Joe Renzetti (born January 4, 1941) is an American film composer and

session musician Session musicians, studio musicians, or backing musicians are musicians hired to perform in recording sessions or live performances. The term sideman is also used in the case of live performances, such as accompanying a recording artist on a ...

. He scores for films and television, and composes works for orchestra, chamber groups, and solo artists.

Career

Born in

Philadelphia Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the sixth-largest city in the U.S., the second-largest city in both the Northeast megalopolis and Mid-Atlantic regions after New York City. Sinc ...

, Renzetti began his career as a result of

Dick Clark Richard Wagstaff Clark (November 30, 1929April 18, 2012) was an American radio and television personality, television producer and film actor, as well as a cultural icon who remains best known for hosting ''American Bandstand'' from 1956 to 198 ...

and ''

American Bandstand ''American Bandstand'', abbreviated ''AB'', is an American music-performance and dance television program that aired in various versions from 1952 to 1989, and was hosted from 1956 until its final season by Dick Clark, who also served as the pro ...

'', originating from Philly, Cameo-Parkway records came into existence. Renzetti became

Cameo Records Cameo Records was an American record label that flourished in the 1920s. It was owned by the Cameo Record Corporation in New York City. Cameo released a disc by Lucille Hegamin every two months from 1921 to 1926. Cameo records are also noted ...

' house guitarist, and played on the hits "

Let's Twist Again "Let's Twist Again" is a song written by Kal Mann and Dave Appell, and released as a single by Chubby Checker. One of the biggest hit singles of 1961, it reached No.8 on the U.S. ''Billboard'' pop chart (No.3 on ''Cash Box'') in August of that ...

", Dee Dee Sharp's "Mashed Potato Time", "South Street", The "Limbo Rock", " Palisades Park", and "Tallahassee Lassie". Joe Renzetti was

Gamble and Huff Kenneth Gamble (born August 11, 1943, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) and Leon A. Huff (born April 8, 1942, Camden, New Jersey) are an American songwriting and production team credited for developing the Philadelphia soul music genre (also known as ...

's first arranger, one of the originators of "The Sound Of Philadelphia". Fascinated by the advances in recording technology, and the profession of arranging for records Renzetti moved his career to New York. There he arranged " Sunny" by

Bobby Hebb Robert Von Hebb (July 26, 1938 – August 3, 2010) was an American R&B and soul singer, musician, songwriter, recording artist, and performer known for his 1966 hit entitled " Sunny". Biography Hebb was born in Nashville, Tennessee. His par ...

, " 98.6" by

Keith Keith may refer to: People and fictional characters * Keith (given name), includes a list of people and fictional characters * Keith (surname) * Keith (singer), American singer James Keefer (born 1949) * Baron Keith, a line of Scottish barons ...

, "

Apples, Peaches, Pumpkin Pie "Apples, Peaches, Pumpkin Pie" is a 1967 song written by Maurice Irby, Jr., produced by Jerry Ross, arranged by Joe Renzetti and performed by Jay & the Techniques on their 1968 album of the same name. Background Bobby Hebb was originally offere ...

" by

Jay & the Techniques Jay & the Techniques was an American pop group formed in Allentown, Pennsylvania during the mid-1960s. Their song " Apples, Peaches, Pumpkin Pie", released in 1967 on the Smash label, reached the Top 10 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart. Biogra ...

, and "

Mandy Mandy or Mandie may refer to: People * Mandy (name), a female given name and nickname * Iván Mándy (1918-1995), Hungarian writer * Mark Mandy (born 1972), Irish retired high jumper * Philip Mandie (born 1942), a former judge on the Supreme Cou ...

" by

Barry Manilow Barry Manilow (born Barry Alan Pincus; June 17, 1943) is an American singer and songwriter with a career that spans seven decades. His hit recordings include "Could It Be Magic", " Somewhere Down the Road", " Mandy", "I Write the Songs", " Can ...

. Renzetti moved to Hollywood and was called to arrange the music for the 1978 film ''

The Buddy Holly Story ''The Buddy Holly Story'' is a 1978 American biographical film which tells the life and career of rock and roll musician Buddy Holly. It features an Academy Award-winning musical score, adapted by Joe Renzetti and Oscar-nominated lead performan ...

,'' which garnered him an Academy Award for Best Adaptation Score.

Filmography

* ''

'' (1978) * ''

Elvis Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977), or simply Elvis, was an American singer and actor. Dubbed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, King of Rock and Roll", he is regarded as Cultural impact of Elvis Presley, one ...

'' (1979) * '' Fatso'' (1980) * ''

The Exterminator ''The Exterminator'' is a 1980 American vigilante action film written and directed by James Glickenhaus. It stars Robert Ginty as Vietnam War veteran John Eastland, also known as "The Exterminator". When a group of thugs paralyze his friend, East ...

'' (1980) * '' Dead & Buried'' (1981) * ''

Under the Rainbow ''Under the Rainbow'' is a 1981 American comedy film directed by Steve Rash and starring Chevy Chase, Carrie Fisher, Eve Arden, and Billy Barty. Set in 1938, the film's plot is loosely based on the gathering of little people in a Hollywood hot ...

'' (1981) * ''

Vice Squad A vice is a practice, behaviour, or habit generally considered immoral, sinful, criminal, rude, taboo, depraved, degrading, deviant or perverted in the associated society. In more minor usage, vice can refer to a fault, a negative character tr ...

'' (1982) * '' Wanted: Dead or Alive'' (1986) * '' Poltergeist III'' (1988) * '' Child's Play'' (1988) * ''

Lisa Lisa or LISA may refer to: People People with the mononym * Lisa Lisa (born 1967), American actress and lead singer of the Cult Jam * Lisa (Japanese musician, born 1974), stylized "LISA", Japanese singer and producer * Lisa Komine (born 1978), J ...

'' (1989) * ''

Basket Case 2 ''Basket Case 2'' is a 1990 American comedy horror film written and directed by Frank Henenlotter, and the sequel to the 1982 film '' Basket Case''. It stars Kevin Van Hentenryck as Duane Bradley, who moves with his deformed, formerly conjoined t ...

'' (1990) * ''

Frankenhooker ''Frankenhooker'' is a 1990 American black comedy horror film directed by Frank Henenlotter. Very loosely inspired by Mary Shelley's 1818 novel ''Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus'', the film stars James Lorinz as medical school drop-out Je ...

'' (1990) * '' Basket Case 3: The Progeny'' (1991)

List of selected works

*"Waltz" for Blues-Harmonica and Orchestra *"Echo" for Classical Guitar Quartet *"On a Chord By Kessel" for Classical Guitar Quartet *"Holiday Furioso" Scherzo for Orchestra *"String Quartet in F" - "American" *"First Chair" A Concerto for Orchestra *"The 1912 Overture" for Jazz Piano solo and Orchestra *"Concerto for Three Guitars and Orchestra" *"Blues, for me?"

Partial list of arranged records

*" Sunny" (composer Bobby Hebb's recording) *"Mandy" (Barry Manilow's version of "

Brandy Brandy is a liquor produced by distilling wine. Brandy generally contains 35–60% alcohol by volume (70–120 US proof) and is typically consumed as an after-dinner digestif. Some brandies are aged in wooden casks. Others are coloured with ...

") *" 98.6" (Keith) *"

" (Jay & the Techniques)

Awards

* Academy Award for Best Adaptation Score – ''

'' (1978) * Gold Record for "Sunny" by Bobby Hebb * Gold Record for "Mandy" by Barry Manilow * Nomination for a Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Musical Score – ''

'' (1981)

References

External links

Official website
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Renzetti, Joe 1941 births Living people American film score composers American male film score composers American session musicians Best Original Music Score Academy Award winners Musicians from Philadelphia Varèse Sarabande Records artists La-La Land Records artists