Keith Jarrett

Place of Birth: Allentown, Pennsylvania, U.S.

Date of Birth: May 8, 1945

Ethnicity:
*father – German, Swiss-German
*mother – Slovenian

Keith Jarrett is an American jazz and classical music pianist, and composer.

Keith is the son of Irma and Daniel Jarrett.

Keith’s paternal grandfather was Roscoe Quay Jarrett, Sr. (the son of John Henry Benjamin Jarrett and Maggie Jane Wieder). Roscoe was born in Pennsylvania. John was the son of Benjamin Jarrett and Tevilia/Twvilla Knappenberger. Maggie was the daughter of Stephen Weider and Matilda.

Keith’s paternal grandmother was Helen M. Scherer (the daughter of John Sherer and Minnie Eckert).

Keith’s maternal grandfather was named Joseph Kuzma.

Keith’s maternal grandmother was named Anna Temlin (the daughter of Louis Temlin and Clara).

Keith has been perceived as African-American, because of his appearance and music style. He has been described as “Irish and Hungarian” (New York Times) and “French-Hungarian” (Rolling Stone). His maternal grandparents were from the Austria-Hungarian Empire, but were evidently not ethnic Hungarians. According to Chris Jarrett (Keith’s brother), they were from Murska Sobota, Slovenia.

Sources: Keith’s father on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Obituary of Keith’s paternal grandfather, Roscoe Quay Jarrett, Sr. – http://articles.mcall.com

Obituary of Keith’s paternal great-grandfather, John Henry Benjamin Jarrett – https://old.findagrave.com

Genealogies of Keith’s paternal great-great-grandparents, Benjamin Jarrett and Tevilia/Twvilla Knappenberger – https://www.findagrave.com

Genealogies of Keith’s paternal great-great-great-grandparents, John Philip Knappenberger and Maria Barbara Stettler – https://findagrave.com

Keith’s mother on the 1940 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

6 Responses

  1. andrew says:

    correction:

    Keith’s paternal grandfather: http://articles.mcall.com

  2. andrew says:

    You should add that he has been often perceived as African-American, because of his appearence and music style. He has been described as “Irish and Hungarian” (NYT), ” French-Hungarian” (Rolling Stone), “of either French or Scots-Irish descent” (Wikipedia). His maternal grandparents were from Austria-Hungary Empire but they weren’t ethnic Hungarians. According to Chris Jarrett, (Keith’s brother), they were from Murska Sobota, Slovenia.

    http://www.vendvidek.com/contactd.php

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