Ebony and Ivory (piano duo)
Encyclopedia
Ebony and Ivory was the name given to two elderly women in New Jersey
, one white and one black, who played classical piano together. Both had suffered a stroke
in 1982 and become partially disabled. Ruth Eisenberg
and Margaret Patrick
were introduced to each other the following year and began playing piano together, one hand each. A reporter covering their story dubbed them Ebony and Ivory after the 1982 hit song
by Paul McCartney
and Stevie Wonder
.
and started playing the piano at the age of eight. She accompanied singers and orchestras from the time she was a young girl and was often called on to play the piano while in high school. At the age of 16, she graduated with honors from the Martin Smith Conservatory of Music. After getting married in 1933, she continued accompanying singers and orchestras. She also taught piano and conducted a church choir in the Bronx. One of the highpoints in her work was directing a choir that once sang with Duke Ellington
and his orchestra. In January 1982, she had a stroke that left her disabled on her right side and unable to speak. After months in the hospital, she returned to her home in Englewood
, New Jersey
, able to speak a little bit, but unable to move her right hand enough to play the piano.
Ruth Brewer Eisenberg
(1902–1996) played piano for many years. She had a few lessons as a young child, but they were early discontinued. After getting married in 1923, she was taught by her husband, Jacob Eisenberg
, a pianist, teacher and author. He wanted to try out his teaching methods on his wife, but she hated to practice. In order to get her to practice, he promised to do all the housework for her and she agreed. Later, she accompanied him on a lecture tour of the United States, playing the piano to illustrate her husband's piano technique and how his methods could help an adult learn to play the piano. After his death in 1964, she sold their piano, but later missed having it and she bought another one, playing for eight hours the first day. She began to give short concerts to area senior citizen groups, but these were cut short in November 1982, when she had a stroke. She was in therapy for months and although she learned to walk again, she remained disabled on her left side. She was, however, able to return to her apartment in Cliffside Park, New Jersey.
In late 1982, Patrick began going for therapy at Southeast Senior Center for Independent Living. Eisenberg started coming in early 1983 and a month later, the program director saw Eisenberg, depressed, fiddling at the piano with one hand. Eisenberg told McCall's, "I was doodling at the piano ... with one hand, feeling sorry for myself, wishing I were dead. I didn't want to talk to anyone. Then Millie [the program director] walks up behind me with Margaret and tells me that she plays the piano and says, 'Why don't you two try to get together?' And immediately we got to talking about Chopin. And then we sat down at the piano and played Chopin's 'Minute Waltz'. I played the treble with my right hand; she played the bass with her left. I was elated to play my music again, and we found out we knew all the same pieces."
They began practicing at the Senior Center and occasionally at Eisenberg's apartment. In May 1983, a senior citizen center in Teaneck, New Jersey asked them to play at a party. Their story appeared in local newspapers and they began getting invitations to play at other area hospitals and senior centers. A local reporter dubbed them Ebony and Ivory and the name stuck. They began to play in other senior citizen facilities, at veterans' homes and hospitals.
, Geraldo Rivera
and David Hartman
. Liberace
, who was a fan of "Ebony and Ivory", made his last television appearance on the Hour Magazine with Gary Collins
and made it a condition of his appearance that if they would bring Eisenberg and Patrick on the program, he would come. Newsman Morry Alter
won an award for his CBS News report on them. They were featured on PM Magazine
, CNN
and NBC Nightly News
, with Tom Brokaw.
Eisenberg and Patrick's story was included in a book by Norman Vincent Peale
and in More True Stories, an ESL reader in its third edition. It is included in sermons and religious publications in the US and other countries.
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, one white and one black, who played classical piano together. Both had suffered a stroke
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
in 1982 and become partially disabled. Ruth Eisenberg
Ruth Brewer Eisenberg
Ruth Brewer Eisenberg was "Ivory" of "Ebony and Ivory," the inter-racial piano duo. Eisenberg and Margaret Patrick, "Ebony," each had a stroke in 1982, which partially disabled them. Prior to the stroke, each had studied and played classical piano. Eisenberg was disabled on the left, Patrick on...
and Margaret Patrick
Margaret Patrick
Margaret Patrick was "Ebony" in Ebony and Ivory, the name given to a pair of great-grandmothers in New Jersey, one white and one black, who played classical piano together. Each had a stroke in 1982 and became partially disabled. They were introduced to each other the following year and began...
were introduced to each other the following year and began playing piano together, one hand each. A reporter covering their story dubbed them Ebony and Ivory after the 1982 hit song
Ebony and Ivory
"Ebony and Ivory" is a 1982 number-one single by Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder. It was released on March 29 of that year. The song is featured on McCartney's album Tug of War. The song reached number one on both the UK and the U.S. charts...
by Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney
Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
and Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
.
Background
Margaret Patrick (1913–1994) grew up in HarlemHarlem
Harlem is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Manhattan, which since the 1920s has been a major African-American residential, cultural and business center. Originally a Dutch village, formally organized in 1658, it is named after the city of Haarlem in the Netherlands...
and started playing the piano at the age of eight. She accompanied singers and orchestras from the time she was a young girl and was often called on to play the piano while in high school. At the age of 16, she graduated with honors from the Martin Smith Conservatory of Music. After getting married in 1933, she continued accompanying singers and orchestras. She also taught piano and conducted a church choir in the Bronx. One of the highpoints in her work was directing a choir that once sang with Duke Ellington
Duke Ellington
Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington was an American composer, pianist, and big band leader. Ellington wrote over 1,000 compositions...
and his orchestra. In January 1982, she had a stroke that left her disabled on her right side and unable to speak. After months in the hospital, she returned to her home in Englewood
Englewood
Englewood is a corruption of Dutch Engelse buurt, or "English neighborhood", which originally referred to Englewood, New Jersey's status as one of the few English-speaking settlements in Dutch-speaking New Netherland...
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, able to speak a little bit, but unable to move her right hand enough to play the piano.
Ruth Brewer Eisenberg
Ruth Brewer Eisenberg
Ruth Brewer Eisenberg was "Ivory" of "Ebony and Ivory," the inter-racial piano duo. Eisenberg and Margaret Patrick, "Ebony," each had a stroke in 1982, which partially disabled them. Prior to the stroke, each had studied and played classical piano. Eisenberg was disabled on the left, Patrick on...
(1902–1996) played piano for many years. She had a few lessons as a young child, but they were early discontinued. After getting married in 1923, she was taught by her husband, Jacob Eisenberg
Jacob Eisenberg (musician)
Jacob Eisenberg was an American pianist, teacher and author of books and articles on the piano. He was married to Ruth Brewer Eisenberg, "Ivory" of the piano duo, Ebony and Ivory.- Musical accomplishments :...
, a pianist, teacher and author. He wanted to try out his teaching methods on his wife, but she hated to practice. In order to get her to practice, he promised to do all the housework for her and she agreed. Later, she accompanied him on a lecture tour of the United States, playing the piano to illustrate her husband's piano technique and how his methods could help an adult learn to play the piano. After his death in 1964, she sold their piano, but later missed having it and she bought another one, playing for eight hours the first day. She began to give short concerts to area senior citizen groups, but these were cut short in November 1982, when she had a stroke. She was in therapy for months and although she learned to walk again, she remained disabled on her left side. She was, however, able to return to her apartment in Cliffside Park, New Jersey.
In late 1982, Patrick began going for therapy at Southeast Senior Center for Independent Living. Eisenberg started coming in early 1983 and a month later, the program director saw Eisenberg, depressed, fiddling at the piano with one hand. Eisenberg told McCall's, "I was doodling at the piano ... with one hand, feeling sorry for myself, wishing I were dead. I didn't want to talk to anyone. Then Millie [the program director] walks up behind me with Margaret and tells me that she plays the piano and says, 'Why don't you two try to get together?' And immediately we got to talking about Chopin. And then we sat down at the piano and played Chopin's 'Minute Waltz'. I played the treble with my right hand; she played the bass with her left. I was elated to play my music again, and we found out we knew all the same pieces."
They began practicing at the Senior Center and occasionally at Eisenberg's apartment. In May 1983, a senior citizen center in Teaneck, New Jersey asked them to play at a party. Their story appeared in local newspapers and they began getting invitations to play at other area hospitals and senior centers. A local reporter dubbed them Ebony and Ivory and the name stuck. They began to play in other senior citizen facilities, at veterans' homes and hospitals.
International human interest story
Their story went national after being picked up by the New York Times, which put it on its wire service. They were on television both in the US and abroad and appeared with Regis PhilbinRegis Philbin
Regis Francis Xavier Philbin is an American media personality, actor and singer, known for hosting talk and game shows since the 1960s. Philbin is often called "the hardest working man in show business" and holds the Guinness World Record for the most time spent in front of a television camera...
, Geraldo Rivera
Geraldo Rivera
Geraldo Rivera is an American attorney, journalist, author, reporter, and former talk show host...
and David Hartman
David Hartman (TV personality)
David Downs Hartman is an American journalist and media host who began his media career as an actor. He currently anchors and hosts documentary programs on cable TV's History and on PBS. Hartman is best known as the first host of ABC's Good Morning America, from 1975 to 1987. As an actor, he...
. Liberace
Liberace
Wladziu Valentino Liberace , best known simply as Liberace, was a famous American pianist and vocalist.In a career that spanned four decades of concerts, recordings, motion pictures, television and endorsements, Liberace became world-renowned...
, who was a fan of "Ebony and Ivory", made his last television appearance on the Hour Magazine with Gary Collins
Gary Collins (actor)
Gary Ennis Collins is an American film and television performer.-Early life and career:Collins was born in Venice, California, to a waitress/factory worker mother. After attending Santa Monica City College, he enlisted in the U.S...
and made it a condition of his appearance that if they would bring Eisenberg and Patrick on the program, he would come. Newsman Morry Alter
Morry Alter
Morry Alter is a freelance video reporter, having left WCBS New York in 2005. Originally joining WCBS in September 1983, he has won more than 20 Emmy awards and the Quill Award for professional achievement in the field of journalism.-History:...
won an award for his CBS News report on them. They were featured on PM Magazine
PM Magazine
PM/Evening Magazine was a television series with a news and entertainment format. It was syndicated to stations throughout the United States...
, CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
and NBC Nightly News
NBC Nightly News
NBC Nightly News is the flagship daily evening television news program for NBC News and broadcasts. NBC Nightly News has aired from Studio 3B, located on floors 3 of the NBC Studios is the headquarters of the GE Building forms the centerpiece of 30th Rockefeller Center it is located in the center...
, with Tom Brokaw.
Eisenberg and Patrick's story was included in a book by Norman Vincent Peale
Norman Vincent Peale
Dr. Norman Vincent Peale was a minister and author and a progenitor of the theory of "positive thinking".-Early life and education:...
and in More True Stories, an ESL reader in its third edition. It is included in sermons and religious publications in the US and other countries.
Television
- "New Jersey and You" WOR-TV (December 1983) Interview and performance
- "PM Magazine" (May 24, 1984) Performance
- "CBS News" (October 21, 1985) Interview with Morry Alter (won an award)
- "Good Morning America" with David Hartman, ABC (September 9, 1986) Interview
- *The Morning Show" with Regis Philbin, ABC (October 1986) Interview
- "Hour Magazine" with Gary Collins, (December 8, 1986) Interview and performance (Liberace's last television appearance)
- "NBC Nightly News" with Tom Brokaw, "Assignment American: Ebony and Ivory" reported by Bill Schechner (May 6, 1988) News feature
Radio
- "The American Character" with Norman Vincent Peale, WOR (February 24, 1985) Feature in a special radio narration
- "Rambling with Gambling" with John Gambling, WOR (October 15, 1985) Interview
- "Morning Edition" with Karen Michel, NPR/WNYC (March 9, 1987) Interview
Sermons and religious articles
- Sermon St Cuthbert's Parish Church, Lothian Road, Edinburgh, Scotland. Accessed Feb. 18, 2010
- Sermon (April 8, 2001) Accessed Feb. 18, 2010
- Church newsletter (PDF) Calvary Lutheran Church, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada (February 2010). Accessed Feb. 18, 2010
- Sermon (PDF) First Baptist Church, Mountlake Terrace, WA (November 11, 2007). Accessed Feb. 18, 2010
- Religious article Nadbiskupijski Center for Youth Ministry, Sarajevo. Accessed Feb. 18, 2010