The music field was the first to break down racial barriers, because in order to play together, you have to love the people you are playing with, and if you have any racial inhibitions, you wouldn’t be able to do that.

Meaning of the quote

In the music world, people of different races were able to come together and play music, even when society was still divided by race. To play music well as a group, you need to care about and trust the other musicians. If you have any negative feelings about someone's race, you wouldn't be able to play music with them. Music helped break down these racial barriers because it brought people together in a way that made them forget about the color of each other's skin.

About Oscar Peterson

Oscar Peterson was a renowned Canadian jazz pianist and composer who was considered one of the greatest jazz pianists of all time. He released over 200 recordings, won numerous awards, and performed thousands of concerts worldwide over a career that spanned more than 60 years. He was known by several nicknames, including the “Maharaja of the keyboard” and the “King of inside swing”.
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More quotes from Oscar Peterson

I am the worlds laziest writer.

Oscar Peterson

Canadian jazz pianist (1925-2007)

I don’t believe that a lot of the things I hear on the air today are going to be played for as long a time as Coleman Hawkins records or Brahms concertos.

Oscar Peterson

Canadian jazz pianist (1925-2007)

I play as I feel.

Oscar Peterson

Canadian jazz pianist (1925-2007)

I believe in using the entire piano as a single instrument capable of expressing every possible musical idea.

Oscar Peterson

Canadian jazz pianist (1925-2007)

I have no one style.

Oscar Peterson

Canadian jazz pianist (1925-2007)

Some people try to get very philosophical and cerebral about what they’re trying to say with jazz. You don’t need any prologues, you just play.

Oscar Peterson

Canadian jazz pianist (1925-2007)

We’re not like pop musicians who have to perform the same top ten tunes every night of a tour.

Oscar Peterson

Canadian jazz pianist (1925-2007)

If you have something to say of any worth then people will listen to you.

Oscar Peterson

Canadian jazz pianist (1925-2007)

I don’t do something because I think it will sell 30 million albums. I couldn’t care less. If it sells one, it sells one.

Oscar Peterson

Canadian jazz pianist (1925-2007)

You not only have to know your own instrument, you must know the others and how to back them up at all times. That’s jazz.

Oscar Peterson

Canadian jazz pianist (1925-2007)

The music field was the first to break down racial barriers, because in order to play together, you have to love the people you are playing with, and if you have any racial inhibitions, you wouldn’t be able to do that.

Oscar Peterson

Canadian jazz pianist (1925-2007)

It’s the group sound that’s important, even when you’re playing a solo.

Oscar Peterson

Canadian jazz pianist (1925-2007)

Too many jazz pianists limit themselves to a personal style, a trademark, so to speak. They confine themselves to one type of playing.

Oscar Peterson

Canadian jazz pianist (1925-2007)