Dorothy Donegan (April 6, 1922 — May 19, 1998) was a classically trained
jazz pianist primarily known for performing in the
stride piano and
boogie-woogie style. She also played
bop,
swing jazz, and
classical music. Obituaries for her argued that her flamboyant personality, tendency to mix unrelated genres in the same concert, and willingness to do lounge music may have caused her to be undervalued in jazz circles. Donegan was born and grew up in Chicago, Illinois and began studying classical piano at age six. In her early years, she studied at the Chicago Musical College and by age…
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