ONYX in Toledo in Lucas County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Art Tatum

Photographed By Dale K. Benington, May 23, 2016

1. Art Tatum Marker

Inscription. Art Tatum was born in Toledo on October 13, 1909, the son of Arthur Tatum, Sr. and Mildred Hoskins Tatum. Despite being blind in one eye and only partially sighted in the other, he became one of the greatest jazz pianists of his era. To deal with his sight disability, he attended the Ohio State School for the Blind in Columbus from 1918-1920. He came from a musical family and had some formal training at the Toledo School of Music, but was largely self-taught. Influenced by famed Fats Waller, Tatum began playing his music on a local radio station at age 18 and then lived in Chicago, New York City, Cleveland, and Los Angeles, playing and recording extensively both as a soloist and in small groups. His ability to improvise set him apart as a musical genius. Tatum died in November 1956 and was named to the Jazz Hall of Fame in 1983.

Erected 2003 by The Ohio Bicentennial Commission, Cinergy, and The Ohio Historical Society. (Marker Number 41-48.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Arts, Letters, Music • Entertainment. In addition, it is included in the Ohio Historical Society / The Ohio History Connection series list. A significant historical date for this entry is October 13, 1909.

Location. 41° 39.111′

Paid Advertisement

Click on the ad for more information.
Please report objectionable advertising to the Editor.

Click or scan to see
this page online

N, 83° 33.461′ W. Marker is in Toledo, Ohio, in Lucas County. It is in ONYX. Marker is on City Park Avenue south of Woodland Avenue, on the left when traveling north. This marker is situated in the front yard of the now vacant house, that I can only assume that Art Tatum once lived in. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1123 City Park Avenue, Toledo OH 43604, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Toledo Museum of Art (approx. 0.6 miles away); First Chartered Girl Scout Council in the United States (approx. 0.6 miles away); Mercy Hospital of Toledo / Mercy Hospital School of Nursing (approx. 0.6 miles away); Willys-Overland Finishing Plant (approx. 0.8 miles away); Root Outdoor Advertising Building (approx. 0.9 miles away); The Berdan (approx. 0.9 miles away); The Ruben Company (approx. 0.9 miles away); Huron St. Village (approx. 0.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Toledo.

Photographed By Dale K. Benington, May 23, 2016

2. Art Tatum Marker

View of the marker, looking north along City Park Avenue.

Photographed By Dale K. Benington, May 23, 2016

3. Art Tatum Marker

View of marker, looking south along City Park Avenue.

Photographed By Dale K. Benington, May 23, 2016

4. Art Tatum Marker

View of the marker, looking south across the southwest corner of the nearby intersection of City Park Avenue and Woodland Street.

Photographed By Dale K. Benington, May 23, 2016

5. Art Tatum Marker

View of the marker situated in the front yard of a now vacant house, that I can only assume that Art Tatum once lived in.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 4, 2023. It was originally submitted on May 25, 2016, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio. This page has been viewed 512 times since then and 28 times this year. Last updated on January 30, 2022, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on May 26, 2016, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.