Skip to content

Food & Drink

Key Players: Seattle’s Piano-Bar Pros

Seattle’s longstanding lounge pianists make the holidays special

By Seattle Mag November 19, 2013

1213pianoplayers

This article originally appeared in the December 2013 issue of Seattle magazine.

!–paging_filter–pGiven the tendency of bars and restaurants to rely on Pandora Internet radio or iPod playlists to provide background music, it’s a rare and genuine thrill to walk into a joint and discover someone tickling the ivories on a real piano. That’s especially the case when you encounter one of Seattle’s longstanding piano-bar pros, such as Ruby Bishop, Jerry Zimmerman or June Tonkin. With a combined 252 years of life experience, the city’s most seasoned lounge pianists add instant atmosphere wherever they play. brbrBishop, 94, grew up on a farm in southeastern Washington and began performing as a young girl at fairs in the Centralia-Chehalis area. She went on to become an acclaimed jazz and ragtime pianist who traveled to Vietnam to entertain the troops and knew Louis Armstrong well enough to drink Courvoisier with him. Zimmerman, who just turned 80, attended O’Dea High School, Seattle University and Cornish, and eventually became a house player at Canlis restaurant—a gig that lasted some 40 years. Tonkin, 78, graduated from Edmonds High School and worked as a Boeing secretary until 1958, when she was hired as the pianist at the original a href=”http://\/\/seattlemag.com/el-gaucho” target=”_blank”El Gaucho/a (at Seventh and Olive in downtown Seattle). By that point she had already memorized 1,000 popular tunes, and she’s since added at least 2,000 more to that repertoire. brbrAll three expertly take requests (preferring the Great American Songbook to the Rolling Stones) and look forward to playing their seasonal favorites at this time of year: Tonkin never tires of “The Christmas Song” (aka “Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire”), Bishop loves “Walking in a Winter Wonderland” and Zimmerman enjoys the rollicking “Sleigh Ride.” None plans to retire any time soon. As Tonkin says, quoting the old adage, “If you do something you love, you’ll never work a day in your life.”brstrongnbsp;/strong/p
hr
pstrongbrHave a drink, hear them play:/strongbrstrongJune Tonkin/strong plays Tuesdays–Saturdays starting at 6 p.m. at El Gaucho in Bellevue (a href=”http://www.elgaucho.com” target=”_blank”elgaucho.com/a). brstrongRuby Bishop/strong plays Sundays starting at 6 p.m. at Vito’s on First Hill (a href=”http://www.vitosseattle.com” target=”_blank”vitosseattle.com/a). brstrongJerry Zimmerman/strong plays every second Wednesday at Vito’s, starting at 8 p.m./p

 

Follow Us

Book Excerpt: Old White Man Writing

Book Excerpt: Old White Man Writing

Seattle resident Joshua Gidding examines his own white privilege

In his book, Old White Man Writing, Seattle resident Joshua Gidding attempts to come to terms with his privilege. Gidding grapples with the rapidly changing cultural norms in 21st-century America while examining his own racial biases and prejudices. As Manhattan Book Review notes: “Old White Man Writing is an introspective deep dive into an eventful life…

Glacial Expressions

Glacial Expressions

Local scientist and painter Jill Pelto spotlights climate change in a multi-artist show at Slip Gallery

The divide between the arts and sciences is long-fostered and well-documented. From elementary school onward, children are often singled out for their penchant for math or artistic ability and guided toward classes — and later careers — that align with their right or left brain tendencies. For Jill Pelto — a local climate scientist, painter,…

How Taproot Theatre Survived A Financial Crisis

How Taproot Theatre Survived A Financial Crisis

Theatre is planning for its 50th birthday next year

Karen Lund vividly remembers that sinking feeling she had in the fall of 2023. That was when Lund, producing artistic director of Taproot Theatre Co., first realized that the financially strapped, midsized professional theatre in the Greenwood neighborhood might not survive. The theatre had already weathered the worst of the pandemic, but costs were mounting….

Humanities Washington Fights ‘Midnight’ Cuts

Humanities Washington Fights ‘Midnight’ Cuts

Nonprofit loses previously approved federal grants with little warning

The letter came without warning, like a slap in the face from an invisible hand. Humanities Washington CEO and Executive Director Julie Ziegler had already been talking with peers in other states, and she readied herself for the blow. The National Endowment for the Humanities (think DOGE) had terminated her nonprofit’s previously awarded federal grant…