20 Facts About Maurice Rocco

Maurice Rocco was a top nightclub and theater draw in the 1940s, and made several film appearances.

Maurice Rocco toured the United States, Canada, and Europe before becoming a fixture in Bangkok, Thailand, where he was murdered.

Maurice Rocco's mother taught him piano starting at a young age, but did not interfere with his interest in rhythm playing as long as he finished his lessons.

Maurice Rocco was to later legally change his last name from Rockhold to Rocco.

In 1938, Maurice Rocco left the club to participate in two films, Vogues of 1938 and 52nd Street.

Maurice Rocco returned to New York to form his own band, which included Alton Moore, Arville Harris, and Bobby Holmes among its members.

Maurice Rocco did not join active military service because his poor eyesight classified him as 4-F, but during World War II he entertained American troops, both in person and as part of the American Forces Network Jubilee radio program.

Maurice Rocco spent most of the 1940s headlining at nightclubs and theaters and participating in vaudeville revues.

Maurice Rocco fell into legal difficulties in the 1950s regarding bad checks: he was jailed over Christmas 1957 in Cleveland, and was accused of the same offense in July 1958.

Maurice Rocco was found slashed to death in his apartment.

Maurice Rocco was most famous for standing while playing, without using a piano bench.

In 1944 Maurice Rocco claimed that he started standing in 1941, when a customer was sitting on his piano bench and Maurice Rocco, intimidated by the heft of this customer, decided that it would be best to play without the customary seat.

Maurice Rocco eschewed a piano bench from this point on because of the positive reaction from the crowd that night.

However, Maurice Rocco told the story very differently at various times, and he was known to stand while playing as early as the 1930s, rendering the story about 1941 all but impossible.

Maurice Rocco's showmanship was as recognized as his piano playing, and he was known to favor wearing a pea-green dinner jacket.

Maurice Rocco was a headlining act for much of the 1940s, both in the United States and England.

Maurice Rocco was an early influence on Ramsey Lewis and Bobby Short.

Maurice Rocco made his first recordings, for Decca, recording 12 sides in 1940 and '41.

Maurice Rocco cut 10 new sides for Musicraft in September, 1946,7 of which were re-issued by Allegro on a vinyl 10 inch LP in 1957.

Maurice Rocco appeared in numerous Hollywood musicals in the 1940s and 1950s.