This is a list of music prodigies, young children (at or under age 12) who displayed a talent in music deemed to make them competitive with skilled adult musicians. The list is sorted by genre and instrument.
Performed as Baby Sujatha in the 1970s. Regularly sang with K. J. Yesudas in his stage shows. She recorded her first song, "Kannezhuthy Pottuthottu" when she was in the sixth standard. She debuted in Tamil through the song "Kaadhal Oviyam Kandein" from Kavikuyil (1977). She completed more than 2000 stage shows before her 18th age.[citation needed]
Sang Habanera from Carmen by Bizet and Libiamo ne' lieti calici from La Traviata by Verdi with Canada's Three Tenors at Mel Lastman Square, Toronto, on August 3, 2002[4]
2nd place on America's Got Talent at age 10,[5][6] and, still aged 10, the youngest solo artist ever to release a platinum-selling album.[7][8] At age 11, Evancho also became the youngest artist ever to debut in the UK in the top 5,[9] the youngest person ever to have a special on the PBS Great Performances television series,[10] and the youngest person ever to sing a solo concert at Lincoln Center.[5]
At the age of seven, he won a first prize for solfège and prizes in piano, harmony, and organ; Luigi Cherubini, director of the Conservatoire, described his technique and ability as extraordinary
Attended The Royal Conservatory of Music (Toronto) at age 10; passing his final Conservatory examination in piano with the "highest marks of any candidate"; attaining "professional standing as a pianist" at age 12[18]
Perfect pitch, and ability to recall anything by ear, first cited in The Herald, Melbourne, when he was 5 years old. Aged 5, he performed for Fox Movietone News, and at aged 9 on Australian national television. His mature début as a pianist came at the age of 13, with Rachmaninoff's Second Piano Concerto.
Performed "Schneeflöckchen, Weißröckchen" with the Marzahn Hellersdorf School of Music at age 2; with Andre Rieu at the Waldbühne at age 3; with Andre Rieu at Radio City Music Hall at age 5;[27] with Wolfgang Fischer at age 6 & Richard Clayderman at age 7 (2009).[28]
Started performing at age 5, auditioned for the Juilliard School at age 6 and professional debut came when she performed Paganini's Violin Concerto No. 1 with the New York Philharmonic at age 8. Recorded her first studio album called "Debut" at age 9. Has performed with most major international orchestras by age 11.[29]
Learned violin as a toddler with elder sister Teresa. Debuted age 6 and toured Europe as a duo with Teresa. Nicknamed "Madamoiselle Staccato" for her liveliness. Untimely death 1848 (age 16).
Learned violin from age 4, debut age 9. Tutors: Lafont, Habeneck, de Bériot. Admired by Berlioz, Chopin, Johann Strauss the Elder, Liszt, Meyerbeer. Gave scores of acclaimed concerts throughout Europe in major halls and royal courts, both solo and as duo with younger sister Maria, whom she coached. Nicknamed "Mademoiselle Adagio" for her seriousness.
Began studying the violin at 3. Made his first concerts at 4. Began his orchestral career as a soloist under the baton of Leopold Stokowski at 7. Played for Kreisler his own candenzas to the Beethoven violin concerto after having memorized them by ear while attending two concerts of the Viennese master at 8. Was Leopold Auer's youngest pupil ever (8). Was able to play the piano, violin and viola at a professional level.[48][49][50]
Earl Scruggs: Banjo virtuoso; created the unique and distinctive three finger roll, a defining component of the bluegrass sound, by age ten. Known as Scruggs style banjo.[88][89]
Reggie Sears: Began playing guitar seriously at age 11, by age 12 he played with Solomon Burke, Hubert Sumlin and Guitar Shorty, released his debut CD at 14 years old and headlined his first tour by age 15.
Bix Biederbecke: Self-taught piano and cornet player, learning the first at a particularly young age (playing with his hands overhead while standing). Article written about him in Davenport (Iowa) newspaper at age 7, and went on to great fame before dying probably of alcoholism at age 28.
Dennis Chambers: began playing drums at age three, was professional at 9, was an 'in demand' drummer on the NYC music scene at the age of 14, and was a member of Parliament-Funkadelic at the age of 18.
Eldar Djangirov: "Discovered" at age nine; became the youngest musician to appear on Piano Jazz at age twelve; released his first CD at age fourteen [101]
Lucciano Pizzichini: Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 2000, Lucciano emigrated with his parents at 11 months. Learned on a one-string guitar at age 2, began reading notes and playing simple folk songs and classical pieces by Carcassi at age 3. By age 4, he was formally reading notation and playing classical guitar pieces. By age 6, Lucciano completed the first guitar method book from the Berklee School of Music, and various classical guitar techniques. Received publicity in Florida while playing many classic rock songs professionally with his father, Adrian Pizzichini, By age 7, Lucciano was playing intricate pieces by Joe Pass and Pat Martino. At age 8, was the youngest musician to be endorsed by Gibson Guitars.
Buddy Rich: Began playing drums at 18 months old; was a bandleader by age eleven [105]
Sugar Chile Robinson: A pianist in the jazz subgenre of boogie-woogie, he had his first public performance at the age of 3; he retired from active performing at age 13.[106]
Hilton Ruiz: Performed at Carnegie Recital Hall at age eight; played in an accordion symphony at age nine [107][108]
Tony Royster Jr: Began playing drums at the age of 3. He is known for winning the Guitar Center National Drum-Off competition Hollywood in 1995 (at the age of 11). He frequently tours with rapper Jay Z as part of his live band.
Tony Williams: Drummer, performed professionally at age 13, released debut at age 18, performed with Miles Davis at age 17, was a key pioneer in jazz-fusion at age 23.
Post-war genres
R&B, soul, and funk
Michael Jackson: Joined his older siblings in the Jackson 5 at age five; his dancing, singing and performing abilities soon surpassed his older siblings; He had his first No.1 as a solo artist at age 13, and his first No.1 (as the lead singer of the Jackson 5) at age 11.[112]
Booker T. Jones: Keyboardist for Booker T and the M.G's was proficient at organ, piano, oboe, saxophone, and trombone by the age of 10. He began playing as a professional session musician at 16.
Billy Preston: Began singing and playing organ in church at the age of 3, played organ for gospel musicians Mahalia Jackson and James Cleveland before he was 10, sang with Nat King Cole on his nationally televised show at 11, appeared in a movie playing a young W.C. Handy in the loosely made biopic, St. Louis Blues at 12, joined Little Richard's group at the age of 15, played on Sam Cooke's album, Night Beat, and released his first major label album at the age of 16.
Aretha Franklin: Began singing and playing piano and organ in church at age 4, became a soloist at age 10, released her first album at age 14.
Frankie Lymon: Became lead singer of The Teenagers when he was 12; his first hit single was released when he was 13; became the world's first black teenaged pop star.
Björk: Began classical study at age five; released an album at age eleven [119]
Alanis Morissette: Released her first song at age ten, which later became an unsuccessful single; became a protege of a local folk musician; had her own record and record producing company at an early age [120]
Wolfgang Van Halen: Son of Van Halen guitarist Eddie Van Halen, Wolfgang began playing on-stage with the band at age 13, and was a full member of Van Halen at age 15. He plays guitar, electric bass, drums, and keyboard.
Steve Winwood: Played organ in the "The Ron Atkinson Band" at age eight;[121] was backing blues legends by age thirteen on United Kingdom tours; became the keyboardist for The Spencer Davis Group at age fifteen [122]
Charly Garcia: Played piano at age of three, gifted. He has absolute pitch.
Musical Prodigies: Masters at an Early Age by Renee B. Fisher ISBN 0-8096-1854-0
Musical Prodigies: Perilous Journeys, Remarkable Lives by Claude Kenneson ISBN 1-57467-046-8
References
^ abcdThe age at which the musician had their first public performance. Cite error: The named reference "ReferenceA" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
^Spindle, Les. Julie Andrews: A Bio-Bibliography, pp. 1–2, Greenwood Press (1989) ISBN 0-313-26223-3
^Stegemann, Michael. "The Story of a Genius". This is Glenn Gould. Sony Music Entertainment. Retrieved 1 February 2013. June 5, 1938: Gould accompanies his parents on the organ at a church concert
^Bazzana, Kevin (2003). Wondrous strange : the life and art of Glenn Gould. Toronto: McClelland & Stewart. pp. 75–76. ISBN978-0-7710-1101-6.
^Alanna Nash and Paul Kingsbury, ed. (2006). "Ch. 12: Pocketful of Gold". Will the Circle Be Unbroken: Country Music in America. New York, NY: DK Publishing, Inc. p. 334.