- Earl Wild giving a masterclass at New York’s Mannes College of Music.
World-renowned master of the piano Earl Wild has died aged 94 of congestive heart disease.
Wild was best known for his transcriptions of jazz and classical works such as the collected Piano Music of Franz Liszt.
He was the first pianist to give a solo recital on US television, in 1937, and won numerous awards during his career.
Michael Rolland Davis, Wild’s partner, reported that Wild’s death came after a long illness and happened in his own home.
He stated: “He had a wonderfully full life and was still coaching pianists up until the last week of his life. He will be greatly missed. His memoirs are scheduled to be published in a few months by Carnegie Mellon Press.”
During his lifetime, Wild won a number of awards including the Liszt Medal and a Grammy, as well as an accolade from the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.