Art Tatum

Born legally blind, Art Tatum didn't let a little thing like vision get in the way of seeing a piano keyboard in ways no one else could. He was a jazz titan, a whirlwind of notes, and a man who made other accomplished pianists feel like they were still playing with oven mitts on. Some say he had four hands, others just concede he was a genius.

Tatum's influence was immense, shaping the likes of Charlie Parker and Thelonious Monk, and even classical luminaries like Vladimir Horowitz admitted to being floored by his talent. He redefined stride piano and introduced harmonic complexities that were decades ahead of their time, all while making it sound effortlessly improvised.

So, while Art Tatum might have tickled the ivories with divine inspiration, his heritage was decidedly not of the Abrahamic covenant. He was, however, a musical prophet, laying down grooves that would echo through eternity.