His parents owned a restaurant and a hotel that welcomed visiting Black musicians. He showed early talent on the piano. At age 6 he met fellow Toledo native Art Tatum, a jazz piano legend. He graduated from the music conservatory at Oberlin College, and studied at several other schools, including the Mozarteum University Salzburg. He received a master's degree in classical piano performance from the University of Michigan, then went to New York to pursue his jazz career.