(Louis), famous African-American jazz pianist and composer; b. Pittsburgh, June 15, 1921; d. Los Angeles, Jan. 2, 1977. Incredibly precocious, Garner played regularly over radio station KDKA in Pittsburgh at the age of seven with a group called the Candy Kids. As an adolescent he played piano on riverboats cruising the Allegheny River, and then was a featured piano player in nightclubs and restaurants. He went to N.Y. in 1944, forming his own trio in 1946. In 1948 he went to Paris, making further European tours in 1962, 1964, 1966, and 1969.

Completely self-taught, Garner composed tunes by simply singing and accompanying himself at the piano. An assistant would put down the notes. He also played drums and slap-bass.

Garner's whimsical piano style especially appealed to French jazz critics, who called him "The Picasso of the Piano," and, alluding to his digital dexterity, "The Man with 40 Fingers." In 1971 the Republic of Mali issued a postage stamp in his honor.

Among his own songs, numbering some 200, the heart-tugging ballad Misty became greatly popular. Many others reflect similarly wistful moods, exemplified by such titles as Dreamy, Solitaire, and That's My Kick.