WINNIFRED ATWELL
EXPERT ON IVORY
KEYS
Sigmund Assee
Trinidad Guardian
January 1, 2000
Page 13
Winnifred Atwell was born in Trinidad in 1913, in the village of Tunapuna,
situated eight miles from the Capital City of Port of Spain. Her family owned a pharmacy and on leaving
school she pursued studies leading to her qualification as a pharmacist. In 1937 she obtained a druggist's licence,
but she was also avidly interested in playing the piano. In the 1940s her expertise on the ivory keys
gained her wide recognition among knowledgeable music lovers in the colony.
In
the early 40s she travelled to the United States where she further developed
her musical expertise under the tutorship of Alexander Borowsky.
After
her spell in the US, she journeyed to England to continue her studies at the
Royal Academy of Music. However, in
order to support herself this classically trained pianist played popular
boogie-woogie music in London. She had
the distinction of being as wildly acclaimed in the Royal Albert Hall for the
rendition of the works of such masters as Beethoven, Bach and Chopin, as for
her performances of pop music at London's Savoy Hotel.
She
is remembered particularly for her "honky-tonk", a kind of jazz-like
music, which she belted out on a specially put together, untuned piano.
Her
fame as a pianist was known worldwide during the decade mid-1950s to mid-1960s,
and as a result her records soared past the million mark.
Winnie
Atwell became the first British artist to be awarded two gold records at the
same time, each attesting to million record sales.
In
that decade she gave a command performance before Queen Elizabeth II of Great
Britain, and also played before other members of the Royal Family.
In
that decade she also appeared with the British Philharmonic Orchestra and
played regularly at the prestigious Prince of Wales Theatre and the Palladium
Theatre in London.
She
paid several visits to Trinidad and on one occasion gave a free concert at the
Queen's Park Savannah.
At
the end of the 60s she migrated to Australia where she was well received and
achieved a great deal of success on the concert stage.
She
died on February 28, 1983.