Andre Watts Dies: Groundbreaking Classical Music Pianist Was 77
deadline.comAndré Watts, one of the first Black superstars in classical music, died on Wednesday at his home in Bloomington, Ind. He was 77 and died of prostrate cancer, according to his wife.
Watts had an electric stage presence, often moving to the music with his head and feet, drawing criticism from the more conservative critics.
But his technical prowess overcame those quibbles and launched him into the upper echelons of concert halls. In 1963, he won an audition to appear with Leonard Bernstein and the New York Philharmonic as part of the nationally televised series of Young People’s Concerts.
He was 16-years-old, but his performance that day was hailed, and he soon received a bigger boost. Bernstein invited him to make his formal Philharmonic debut, substituting for pianist Glenn Gould.
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