Lance Hayward facts for kids

Lancelot Henry Stuart Hayward (born June 17, 1916 – died November 9, 1991) was a talented jazz pianist. He was born in Bermuda and lived there for 50 years. Later, he moved to New York City. Lance, as he was known, was blind from a very young age. He learned classical piano formally and taught himself jazz. He became one of Bermuda's most famous jazz artists. Many famous singers, like Carmen McRae and Marvin Gaye, chose him to play piano for them when they visited the island.

About Lance Hayward

His Early Life and Education

Lancelot Henry Stuart Hayward was born in Bermuda. His parents were Henry and Olivia Lathan Hayward. When he was about 14 months old, doctors found he had juvenile glaucoma. This eye condition caused him to become almost completely blind.

At age 13, Lance went to the Perkins School for the Blind in Massachusetts, United States. There, he learned to read books and music using Braille. Braille is a system of raised dots that blind people read with their fingertips. After three years, when he was 16, he returned to Bermuda.

Becoming a Musician

Within a year of returning home, Lance got his first job as a musician. He worked hard over the years to earn a living from music in Bermuda. He also found seasonal jobs playing music in Jamaica, in places like Montego Bay and Ocho Rios.

In 1940, Lance married Mary Jackson. They had a son named Stuart, born in 1942, and a daughter named Sylvia, born in 1951.

As his career grew, Lance became the most popular pianist in Bermuda. He was often asked to play for famous visiting singers. These included Carmen McRae, Joe Williams, Sarah Vaughan, Arthur Prysock, and Marvin Gaye. Lance also started an all-male singing group called the Mu-En Chorale.

Moving to New York

Lance Hayward faced challenges as a blind musician in Bermuda. He felt it was hard to get the respect he deserved from some people and hotels. In 1966, when he was 50, he decided to move permanently to New York City.

In New York, Lance played at many famous jazz clubs. Some of these were West Boondock, Jacques-in-the-Village, and the Village Corner. He played regularly at the Village Corner for 16 years. He also formed his own singing group, the Lance Hayward Singers. This group performed many different kinds of music, from classical composers like Bach to jazz legends like Duke Ellington. The Lance Hayward Singers still perform his music today.

In 1991, Lance Hayward passed away at age 75. He died from pneumonia at Mount Sinai Hospital in Manhattan, New York.

His Legacy

Lance Hayward received many awards and honors during his life and even after. He was recognized in the US, Canada, Europe, and Japan. Bermuda also honored him for his amazing contributions to music.

• 1979 - He received an award from the Bermuda for Bermudians organization.
• 1980 - He was given the Queen's Certificate and Badge of Honour.
• 1984 - The National Heritage Music Committee honored him for his great work in Bermuda's music.
• 1985 - He became the first Bermudian musician to be a featured artist at the Bermuda Festival.
• 1988 - He received the Bermuda Arts Council Lifetime Achievement Award.
• 2001 - After his death, Adlev Entertainment Productions gave him a special award at their first Entertainment Awards Show.

His Music Recordings

Lance Hayward released several music albums during his career:

• Bermuda Evening (with The Hayward and Hayward Vocal Ensemble; 1950)
• Lance Hayward at the Half Moon Hotel (1959)
• Lance Hayward at the Half Moon Hotel, Volume 2 (1960)
• A Closer Walk (1984)
• Hayward and Hinton (1987)
• Killing Me Softly (1992)