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Tributes have flooded in for Perth's piano man John Gill, who died last week aged 57.
The talents of the acclaimed stride and ragtime pianist took him around the world but he was probably best known for his energetic busking for more than 17 years in the Murray and Hay street malls.
He gave what would be his last performance on Thursday.
He suffered an apparent heart attack at a North Perth shopping centre on Friday night and could not be revived.
London-born Gill was the first and only Australian to become an accredited Bosendorfer Concert Artist and the first to be invited to play at the prestigious Scott Joplin International Ragtime Festival in America, where he performed annually.
He toured Australia, South-East Asia and was getting ready for another US trip in June.
Before following his parents to Australia in 1983, he played in leading hotels and clubs in Europe and became Britain's top ragtime pianist.
Fellow Perth musician and friend Garry Lee said Gill was the consummate artist.
"He played with, obviously, incredible technique and virtuosity but he was also able to engage the audience," he said. "Very few pianists in the world can play like John and as far as Australia is concerned, I don't think there'd be any."
Jazz Australia owner Diana Allen, who had a 25-year association with Gill, said he was one of the greatest ragtime pianists of our time.
Lord Mayor Lisa Scaffidi said Gill was a wonderful performer and his death was a loss to the city. |
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