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Richie Cannata

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Richie Cannata
Richie Cannata in March 2021
Richie Cannata in March 2021
Background information
Born (1949-03-03) March 3, 1949 (age 75)[1][2]
Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
OriginLong Island, New York, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Musician
  • producer
  • studio owner
Instruments

Richie Cannata (born March 3, 1949) is an American music producer, saxophonist, keyboardist and studio owner. He is most notable for playing saxophone in Billy Joel's band alongside Liberty DeVitto, Russell Javors, and Doug Stegmeyer. After leaving the band in 1981,[3] he opened Cove City Sound Studios in Glen Cove, New York. Artists including Celine Dion, Billy Joel, Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony have recorded in Cannata's studio. Cannata also worked with The Beach Boys for most of the 1990s, touring and occasionally recording with them during this period.

Early life

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Cannata was born 3 March 1949[4] in Brooklyn, New York, the son of Ernest (26 March 1914 – 14 April 1993)[5] and Anna (February 25, 1926 — 1 April 2007)[6] Cannata. Interested in music from a very early age, Cannata was introduced by his family[7] first to the piano at the age of four and later to clarinet and tenor saxophone at the age of eight.[8][9] He also plays flute and keyboards in addition to alto, soprano and baritone sax.[10]

In 1950s his family moved to Garden City South where Cannata blossomed as a musician.[9] He played his first gig at the age of 13[7] and went on to play in school bands and with local musicians, perfecting his skills as a live performer and studio musician.

Career

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Over the years Cannata's performing style has been influenced by John Coltrane, Charlie Parker, Gene Ammons, and King Curtis.[8]

In 1975, Cannata was introduced to Billy Joel's bass player Doug Stegmeyer through Stegmeyer's brother Al. At the time, Joel was looking for a sax player and Cannata was given a position in the band.

Cannata played in Tommy Shaw's band in the mid-1980s, performing on Shaw's first three solo albums.[11] He also played for Taylor Dayne in the late 1980s/early 1990s, and was a saxophonist with Bernie Williams.[12]

From 1991 until 1998, Cannata toured with The Beach Boys, playing saxophone, woodwinds and synthesizers. After leaving The Beach Boys in 1998, he frequently worked with the band's co-founder Al Jardine on his solo tours and appeared on one song on Jardine's solo album A Postcard from California.

In 1993, Cannata briefly reunited with Joel for Joel's River of Dreams album. In 2006, Cannata briefly toured again with Joel, and was part of his record-setting 12-show run at Madison Square Garden.

In December 2013, Cannata and Sean J. Kennedy's educational jazz improv play-along series Improvising and Soloing in the Pocket (Book/CD/DVD) was released by Carl Fischer Music to critical acclaim. The series includes books for all instruments, and features music from Cannata's 2011 solo album Richie Cannata,[13] featuring Cannata and Julio Fernandez, guitarist of jazz fusion/smooth jazz group Spyro Gyra.[14]

On October 23, 2014, Cannata, DeVitto, and Javors (with Stegmeyer, posthumously) were inducted into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame, primarily for their work with Joel.[15][16] Shortly thereafter, Cannata, DeVitto, and Javors officially formed The Lords of 52nd Street band; the band also includes a pianist and lead vocalist, keyboardist, and a guitarist, and plays faithful renditions of the recorded Joel originals.[17]

On July 11, 2016, Cannata received special recognition from Glen Cove Mayor for his contributions to the city's music heritage. He was presented with the key to Glen Cove and named the downtown intersection of Bridge, School and Glen Streets as "Richie Cannata Place" for the city's summer music season.[18]

Billy Joel album credits

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References

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  1. ^ "Cannata's birthday celebration". Themondaynightjam.com.
  2. ^ "Richie Cannata". IMDb.
  3. ^ Kreps, Daniel. "Clive Davis, Billy Joel's Band Among Long Island Music Hall of Fame Inductees". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 26 March 2017.
  4. ^ "A Collection of songs written & arranged by Richard Cannata and Daniel J. Vitalo, Junior". Copyright Encyclopedia. Retrieved 29 March 2017.
  5. ^ "Anna Cannata on Deathfigures". DeathFigures. Retrieved 29 March 2017.
  6. ^ "Anna Cannata on Deathfigures". DeathFigures. Retrieved 29 March 2017.
  7. ^ a b "Saxophonist Richie Cannata on Live it Up with Donna Drake". YouTube. Retrieved 29 March 2017.
  8. ^ a b Bentley, Mary. "On the Side - Richie Cannata". SmoothViews. Retrieved 26 March 2017.
  9. ^ a b "Long Island Music Hall of Fame Inductees - Richie Cannata". Long Island Music Hall of Fame. Retrieved 26 March 2017.
  10. ^ "Richie Cannata". Cove City Sound Studios. Retrieved 26 March 2017.
  11. ^ McCormick, Moira (3 November 1984). "Shaw Sticks to 'Guns' - Solo Project for Styx Guitarist". Billboard. Vol. 96, no. 44. p. 57. Retrieved 26 March 2017.
  12. ^ Williams, Bernie (2011). Rhythms of the Game: The Link Between Musical and Athletic Performance. Hal Leonard Books. ISBN 9781458429179. Retrieved 26 March 2017.
  13. ^ "Richie Cannata - Richie Cannata - Songs, Reviews, Credits - AllMusic". AllMusic.
  14. ^ "Improvising And Soloing In The Pocket - Book Review".
  15. ^ Gamboa, Glenn (23 October 2014). "Billy Joel Band set to join Piano Man in Long Island Music Hall of Fame". New York Newsday. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
  16. ^ "Long Island Music Hall of Fame induction 2014". Newsday.com. 29 October 2014. Retrieved 26 March 2017.
  17. ^ Filipski, Kevin (February 5, 2016). "Interview with Guitarist Russell Javors". Flipsidereviews.blogspot.com. Retrieved July 14, 2016.
  18. ^ "12 Jul Mayor Spinello Recognizes Musician Richie Cannata with Honorary Street Dedication". City of Glen Cove. 12 July 2016. Retrieved 26 March 2017.
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