Blossom Dearie
Blossom Margrethe Dearie was born on April 28, 1924, in East Durham, New York. She was named Blossom after the pear blossoms her brothers picked and decorated their house with to celebrate her birth. By the age of two Blossom was able to pick up songs on the family piano. Her mother remarked that, unlike most children who would bang at the keys when in front of a piano, Blossom thoughtfully played songs from ear and memory. Debussy's Afternoon of the Faun was a favorite. Lessons began around age five and she studied classical music until her teens. She was encouraged to enter the Peabody Conservatory but switched to jazz.