Ian lucky you!! Oscar has been my idol going back to 1968 when I first heard him play. I would love to meet him. I did however meet on a regular basis the late James Williams ( jazz pianist) He regularly played in the Boston area. Probably the most memorable meeting was in NY's Village. He was playing at a placed called the Knickerbocker. My wife and I are were 2 of the 6 people in the joint , late one evening. When James took a break we had a nice long conversation discussing whether becoming a great pianist was hard work or talent. James said it was 99% hard work.

I also met Dianne Reeves when she was working with James at the old Starlight Roof room atop the old Howard Johnsons in Boston. Now that was some night, that girl can sing.

I've also met and talked with one of the lesser known jazz pianists Dave McKenna who was a regular at the Copley Plaza Hotel in Boston. The last time I saw him there, our group was one of 20 people in the lounge where he was playing. That night he seemed more interested in listening to the Red Sox game on his walkman.

And last but not least while in college I tended bar in a restaurant near a place called the Warwick Musical Theater. Liberace played there every summer and came to the restaurant late in the evening after every performance. He was very friendly with the owner, so friendly that when she asked him to redocorate her home he spent $50,000 of his own money to hire contractors and decorators to complete the project. I might add he had them complete it in 5 days. On day 6 he was leaving for another city and wanted to see the finished product.