Washington, Feb 20 : Veteran singer Sir Elton John missed a golden opportunity to meet his idol jazz musician Oscar Peterson- because he was too shy.

The 61-year-old singer admitted that Peterson helped shape his musical style.

But failed to garner courage to introduce himself to Peterson when they both found themselves in the same Paris, France restaurant, shortly before his death in 2007, at the age of 82.

"A couple of years ago, I was in a restaurant in Paris and Oscar Peterson came in in a wheelchair with his daughter - and I was too shy to say hello," Contactmusic quoted him as saying on Elvis Costello''s music talk show Spectacle.

"And I''ve always regretted it, because he died soon after," he added. (ANI)