Johnny Răducanu
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Johnny Răducanu (born December 1, 1931, in Brăila) is a Romanian Jazz pianist, of Roma (gypsy) ethnicity, whose family has a long musical tradition dating back to the 17th century.
He started playing the double bass at the age of 19; however, his instrument of choice is the piano. Among his countless collaborations outside Romania were those with Art Farmer (trumpet) and Slide Hampton (trombone), as well as Friedrich Gulda (piano) and Guido Manusardi (piano).
In 1987 Johnny Răducanu received an honorary membership in the Louis Armstrong Academy in New Orleans. He is the founder of the Romanian Jazz school, and during a musical career spanning over half a century, he discovered, nurtured and trained several generations of Romanian jazz musicians. Leonard Feather named him Mr. Jazz of Romania. Johnny Răducanu is the President of the Romanian Jazz Federation.