A child prodigy, Abbey Simon began playing the piano when he was 3 years old. He heard music on the radio, then replicated the sounds on a nearby piano. Since then, Simon has tirelessly worked to create music. Trained by virtuoso composer Josef Hofmann, Simon became one of the world's top concert pianists. In 1977, he joined the faculty at University of Houston and holds the title of Hugh Roy and Lillie Cranz Distinguished Professor of Music.