He talks musical influences and upcoming shows

Detroiter's album is titled '9'

Matthew Whitaker is a pianist that has been mentored by the likes of Stevie Wonder; Jon Batiste has called him one of “the greatest” at this moment, and he’s already played in front of a sold-out crowd at the Apollo. Whitaker also happens to be just shy of 21 years old and blind.

On today’s Music Monday, we were joined by a world-famous pianist and composer who is this year’s artist and resident at Michigan State University’s Jazz Department.

The convention center, which early in the pandemic served as a temporary field hospital, has been converted into a massive vaccination site. Pianist Barbara Podgurski said her recent performances at the vaccination site were her first in public since the pandemic battered the city last spring. The musicians who perform at the Javits Center are paid to play. But after the pandemic hit, "within two weeks, all of my coming year bookings were canceled.”Reflecting on playing at a vaccination center, Kresek said, “Emotionally, I felt I was contributing to this massive effort. AdDr. Azmatullah Hussaini, a medical contractor at Javits, said he thought it helped put people nervous about their shots at ease.

Pianist and singer Liberace, at one time the highest-paid entertainer in the world, died of pneumonia caused by AIDS at age 67 on Feb. 4, 1987. The musician, whose full name as Wladziu Valentino Liberace, was as famous for his flamboyant costumes and stage manner as he was for his music. While there had been rumors prior to his death that he had contracted HIV, Liberace and everybody around him denied the diagnosis to his last days. His cause of death only came out -- against the wishes of his estate -- in an official autopsy report. Hide Caption