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Edward Heywood Jr., born December 4, 1915 in Atlanta, Georgia, was an American jazz pianist and composer. He began his musical training at age 12 under his father's guidance. In 1938 he moved to New York City and formed his own band in 1941. His sextet gained success with their hit "Begin the Beguine" in 1944, which sold over one million copies and earned a gold disc from the RIAA. Heywood composed and recorded "Soft Summer Breeze" in 1956, which peaked at Number 11 on the Billboard chart, and his composition "Canadian Sunset" reached Number 2 with Hugo Winterhalter and His Orchestra for RCA Victor. Despite health challenges, including partial paralysis, Heywood continued his career into the 1980s. He died in Miami Beach, Florida on January 3, 1989.
