Michael Ernest Renzi (April 28, 1941 – September 29, 2021) was an American composer, music director, pianist, and jazz musician. Renzi graduated from the Boston Conservatory in 1973 and from Berklee College of Music in 1974.[1] He was a musical director for Peggy Lee and Mel Tormé for over 25 years.[2] He worked on Sesame Street as the music director for seasons 31 through 40 and led the Mike Renzi Trio.[3]
Mike Renzi | |
|---|---|
 Renzi, c. 2009 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | April 28, 1941 Providence, Rhode Island, U.S. |
| Died | September 29, 2021 (aged 80) Newport, Rhode Island, U.S. |
| Genres | Jazz, vocal jazz, traditional pop |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, singer, arranger, composer, musical director |
| Instrument(s) | Piano, vocals |
| Years active | 1962–2021 |
He died in Newport, Rhode Island, on September 28, 2021, at the age of 80.[4][5]
Discography edit
With Lena Horne
- Lena Horne: The Lady and Her Music (Qwest, 1981)
- The Men in My Life (Three Cherries, 1988)
- We'll Be Together Again (Blue Note, 1994)
- An Evening with Lena Horne (Blue Note, 1995)
- Being Myself (Blue Note, 1998)
With Maureen McGovern
- Another Woman in Love (CBS, 1987)
- Christmas with Maureen McGovern (CBS, 1990)
- Baby I'm Yours (BMG, 1992)
- The Pleasure of His Company (Sterling, 1998)
With Mel Torme
- Mel Torme and Friends (Finesse, 1981)
- Torme/Encore at Marty's New York (Flair, 1982)
- An Evening with Mel Torme (Concord Jazz, 1996)
With Grady Tate
- Grady Tate Sings TNT (Milestone, 1991)
- Body & Soul (Milestone, 1993)
- Feeling Free (Pow Wow, 1999)
With others
- Laurie Beechman, Time Between the Time (DRG, 1983)
- Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga, Cheek to Cheek (Columbia/Interscope, 2014)
- Ruth Brown, The Songs of My Life (Victor, 1993)
- LaVerne Butler, No Looking Back (Chesky, 1993)
- Cynthia Crane & Mike Renzi, Our First Christmas (Lookoutjazz, 1993)
- Cynthia Crane Smoky Bar Songs for the No Smoking Section (Lookoutjazz, 1994)
- Blossom Dearie, Positively Volume VII (Daffodil, 1983)
- Blossom Dearie & Mike Renzi, Tweedledum & Tweedledee (Two People Who Resemble Each Other, in this Case Musically) (Master Mix, 1991)
- Denise DeCaro Providence...Live! (bigBang, 1998)
- Denise DeCaro Christmas and You (bigBang, 2016)
- Trudy Desmond, Make Me Rainbows (Koch, 1995)
- Ann Burton, New York State of Mind (Apollon, 1986)
- Judy Carmichael & Harry Allen, Can You Love Me Once More? (JC/GAC, 2016)
- Meredith D'Ambrosio, Echo of a Kiss (Sunnyside, 1998)
- Jane Harvey, The Other Side of Sondheim (Atlantic, 1988)
- Jane Harvey, The Jazz Side of Sondheim (Little Jazz Bird, 2011)
- Jorn Hoel, Love Will Make You Do Things That You Know Is Wrong (Decca, 1989)
- Dick Johnson, Introduction to the Lyricon (Computone, 1974)
- Jack Jones Paints a Tribute to Tony Bennett (Honest, 1998)
- Jack Jones Love Makes The Changes: The Lyrics of Alan and Marilyn Bergman (2010)
- Peggy King, Peggy King Sings Jerome Kern (Stash, 1985)
- Nicolas King, Nineteen (2010)
- Nicolas King, On Another Note (2017)
- Nicolas King, Act One (Club44 Records, 2021)
- Hilary Kole, You Are There (Justin Time, 2010)
- Hilary Kole, Moments Like This (Victor, 2011)
- Peggy Lee, Peggy Lee Sings the Blues (Musicmasters, 1988)
- Peggy Lee, The Peggy Lee Songbook: There'll Be Another Spring (Musical Heritage Society, 1990)
- Peggy Lee, Moments Like This (Chesky, 1993)
- Gene Lees, Bridges: Gene Lees Sings the Gene Lees Song Book (Kanata/CBC, 1971)
- Jay Leonhart, Salamander Pie (DMP, 1983)
- Jay Leonhart, Life Out On the Road (Nesak, 1990)
- Gloria Lynne, This One's On Me (HighNote, 1998)
- Ray Materick, Sidestreets (Kanata, 1972)
- Liza Minnelli, Gently (Angel, 1996)
- Anne Marie Moss, Don't You Know Me? (Stash, 1981)
- Gerry Mulligan, Soft Lights & Sweet Music (Concord Jazz, 1986)
- Mark Murphy, Satisfaction Guaranteed (Muse, 1980)
- Regis & Joy, Just You Just Me (Big Dot, 2009)
- Samuel Ramey, Sam Ramey On Broadway (Teldec, 1993)
- Annie Ross, Music Is Forever (DRG, 1996)
- Annette Sanders, Everything I Love (Ripe & Ready, 1998)[6]
- Jonathan Schwartz, Anyone Would Love You (Muse, 1986)[7]
- Carol Sloane, The Real Thing (Contemporary, 1990)
- Carol Sloane, Live at Birdland (Club44 Records, 2022)
- Sylvia Syms, She Loves to Hear the Music (A&M, 1978)
- Was (Not Was), Born to Laugh at Tornadoes (Geffen, 1983)
- Thomas Young, High Standards (ESS.A.Y 1992)
References edit
- ^ "RIP Mike Renzi". Newport Buzz. October 6, 2021. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
- ^ "Peggy Lee's official website". Chuck Pulin. 2003. Retrieved July 2, 2008.
- ^ "Cyrille Aimee wins the first Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Competition". NJ.com. October 21, 2012. Retrieved January 26, 2017.
- ^ Genzlinger, Neil (October 14, 2021). "Mike Renzi, a Jazz Singer's Best Friend, Dies at 80". The New York Times. Archived from the original on October 15, 2021. Retrieved October 14, 2021.
- ^ Composer and Musical Director Mike Renzi Dies at 80
- ^ Adderton, Donald V. (May 1, 1998). "Sanders' jazzy sounds shine through on CD". Biloxi Sun Herald. p. 62. Retrieved February 14, 2023.
- ^ "'Anyone Would Love You' Personnel". WorldCat.
External links edit
- Mike Renzi at IMDb
- Mike Renzi at the Internet Broadway Database
- Mike Renzi at Artistdirect.com
- Mike Renzi discography at Discogs