"Bucky Pizzarelli — the legendary jazz and pop guitarist who was a lifelong New Jersey resident and a member of the New Jersey Hall of Fame — has died at the age of 94.
He was a longtime mainstay of the state’s music scene — for many years, his afternoon sets were highlights of the Morristown Jazz and Blues Festival — but he was also world-renowned for his smooth, fluid, tasteful playing. He performed at the White House for presidents Reagan and Clinton, and in Johnny Carson’s “Tonight Show” band, and worked with Frank Sinatra, Les Paul, Benny Goodman, Miles Davis, Sarah Vaughan, Tony Bennett, Dizzy Gillespie, Nat King Cole and countless others.
As a session musician, he played on hits ranging from Ray Charles’ “Georgia on My Mind” to Janis Ian’s “At Seventeen” and Bryan Hyland’s “Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka Dot Bikini,” and he also performed on Paul McCartney’s 2012 standards album, Kisses on the Bottom.
He has been battling several serious health problems in recent years. His daughter Mary told the Daily Record of Morristown that he had tested positive for coronavirus on March 29, though the cause of death has not been determined yet."
He also played on a shed load of 50s Rock 'n Roll hit records. I heard an interview with him once describing how those sessions "worked". He was a funny guy.
He was a longtime mainstay of the state’s music scene — for many years, his afternoon sets were highlights of the Morristown Jazz and Blues Festival — but he was also world-renowned for his smooth, fluid, tasteful playing. He performed at the White House for presidents Reagan and Clinton, and in Johnny Carson’s “Tonight Show” band, and worked with Frank Sinatra, Les Paul, Benny Goodman, Miles Davis, Sarah Vaughan, Tony Bennett, Dizzy Gillespie, Nat King Cole and countless others.
As a session musician, he played on hits ranging from Ray Charles’ “Georgia on My Mind” to Janis Ian’s “At Seventeen” and Bryan Hyland’s “Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka Dot Bikini,” and he also performed on Paul McCartney’s 2012 standards album, Kisses on the Bottom.
He has been battling several serious health problems in recent years. His daughter Mary told the Daily Record of Morristown that he had tested positive for coronavirus on March 29, though the cause of death has not been determined yet."
He also played on a shed load of 50s Rock 'n Roll hit records. I heard an interview with him once describing how those sessions "worked". He was a funny guy.
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