Born William John Evans but popularly known as Bill Evans had earned 31 Grammy nominations and seven Grammy awards including the Downbeat Jazz Hall of Fame and Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, posthumously for his amazing contributions to the jazz world. 

His musical ingenuity was evident even at an early age. Heavily influenced by Ravel and Claude Debussy, he eventually found his niche as a reformer of harmonic language with his technique and lyrical improvisations as inspired by Bach's style during the latter years of his career. 

He had a great collaboration with Miles Davis then eventually formed a trio with drummer Paul Motian and bassist Scott LaFaro. The trio then recorded their very first album called “Portrait in Jazz" enabling them to tour from Boston, Chicago, and San Francisco, even in the New York City Hall.  

Bill Evans despite his tumultuous life is considered to be one of the most influential pianists of jazz. His best-known compositions like "Waltz for Debby” and the albums “How My Heart Sings!”, “Moon Beams” and “Conversation with Myself” had set such a high standard in terms of musical conception, harmonization, and rhythmic techniques in jazz. 

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Award-winning Singin' in the Rain is an unadulterated cinematic classic film and is still considered one of the greatest American musicals of all time. 

Created in 1952, this Hollywood satire was choreographed and directed by Stanley Donen and Gene Kelly featuring a power cast of Donald O'Connor, Jean Kelly, Debbie Reynolds, Millard Mitchell, Jean Hagen, and Cyd Charisse.

The story depicts the challenges of transitioning from silent cinema to the age of talkies during the late 1920s and how a love story blossomed between Don Lockwood played by Gene Kelly and Kathy Selden portrayed by Debbie Reynolds accompanied by outstanding musical numbers and performances where "Make 'Em Laugh", "Good Morning" and the classic "Singin' In the Rain"  were popularized. 

This iconic romantic-comedy film was such an incredible inspiration and paved the way for a lot more musical films and popular usages after its premiere. 

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One of the most unforgettable names of the jazz and swing era is Theodore "Teddy" Shaw Wilson. He was born in Austin but eventually moved to Alabama, where he and his brother Gus started their musical journey. After graduating from Talladega College, he pursued the call of music. 

Known by his friends as a definitive jazz pianist with an elegant, sophisticated style, he paved his way by collaborating with other talented musicians such as Hines's Grand Terrace Café Orchestra, Milton Senior and even became a member of the infamous Louis Armstrong’s orchestra where he spent several months recording and touring with the group. 

Teddy Wilson was the first African- American jazz musician to be a part of the Benny Goodman Trio and was deemed the first racial group to make prominent public performances in the history of American music. Wilson eventually created his own band, followed by a sextet based at Café Society. He collaborated some more with other renowned artists with exemplary results.

He was a respected orchestral pianist who was able to gracefully use his musical gifts through the years and even if he died in 1986, his reputation still is commemorated by modern pianists and jazz enthusiasts today.  

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