Lance Hayward, a jazz pianist, was born in Bermuda in 1916, where he lived until he moved to New York City at the age of 50. Blind since infancy, he received formal training in classical piano and was a self-taught jazz musician, eventually becoming one of Bermuda's best-known jazz artists. He was often the accompanist of choice for Carmen McRae, Marvin Gaye and others when they performed on the island.
In New York he appeared at many jazz clubs, including West Boondock, Jacques-in-the-Village and the Village Corner, where he appeared regularly for 16 years. He formed his own chorus, the Lance Hayward Singers, which perform a wide variety of music, from Bach to Duke Ellington. The Lance Hayward Singers continue to sing Hayward's arrangements under the direction of Claudia Marx.
Lance Hayward died of pneumonia, in 1991 at age 75 and lived in Manhattan.