George Shearing (1919–2011)

From the New York Times obituary:

George Shearing, the British piano virtuoso who overcame blindness to become a worldwide jazz star, and whose composition “Lullaby of Birdland” became an enduring jazz standard, died on Monday in Manhattan.

A Shearing sampler, via YouTube:

“Conception” : “I Cover the Waterfront” : “It Never Entered My Mind” : “Lullaby of Birdland” : A conversation with Billy Taylor

[Shearing on “I Cover the Waterfront”: “I think this was written by Marlon Brando.”]