Henry Shapiro
The Jefferson Arts Committee is thrilled to welcome jazz pianist Henry “Hank” Shapiro to Christmas in the Village on Saturday, December 5th where he will perform at 2 pm at St. Gabriel’s Episcopal Church, 153 Milton Road, Milton/Oak Ridge.
A pianist all his life, Henry began his career in 1936 at the age of 16 with his own big band, The Henry Shapiro Orchestra. He learned his craft by taking lesson in New York City with the same piano teacher who taught George Gershwin. Affectionately known as “The Piano Man”, he played in various venues in Morris County and northern New Jersey, including various dance halls around Lake Hopatcong. A lifelong member of the Dover Musician’s Union, he moved to Florida in the 1970’s where he continued playing at private parties and restaurants in the Fort Meyers area. His love of music and entertaining has kept him young. Now, at the age of 95, he is back in Morris County, NJ where it all began for him, playing gigs wherever he can.
This past September, he performed at the Garden State Yacht Club for the Lake Hopatcong Historical Society program. He first played there more than 75 years ago and could be seen at numerous venues including Bertrand's Island, Northwood, Glasser's and Sheppie's to name a few!
You can listen to him play at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbcOQNbnUX4
For more information on all the Christmas in the Village events and activities, go to www.jeffersonarts.org, find Jefferson Arts Committee on Facebook, email artscommittee@jeffersonarts.org, or call 973-697-3828.