moment which an American pianist, Roy Eaton, gave to Muscovites who managed to get to his concerts.”
His performances of the music of Scott Joplin have been particularly noteworthy. His mission has been to restore Joplin’s works to the domain that it was Joplin’s intention that they live- as classical compositions in the tradition of the great European masters. Recent tours have included appearances at the 92nd Street Y, Bargemusic, and the Kravis center in West Palm Beach. This season he played the Gershwin Rhapsody in Blue with the Salisbury Symphony in North Carolina, and was reengaged by the Western Piedmont Symphony to perform the Ravel G Major Concerto. In his last appearance with them he also conducted a workshop on “The Healing Power of Music & Sound.” His current recordings including “The Meditative Chopin” on Seventh Wave, “Joplin Rags” on Sony Classical, and“24/7+7 The complete Preludes of Chopin, Gershwin, and William Grant Still” on the Summit label are available at www.CDBaby.com .

On March 10, 2002 a new chapter in Roy’s personal life was ushered in when his wife Barbara gave birth to twin boys, Ari & Ravi. His latest CD ‘Keyboard Classics for Children’ was inspired by them. Check his website www.royeaton.net for upcoming engagements