Lee Ritenour

Ritenour was born in 1952, in Los Angeles, California. At the age of eight he started playing guitar and four years later decided on a career in music. When he was 16 he played on his first recording session with the Mamas & the Papas. He developed a love for jazz and was influenced by guitarist Wes Montgomery.{{cite book|title=The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music|editor=Colin Larkin|editor-link=Colin Larkin (writer)|publisher=Virgin Books|date=1997|edition=Concise|isbn=978-1-85227-745-1|page=1018}} At the age of 17 he worked with Lena Horne and Tony Bennett. He studied classical guitar at the University of Southern California.

File:LeeRitenourSignatureGibsonL5.jpg

Ritenour's solo career began with the album First Course (1976), a good example of the jazz-funk sound of the 1970s, followed by Captain Fingers, The Captain's Journey (1978), and Feel the Night (1979).

In 1979, he "was brought in to beef up" one of Pink Floyd's The Wall{{'}}s heaviest rock numbers, "Run Like Hell".{{cite book|last=Blake|first=Mark|title=Comfortably Numb|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2I0eaxtu6HEC&pg=PA270 |access-date=11 December 2017|year=2008|publisher=Da Capo Press |isbn=978-1-56858-383-9 | pages=270–}} He played "uncredited rhythm guitar" on "One of My Turns".{{cite book |last=Mabbett|first=Andy|title=The Complete Guide to the Music of Pink Floyd |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7Bc1YbCd7eAC&pg=PA80 |access-date=11 December 2017|year=1995|publisher=Omnibus Press |isbn=978-0-7119-4301-8 | pages=80–}}{{cite web |url=http://www.pinkfloydfan.net/t1480-david-gilmour-inside-mind-pink.html |title=Inside the Mind of Pink Floyd: David Gilmour |publisher=Guitar |date=September 1995 |access-date=2010-07-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121230064526/http://www.pinkfloydfan.net/t1480-david-gilmour-inside-mind-pink.html |archive-date=December 30, 2012 |url-status=usurped }}

As the 1980s began, Ritenour began to add stronger elements of pop to his music, beginning with Rit (1981). Rit became his only release to chart in Australia, peaking at number 98.{{cite book|last=Kent|first=David|author-link=David Kent (historian)|title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992|edition=illustrated|publisher=Australian Chart Book|location=St Ives, N.S.W.|year=1993|isbn=0-646-11917-6|page=253}} "Is It You" with vocals by Eric Tagg reached No. 15 on the Billboard pop chart and No. 27 on the Soul chart.{{cite book|title=Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942–2004|last=Whitburn|first=Joel|year=2004|publisher=Record Research|page=494}} The track peaked at number fifteen on Hot Adult Contemporary chart.{{cite book|title=Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–2001| last=Whitburn|first=Joel| year=2002|publisher=Record Research|page=205}} The videos for "Is It You" and "Mr. Briefcase" were both amongst the first videos played on MTV on August 1, 1981. He continued with the pop-oriented music for Rit/2 (1982) and Banded Together (1984), while releasing a Direct-Disk instrumental album in 1983 called On the Line. He also provided rhythm guitar on Tom Browne's album Funkin' for Jamaica. He recorded Harlequin (1985) with Dave Grusin and vocals by Ivan Lins. His next album, Earth Run, was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Jazz Fusion Performance. The album's title track was also Grammy nominated in the category of Best Instrumental Composition.{{cite web|title=Earth Run|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/earth-run-mw0000192397 |website=AllMusic|access-date=13 December 2017}} Portrait (GRP, 1987) included guest performances by the Yellowjackets, Djavan, and Kenny G.{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/portrait-mw0000197097|title=Lee Ritenour: Portrait|website=allmusic.com}}

In 1988, his Brazilian influence came to the forefront on Festival, an album featuring his work on nylon-string guitar. He changed direction with his straight-ahead jazz album Stolen Moments which he recorded with saxophonist Ernie Watts, pianist Alan Broadbent, bassist John Patitucci, and drummer Harvey Mason. During the same year, he composed the theme song for the Canadian TV series Ramona.

In 1991 Ritenour and keyboardist Bob James formed the group Fourplay. He left the group in 1997 and was replaced by Larry Carlton. He released the career retrospective Overtime in 2005. Smoke n' Mirrors came out the next year with the debut of his thirteen-year-old son, Wesley, on drums.

Celebrating his fifty years as a guitarist in 2010, Ritenour released 6 String Theory, a title that refers to six musical areas covered by the use of guitar.{{cite web|url=http://guitarinternational.com/wpmu/2010/06/29/ritenour|title=Lee Ritenour Discusses His "6 String Theory"|access-date=2010-07-08|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100702161616/http://guitarinternational.com/wpmu/2010/06/29/ritenour|archive-date=July 2, 2010}}

Ritenour has been a judge for the Independent Music Awards.{{cite web|url=http://www.independentmusicawards.com/judges |title=Judges |publisher=Independent Music Awards |access-date=2016-08-27}}{{cite web| url=http://miccontrolblog.com/2009/05/27/the-independent-music-awards-announces-judges-for-9th-annual-imas/ |title=The Independent Music Awards Announces Judges for 9th Annual IMAs | MicControl |access-date=2009-05-28 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090626231446/http://miccontrolblog.com/2009/05/27/the-independent-music-awards-announces-judges-for-9th-annual-imas/ |archive-date=June 26, 2009 |df=mdy }}{{cite web|url=http://www.independentmusicawards.com/ima/judges/11th-annual-ima-judges/ |title=11th Annual IMA Judges |publisher=Independent Music Awards |access-date=2016-08-27}}{{cite web|url=http://top40-charts.com/news/Charts-Awards/She-&-Him-The-Black-Keys-Mark-Hoppus-Aimee-Mann-And-Bettye-LaVette-Join-Judging-Panel-For-The-9th-Annual-Independent-Music-Awards/48785.html |title=She & Him, The Black Keys, Mark Hoppus, Aimee Mann and Bettye LaVette Join Judging Panel for the 9th Annual Independent Music Awards|website=Top40-charts.com|access-date=2016-08-27}}

Lee Ritenour's first few solo albums consisted entirely of instrumentals. Beginning with Captain Fingers (1977), Ritenour used vocalists on many of his songs:

• Djavan
• Bill Champlin
• Eric Tagg
• Patti Austin
• Ivan Lins
• Phil Perry
• João Bosco
• Kate Markowitz
• Maxi Priest
• Lisa Fischer
• Michael McDonald

Ritenour has received one Grammy award out of sixteen nominations.{{cite web|url=https://www.grammy.com/grammys/artists/lee-ritenour|title=Lee Ritenour|website=Grammy.com}}

• Album of the Year, Jazziz magazine (2010) - 6 String Theory.
• Best International Instrumentalist, Echo Jazz Award (2011)

{{Incomplete list|date=August 2024}}

Fourplay

• Fourplay (Warner Bros., 1991)
• Between the Sheets (Warner Bros., 1993)
• Elixir (Warner Bros., 1995)
• Best of Fourplay (Warner Bros., 1997)

L.A. Workshop

• Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown) (Denon, 1988)
• Norwegian Wood, Vol. 2 (Denon, 1994)

GRP All-Star Big Band

• GRP All-Star Big Band (GRP, 1992)

• 1977 "Strawberry Letter 23" from the album Right On Time by Brothers Johnson
• 1987 Joyride - track 6 "Midi Citi" - (En Pointe)
• 1985 American Flyer (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) with Greg Mathieson - GRP

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With Alessi Brothers

• Driftin' (A&M, 1977)
• Words & Music (A&M, 1978)

With Patti Austin

• Love Is Gonna Getcha (GRP, 1990)
• That Secret Place (GRP, 1994)

With Carole Bayer Sager

• Carole Bayer Sager (Elektra, 1977)
• ...Too (Elektra, 1978)
• Sometimes Late at Night (Boardwalk, 1981)

With George Benson

• Give Me the Night (Warner Bros., 1980)
• Songs and Stories (Concord, 2009)

With The Brothers Johnson

• Look Out for #1 (A&M, 1977)
• Right on Time (A&M, 1978)

With The Carpenters

• Passage (A&M, 1977)

With Natalie Cole

• Thankful (Capitol, 1977)
• Stardust (Elektra, 1996)

With Brass Fever

• Brass Fever (Impulse!, 1975)
• Time Is Running Out (Impulse!, 1976)

With Four Tops

• Night Lights Harmony (ABC, 1975)

With Aretha Franklin

• You (Atlantic, 1975)
• Sweet Passion (Atlantic, 1977)

With Art Garfunkel

• Breakaway (Columbia, 1975)
• Fate for Breakfast (Columbia, 1979)

With Margie Joseph

• Hear the Words, Feel the Feeling (Cotillion, 1976)
• Feeling My Way (Atlantic, 1978)

With Bill LaBounty

• Promised Love (Curb, 1975)
• This Night Won't Last Forever (Warner Bros., 1978)

With Melissa Manchester

• Don't Cry Out Loud (Arista, 1978)
• Mathematics (MCA, 1985)

With Johnny Mathis and Deniece Williams

• That's What Friends Are For (Columbia, 1979)

With Alphonse Mouzon

• Mind Transplant (Blue Note, 1974)
• The Man Incognito (Blue Note, 1975)

With Michael Omartian

• Adam Again (Myrrh, 1977)

With Leo Sayer

• Endless Flight (Chrysalis, 1976)
• Thunder in My Heart (Chrysalis, 1977)

With Carly Simon

• Playing Possum (Elektra, 1975)
• Torch (Warner Bros., 1981)

With Frank Sinatra

• L.A. Is My Lady (Qwest, 1984)

With Barbra Streisand

• Lazy Afternoon (Columbia, 1975)
• Songbird (Columbia, 1978)
• Guilty (Columbia, 1980) – rec. 1979–1980

With Lenny Williams

• Sparks of Love (ABC, 1978)

With others

• Herb Alpert, Herb Alpert / Hugh Masekela (Horizon, 1978)
• Paul Anka, The Painter (United Artists, 1976)
• Stephen Bishop, Careless (ABC, 1976)
• Simone, Corpo e Alma (CBS, 1982)
• Lisa Hartman Black, Lisa Hartman (Kirshner, 1976)
• Bobby Bland, Reflections in Blue (ABC, 1977)
• Bloodstone, Don't Stop (Motown, 1978)
• Debby Boone, Debby Boone (Capitol, 1979)
• Glen Campbell, Basic (Capitol, 1978)
• Captain & Tennille, Make Your Move (Casablanca, 1979)
• Keith Carradine, I'm Easy (Asylum, 1976)
• Casiopea, 4x4 (Alfa, 1982)
• David Castle, Castle in the Sky (Parachute, 1977)
• Cher, I'd Rather Believe in You (Warner Bros., 1976)
• Judy Collins, Hard Times for Lovers (Elektra, 1979)
• Judy Collins, Home Again (Elektra, 1984)
• Sparks, Introducing Sparks (Columbia, 1977)
• Paulinho da Costa, Agora (Pablo, 1977)
• England Dan & John Ford Coley, Dr. Heckle and Mr. Jive (Big Tree, 1979)
• John Denver, I Want to Live (RCA, 1977)
• Diana DeGarmo, Blue Skies (RCA, 2004)
• Neil Diamond, Heartlight (Columbia, 1982)
• Sheena Easton, A Private Heaven (EMI, 1984) – rec. 1983–1984
• Yvonne Elliman, Yvonne (RSO, 1979)
• Roberta Flack, I'm the One (Atlantic, 1982)
• Pink Floyd, The Wall (EMI, 1979)
• Ted Gärdestad, Blue Virgin Isles (Polar, 1978)
• Dizzy Gillespie, Free Ride (Pablo, 1977)
• Cyndi Grecco, Making Our Dreams Come True (Private Stock Records, 1976)
• Lani Hall, Sweet Bird (A&M, 1976)
• John Handy, Carnival (Impulse, 1977)
• Eddie Henderson, Comin' Through (Capitol, 1977)
• Joe Henderson, Black Miracle (Milestone, 1976)
• Marcia Hines, Ooh Child (Miracle Records, 1979)
• Al Jarreau, All Fly Home (Warner Bros., 1978)
• Al Johnson, Back for More (Columbia, 1980)
• Quincy Jones, Roots (A&M, 1977)
• Karimata, Jezz (Aquarius, 1991) – on "Rainy Days and You" only
• B.B. King, King Size (ABC, 1977)
• Ben E. King, Let Me Live in Your Life (Atlantic, 1978)
• Carole King, Speeding Time (Atlantic, 1983)
• Peggy Lee, Let's Love (Atlantic, 1974)
• Kenny Loggins, Celebrate Me Home (Columbia, 1977) – rec. 1975–1976
• Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis Jr., Marilyn & Billy (Columbia, 1978)
• Mary MacGregor, Mary MacGregor (RSO, 1980)
• Barry Manilow, Even Now (Arista, 1978)
• Letta Mbulu, There's Music in the Air (A&M, 1976)
• Letta Mbulu, Letta (A&M, 1978)
• Lonette McKee, Words and Music (Warner Bros., 1978)
• Bette Midler, Broken Blossom (Atlantic, 1977)
• Walter Murphy, Phantom of the Opera (Private Stock, 1978)
• Anne Murray, Together (Capitol, 1975)
• Oliver Nelson, Skull Session (Flying Dutchman, 1975)
• David "Fathead" Newman, Keep the Dream Alive (Prestige, 1978)
• Olivia Newton-John, Soul Kiss (MCA, 1985)
• Wayne Newton, Tomorrow (Chelsea Records, 1976)
• Kenny Nolan, A Song Between Us (Polydor, 1978)
• Freda Payne, Hot (Capitol, 1979)
• June Pointer, Baby Sister (Planet, 1983)
• Michel Polnareff, Michel Polnareff (Atlantic, 1975)
• Minnie Riperton, Love Lives Forever (Capitol, 1980) – rec. 1978
• Sonny Rollins, The Way I Feel (Milestone, 1977)
• Brenda Russell, Between the Sun and the Moon (Dome, 2004)
• Evie Sands, Suspended Animation (RCA Victor, 1979)
• Lalo Schifrin, Rollercoaster (MCA, 1977) – soundtrack
• Diane Schuur, Schuur Thing (GRP, 1985)
• Seals and Crofts, Get Closer (Warner Bros., 1976)
• Neil Sedaka, All You Need Is the Music (Elektra, 1978)
• Neil Sedaka, In the Pocket (Elektra, 1980)
• Raul Seixas, O Dia em que a Terra Parou (WEA, 1977)
• Nancy Shanks, Nancy Shanx (United Artists, 1977)
• Steely Dan, Aja (ABC Records, 1977)
• Suzanne Stevens, Crystal Carriage (Capitol, 1977)
• Livingston Taylor, Three Way Mirror (Epic, 1978)
• Naoko Terai, Live (Videoarts Music, 2001)
• Stanley Turrentine, Everybody Come On Out (Fantasy, 1976)
• Frankie Valli, Valli (Private Stock, 1976)
• Sarah Vaughan, Songs of the Beatles (Atlantic, 1981)
• Grover Washington Jr., The Best Is Yet to Come (Elektra, 1982)
• The Whispers, Open Up Your Love (Soul Train, 1977)
• Syreeta Wright, Syreeta (Tamla, 1980)

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{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category|Lee Ritenour}}

{{Wikiquote}}

• [http://www.leeritenour.com/ Lee Ritenour official site]
• [https://www.namm.org/library/oral-history/lee-ritenour Lee Ritenour Interview] at NAMM Oral History Collection (2014)

{{Lee Ritenour}}

{{Fourplay}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ritenour, Lee}}

Category:1952 births

Category:Living people

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Category:GRP Records artists

Category:Guitarists from California

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Category:USC Thornton School of Music alumni

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