The outstanding Canadian musician Oscar Peterson (1925-2007) was one of the greatest jazz pianists of the 20th century. He played thousands of concerts worldwide in a career lasting more than 60 years. Peterson released over 200 recordings, won eight Grammy Awards, including one for lifetime achievement, and received numerous of other awards and honours. He was inducted into Canadian Music Hall of Fame and International Jazz Hall of Fame as well as was made an Officer and then Companion of the Order of Canada. Canada Post made him the first living person other than a reigning monarch to appear on a stamp. A life-sized sculpture of Peterson, unveiled on June 30th, 2010 by Queen Elizabeth II, sits permanently outside the National Arts Centre in Ottawa. The Canadian musician was renowned as a highly accomplished soloist for his remarkable speed, ornate technique and swinging style. In his childhood Oscar was taught as a classical pianist of the European tradition, later he was influenced by Americans Teddy Wilson, Nat King Cole and especially Art Tatum, to whom many compared Peterson in later years. A prolific recording artist, he typically released several albums a year from the 1950s until his death, very often in collaboration with other jazz stars, including Ella Fitzgerald, Dizzy Gillespie, Billie Holiday, Louis Armstrong. During his career he worked in duos, trios and quartets with numerous musicians. In 1974 Peterson and his trio visited the former Soviet Union and played one concert in Tallinn. Also Oscar Peterson is famous as a composer and a teacher.