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Winifred Atwell

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Musician

The Resume

    (February 27, 1914-February 28, 1983)
    Born in Tunapuna, Trinidad and Tobago
    Pianist
    Recorded the singles ‘Britannia Rag’ (1952), ‘Coronation Rag’ (1953), ‘Let’s Have a Party’ (1953), ‘Rachmaninoff’s 18th Variation on a Theme by Paganini’ (1954), ‘Let’s Have Another Party’ (1954), ‘The Poor People of Paris’ (1956), ‘Let’s Have a Ball’ (1957) and ‘Piano Party’ (1959)
    Hosted ‘The Winifred Atwell Show’ (1956-57)
    Became an Australian citizen (1981)

Why she might be annoying:

    Her birth date has also been given as April 27 and her birth year as 1910.
    When she had her hands insured for £40,000, Lloyd’s of London included a clause in the policy banning her from washing dishes.
    Her concert gimmick was to play some classical pieces on a grand piano, then switch to a battered upright (her ‘other piano’) for boogie and ragtime songs.

Why she might not be annoying:

    She was the first black performer to hit #1 on the British singles chart (1954).
    She played three Royal Variety Performances, plus a private party for Queen Elizabeth II.
    She regularly donated her services to charity concerts on Sundays, with orphanages and funds for needy children being the most frequent beneficiaries.
    A devout Roman Catholic, she played the organ for her parish church.
    She criticized the treatment of Aborigines during a tour of Australia (1962).
    She died of a heart attack while staying with friends after an electrical fire destroyed her house.

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 8 Votes: 87.50% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 2 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 4 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying