Greg Hatza

In the mid-'70s, organist Greg Hatza recorded two albums for Coral and then was virtually forgotten for 20 years before recording The Greg Hatza ORGANization in the mid-'90s for Palmetto, showing that he had not lost anything despite the years of obscurity. At the age of five, Hatza had his first piano lessons, but it was a decade later when he discovered the organ and permanently switched instruments and taught himself. He began working at age 16, played at football player Lenny Moore's club for four years, and recorded his two early records. But after the organ dropped in popularity in the 1970s, Hatza switched for a long period to electric keyboards. However, after hearing Joey DeFrancesco play in 1993, Hatza was persuaded by the young organist (who was familiar with his records) to return to the organ, and he soon signed with Palmetto.