Mike Renzi
{{Short description|American composer (1941–2021)}}
{{distinguish|Mike Enzi}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2017}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Mike Renzi
| image = MikeRenziPhoto.jpg
| caption = Renzi, c. 2009
| background = solo_singer
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1941|4|28}}
| birth_place = Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2021|09|29|1941|4|28}}
| death_place = Newport, Rhode Island, U.S.
| genre = Jazz, vocal jazz, traditional pop
| occupation = Musician, singer, arranger, composer, musical director
| instrument = Piano, vocals
| years_active = 1962–2021
}}
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.{{Cite web|date=2021-10-06|title=RIP Mike Renzi|url=https://www.thenewportbuzz.com/rip-mike-renzi/32447|access-date=2021-12-14|website=Newport Buzz|language=en-US}} He was a musical director for Peggy Lee and Mel Tormé for over 25 years.{{cite web |url=http://www.peggylee.com/tribute/tribute_popup8.htm |title=Peggy Lee's official website |publisher=Chuck Pulin |date=2003 |accessdate=2008-07-02}} He worked on Sesame Street as the music director for seasons 31 through 40 and led the Mike Renzi Trio.{{cite news|url=http://www.nj.com/entertainment/music/index.ssf/2012/10/cyrille_aimee_wins_the_first_s.html |title=Cyrille Aimee wins the first Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Competition |date=October 21, 2012 |website=NJ.com |accessdate=January 26, 2017}}
He died in Newport, Rhode Island, on September 28, 2021, at the age of 80.{{cite web|title=Mike Renzi, a Jazz Singer's Best Friend, Dies at 80|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/14/arts/mike-renzi-dead.html|work=The New York Times|last=Genzlinger|first=Neil|date=October 14, 2021|accessdate=October 14, 2021|archive-url = https://archive.today/20211015054427/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/14/arts/mike-renzi-dead.html |archive-date = October 15, 2021|url-status = live}}[https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Composer-and-Musical-Director-Mike-Renzi-Dies-at-80-20210929 Composer and Musical Director Mike Renzi Dies at 80]
Discography
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)Adderton, Donald V. (May 1, 1998). [https://www.newspapers.com/image/744375549/?clipping_id=115720606 "Sanders' jazzy sounds shine through on CD"]. Biloxi Sun Herald. p. 62. Retrieved February 14, 2023.
- Jonathan Schwartz, Anyone Would Love You (Muse, 1986)[https://www.worldcat.org/title/1269377828?oclcNum=1269377828 "'Anyone Would Love You' Personnel"]. WorldCat.
- 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
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|0719966|Mike Renzi}}
- {{IBDB name|93305|Mike Renzi}}
- [http://www.artistdirect.com/nad/music/artist/card/0,,484209,00.html Mike Renzi] at Artistdirect.com
- {{Discogs artist|Mike Renzi}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Renzi, Mike}}
Category:21st-century American male musicians
Category:21st-century American pianists
Category:American people of Italian descent
Category:American jazz composers
Category:Songwriters from Rhode Island
Category:American jazz musicians
Category:Daytime Emmy Award winners
Category:Musicians from Providence, Rhode Island