Frequent Rifftides correspondent Svetlana Ilicheva writes from Moscow:
I wonder if it is a well-known thing that Oscar Peterson sang? It was a great surprise to find this recording, not only for me but for some of my Facebook</em friends.
Nat Cole was one of Peterson’s primary piano influences. His effect on the younger man also extended to Peterson’s singing. In this 1965 album, Peterson paid tribute to Cole in both areas.
I picked up a Japanese import LP of With Respect To Nat sometime in the 1970s. He also sings at least one song on the Pablo Today LP The Personal Touch and I also have an import LP version of The Vocal Styling of Oscar Peterson (Verve 2352 169). I do remember Oscar Peterson singing “Cheek to Cheek” on a television special decades ago, but I’ve forgotten what program it was on and which network aired it. It definitely wasn’t a part of his excellent half-hour CBC series Oscar Peterson & Friends, which deserve to be available on DVD.
It may not be widely known but Oscar Peterson recorded his vocal debut in November, 1951, for Norman Granz’ Clef label, singing on “Until The Real Thing Comes Along” with his Trio, accompanied by Barney Kessel on guitar and Ray Brown on bass. In 1952 he vocalized on “Too Marvelous For Words” and “But Not For Me” with his quartet and “Autumn In New York”, again with his Trio, all on the Clef label. In my opinion Peterson was a good singer but as a vocalist would always be in the shadow of one of his major influences, Nat Cole.