Interview with Peter Nero of the Philly Pops

Peter Nero, born Bernard Nierow in 1934 in Brooklyn, began tickling the ivories at the age of 7. By 11 years old he was playing in 1,000 seat venues and at 13 was part of radio competitions in New York. He was a scholarship student at Juilliard by age 14, so you might say that this young man was making rapid progress with his talent. Peter shares that his friends all told him that "he was nuts if he didn't seriously pursue this."

Peter found himself knocking around the cocktail lounge circuit when he was 22 for about 4 years - which proved to be an eye-opener after training to play as a concert pianist. However much to his parents initial dismay, Peter was fascinated by jazz music and eventually created a hybrid mix of jazz and classical music. He gives much credit to his music teachers Abram Chasins and Constance Keene, a husband and wife team who opened their Manhattan home to a select group of jazz enthusiasts. Constance, now in her 80's and still involved in teaching, worked very hard with Peter to retool his classical training into a more free form mix of jazz.

This choice proved to be a winner. Catching the eye of RCA records in a series of competitions, in 1961 he recorded his first album and won a Grammy Award that year for "Best New Artist." He would later win another Grammy as a result of 10 additional nominations and a total of 67 albums.

He has appeared on several national televison shows including 11 guest spots on the Ed Sullivan Show and numerous appearances on Johnny Carson's Tonight Show.

Peter has had an enviable list of entertainers he's worked with over the years including such greats as Henry Mancini, Al Hurt, Mel Torme, Ann Margaret, and Arthur Godfrey. He has also been invited to perform for every US president since 1961. "This was very exciting for me, of course. We would be invited to play and often to the State dinners as many times our involvement was part of a program to honor a foreign dignitary. There were many 'interesting moments' (laughs)."

When I asked him if he recalled any special moments at the White House he was eager to share a few great experiences with President Reagan. Peter was invited back to play for the Reagans' in their private quarters with about 35 people with Chancellor Kohl from West Germany as their guest. "It was just myself and my bass player playing in their living room next to the fire place. I was pleasantly surprised when Mrs. Nancy Reagan showed up during our set up. She seemed concerned that my piano might be placed too close to the fire and causing harm to the piano. She took a real interest and concen with us and they were both such a lovely couple. All that you had heard about their affection for one another was clearly evident, at least from my vantage point."

Pati Buehler: Having been around the music world for over 44 years as a conductor, composer, arranger as well as a virtuoso pianist led me to ask Mr. Nero - who impresses you?

Peter Nero: There are many. Of course being a pianist which is my primary interest I would say that my all time favorite influential person would have to be Vladimir Horowitz. He was so unique. That is not to say that everyone else is not as good. He was just different. I remember sitting in the last row of the balcony at Carnegie Hall or waiting in lines half frozen in February to get tickets, but it was worth it! He was like a god to me. Electrified! Then I'd go to the backstage door and wait in line to meet him. Never did I think that one day he would come to my performances, meet with me for photos. I could tell you all kinds of stories about this. When he performed at the White House during the Reagan administration after returning from Moscow, there were 400 people invited. It was a celebration of sorts for his performance in Moscow. I was invited and I was shocked as I was the only person from the music world. Everyone was wondering "what's he doing here?" (Laughing) and there I was in all my glory.

"After the performance Vladimir was greeting the line of guests. He was smiling and then caught my eye and smiled and said (in Peter's best Russian accent) "Peter, you should have been up there!" Then all the guests were really wondering "who is this guy?" (Laughing). In all the times I have been in his company he always said two things "Peter, you should have been there" and "pretty good for an old man, huh?" Anyway, he leaves a legacy on record that's going to be unparalleled to other pianists to come."

PB: What about today's composers or musicals?

PN: When it comes to composers, being an instrumentalist you don't care too much about words (laughing). But, doing more Broadway products has forced me to become more in tuned to lyrics and I now appreciate them more. Cole Porter, and Richard Rodgers are just a few of those that I appreciate. When you go forward from that whole generation of composers I think, much of what has come after is a step below in terms of words and music, at least to me.

Take a look at a show like My Fair Lady. For every eight or so songs, seven were mega hits known by every generation, and you don't get that from shows coming out now. You get one or two songs at most. Part of the problem is that they don't get air play because air time is pretty consumed by kiddie music. The market audience is younger and younger and that's where the focus is. Just look at the billboards, they come and go. Who's it going to be next year?

I've come to the conclusion that this is really a market driven audience. Radio stations can manipulate this so much, and that's where it's heading.

PB: Speaking of a younger generation, what advice would you give a young serious pianist that would like to pursue a career as a composer, conductor or such?

PN: Oh, I have the utmost sympathy for them. When I attend workshops or seminars I am asked that a lot. I really do feel sorry for them to a point, in that so much has changed. Things were different for me because I came along at the right time. Do you know of many or any pianists that have made it that are just strictly pianists?

PB: Other than a few Jazz pianists, no not really.

PN: I honestly just tell young people that they have to find their way. Today you have to sing and play well and even at that it's not easy to make it.

PB: I'd like to conclude by saying that you are unique talent and creative person that came into this musical world at the right time and were seen by the right people. After all, that is the key to success in any field. I am looking forward to your opening night of Broadway Showstoppers and thank you for an interesting chat.

Peter Nero and the Philly Pops will present their popular program "Broadway Showstoppers" at the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia, Pa. on May 18-22. This year's Broadway line up will be Rebecca Luker, Debbie Gravitte, Brent Barrett and Ron Raines.

For tickets and more information: visit www.kimmelcenter.org and for more information on Peter Nero visit www.peternero.com

 

 

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