Roy Eaton
"Fantasie Impromptu"
Playing Friday at Bryant Park's Upper Terrace (1065 Avenue of the Americas)
Info: Tickets (FREE) | Directions

Classical concert pianist Roy Eaton first played Carnegie Hall in 1937 at the tender age of 7. He was granted the stage by winning the first piano competition he ever entered, remarkably only one year after he began playing the instrument that would carry him through a 70-plus year career.

The New York City native made his American debut with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra after winning the first Kosciuszko Foundation Chopin Award in 1950. Then he went from concert halls into homes across the country with advertising jingles he penned for brands like Texaco, Kent Cigarettes and JELL-O.

Most notably, he wrote the memorable Beefaroni tag, “We’re having Beefaroni. It’s made from macaroni,” that served the brand for 20 years. And who can forget the animated bear who sang like Dean Martin? It was Eaton who penned Sugar Bear's “Can’t get enough o’ that Sugar Crisp” jingle that made it into the Advertising Hall of Fame in 2010.

You can hear Eaton make music on Friday from 12:30 to 2:30 P.M during a lunchtime concert on the Upper Terrace of Bryant Park.