He achieved his first international success in 1949 as a member of the Norman Grantz' Jazz at the Philharmonic concert tours. Since the early 50s he has performed with his own trios. He has recorded with most of the jazz greats over the years. His varied albums include recordings with giants such as Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Count Basie, Dizzy Gillespie and Roy Eldridge.

His recordings with his award winning trios have brought recognition to him from numerous places troughout the globe. He has won at least seven grammies and has been voted the best jazz pianist of the year by Downbeat for thirteen years. Inspired by the piano work of Nat King Cole and Art Tatum, Oscar Peterson was able to amalgamate various elements of jazz piano with a pronounced blues feeling to a very personal style.

Besides playing concerts and recording Oscar Peterson found the time to form a jazz school in Toronot, the Advanced School of Contemporary Music, and also to devote considerable time to composing.