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 Boston Conservatory at Berklee (formerly The Boston Conservatory) is a private performing arts conservatory in Boston, Massachusetts. It grants undergraduate and graduate degrees in dance, music, and theater. Boston Conservatory was founded ...

in 1973 and from Berklee College of Music in 1974. He was a musical director for Peggy Lee and Mel Tormé for over 25 years. He worked on ''

Sesame Street ''Sesame Street'' is an American educational children's television series that combines live-action, sketch comedy, animation and puppetry. It is produced by Sesame Workshop (known as the Children's Television Workshop until June 2000) ...

'' as the music director for seasons 31 through 40 and led the Mike Renzi Trio. He died in

Newport, Rhode Island Newport is an American seaside city on Aquidneck Island in Newport County, Rhode Island. It is located in Narragansett Bay, approximately southeast of Providence, south of Fall River, Massachusetts, south of Boston, and northeast of New Yor ...

, on September 28, 2021, at the age of 80.Composer and Musical Director Mike Renzi Dies at 80
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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 Maureen Therese McGovern (born July 27, 1949) is an American singer and Broadway actress, well known for her renditions of the songs " The Morning After" from the 1972 film '' The Poseidon Adventure''; " We May Never Love Like This Again" from '' ...

* ''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, Mels or MEL may refer to: Biology * Mouse erythroleukemia cell line (MEL) * National Herbarium of Victoria, a herbarium with the Index Herbariorum code MEL People * Mel (given name), the abbreviated version of several given names (including ...

* ''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 (January 14, 1932 – October 8, 2017) was an American jazz and soul-jazz drummer and baritone vocalist. In addition to his work as sideman, Tate released many albums as leader and lent his voice to songs in the animated '' Schoolhou ...

* ''Grady Tate Sings TNT'' (Milestone, 1991) * ''Body & Soul'' (Milestone, 1993) * ''Feeling Free'' (Pow Wow, 1999) With others *

Laurie Beechman Laurie Hope Beechman (April 4, 1953 – March 8, 1998) was an American actress and singer, known for her work in Broadway musicals. She also had a career as a cabaret performer and recording artist. After her death, the West Bank Cafe Downstairs T ...

, ''Time Between the Time'' (DRG, 1983) *

Tony Bennett Anthony Dominick Benedetto (born August 3, 1926), known professionally as Tony Bennett, is an American retired singer of traditional pop standards, big band, show tunes, and jazz. Bennett is also a painter, having created works under his birth ...

Lady Gaga Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta ( ; born March 28, 1986), known professionally as Lady Gaga, is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. She is known for her image reinventions and musical versatility. Gaga began performing as a teenag ...

, ''Cheek to Cheek'' (Columbia/Interscope, 2014) *

Ruth Brown Ruth Alston Brown (; January 12, 1928 – November 17, 2006) was an American singer-songwriter and actress, sometimes referred to as the " Queen of R&B". She was noted for bringing a pop music style to R&B music in a series of hit songs for Atl ...

, ''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 Margrethe Blossom Dearie (April 28, 1924 – February 7, 2009) was an American jazz singer and pianist. She had a recognizably light and girlish voice. Profile at AllMusicDearie performed regular engagements in London and New York City over ...

, ''Positively Volume VII'' (Daffodil, 1983) * Blossom Dearie & Mike Renzi, ''Tweedledum and Tweedledee'' (Master Mix, 1991) * Denise DeCaro ''Providence...Live!'' (bigBang, 1998) * Denise DeCaro ''Christmas and You'' (bigBang, 2016) *

Trudy Desmond Trudy Desmond (October 11, 1945 – 19 February 1999) was a Canadian jazz singer. Career After moving from New York to Toronto, she worked as an actress, interior designer, club manager, and theatrical producer. She was one of the 16 original me ...

, ''Make Me Rainbows'' (Koch, 1995) *

Ann Burton Ann Burton (March 4, 1933, Amsterdam – November 29, 1989, Amsterdam) is the pseudonym of Johanna Rafalowicz (between 1938 and 1971: Johanna de Paauw), a Dutch jazz singer. Early life In about 1930 the mother of Ann Burton (pseudonym of Johan ...

, ''New York State of Mind'' (Apollon, 1986) *

Judy Carmichael Judy Carmichael (born November 27, 1957) is a Grammy-nominated jazz pianist and vocalist who has been honored as a Steinway Artist.

& Harry Allen, ''Can You Love Me Once More?'' (JC/GAC, 2016) * Meredith D'Ambrosio, ''Echo of a Kiss'' (Sunnyside, 1998) *

Jane Harvey Jane Harvey (born Phyllis Taff, January 6, 1925, Jersey City, New Jersey – August 15, 2013) was an American jazz singer, known for recording several tracks with famous musicians such as Duke Ellington and Benny Goodman during the 1940s. Harv ...

, ''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 (born February 16, 1930) is a jazz vocalist and television personality. She was a member of big bands led by Charlie Spivak, Ralph Flanagan, and Ray Anthony. Career "Pretty Perky Peggy King", as she was called, appeared on ''The Geo ...

, ''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 Hilary Kole is an American jazz singer. Career Kole's father, Robert, performed on Broadway during the 1950s in the musicals '' Plain and Fancy'', ''Wonderful Town'', and ''West Side Story''. When she was nineteen, she attended the Manhattan Sch ...

, ''You Are There'' (Justin Time, 2010) *

, ''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 Frederick Eugene John Lees (February 8, 1928 – April 22, 2010) was a Canadian music critic, biographer, lyricist, and journalist. Lees worked as a newspaper journalist in his native Canada before moving to the United States, where he was a music ...

, ''Bridges: Gene Lees Sings the Gene Lees Song Book'' (Kanata/CBC, 1971) *

Jay Leonhart Jay Leonhart (born December 6, 1940) is a double bassist, singer, and songwriter who has worked in jazz and popular music. He has performed with Judy Garland, Bucky Pizzarelli, Carly Simon, Frank Sinatra, and Sting. Leonhart is noted for his cl ...

, ''Salamander Pie'' (DMP, 1983) *

, ''Life Out On the Road'' (Nesak, 1990) *

Gloria Lynne Gloria Lynne (born Gloria Wilson; November 23, 1929 – October 15, 2013), also known as Gloria Alleyne, was an American jazz vocalist with a recording career spanning from 1958 to 2007. Career Lynne was born in Harlem in 1929 to John and Mary W ...

, ''This One's On Me'' (HighNote, 1998) * Ray Materick, ''Sidestreets'' (Kanata, 1972) *

Liza Minnelli Liza May Minnelli ( ; born March 12, 1946) is an American actress, singer, dancer, and choreographer. Known for her commanding stage presence and powerful alto singing voice, Minnelli is among a rare group of performers awarded an Emmy, Grammy ...

, ''Gently'' (Angel, 1996) *

Anne Marie Moss Anne Marie Moss (February 6, 1935 – February 29, 2012) was a Canadian-born jazz vocalist and music educator. She was born in Toronto, Ontario. She did not study music formally except for some lessons on breath control from Portia White. Moss ...

, ''Don't You Know Me?'' (Stash, 1981) *

Gerry Mulligan Gerald Joseph Mulligan (April 6, 1927 – January 20, 1996), also known as Jeru, was an American jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, composer and arranger. Though primarily known as one of the leading jazz baritone saxophonists—playing the instrum ...

, ''Soft Lights & Sweet Music'' (Concord Jazz, 1986) * Mark Murphy, ''Satisfaction Guaranteed'' (Muse, 1980) * Regis & Joy, ''Just You Just Me'' (Big Dot, 2009) *

Samuel Ramey Samuel Edward Ramey (born March 28, 1942) is an American operatic bass. At the height of his career, he was greatly admired for his range and versatility, having possessed a sufficiently accomplished bel canto technique to enable him to sing t ...

, ''Sam Ramey On Broadway'' (Teldec, 1993) *

Annie Ross Annabelle McCauley Allan Short (25 July 193021 July 2020), known professionally as Annie Ross, was a British-American singer and actress, best known as a member of the jazz vocal trio Lambert, Hendricks & Ross. Early life Ross was born in Surr ...

, ''Music Is Forever'' (DRG, 1996) *

Carol Sloane Carol Sloane (born March 5, 1937) is an American jazz singer born in Providence, Rhode Island, who has been singing professionally since she was 14, although for a time in the 1970s she worked as a legal secretary in Raleigh, North Carolina. In ...

, ''The Real Thing'' (Contemporary, 1990) *

, ''Live at Birdland'' (Club44 Records, 2022) *

Sylvia Syms Sylvia May Laura Syms (born 6 January 1934) is an English actress, best known for her roles in the films ''Woman in a Dressing Gown'' (1957), ''Ice Cold in Alex'' (1958), ''No Trees in the Street'' (1959), ''Victim'' (1961), and ''The Tamari ...

, ''She Loves to Hear the Music'' (A&M, 1978) *

Was (Not Was) Was (Not Was) is an American pop rock group founded in 1979 in Detroit, Michigan, by David Weiss and Don Fagenson, who adopted the stage names David Was and Don Was. Their song catalog features an eclectic mix of pop and rock styles, often fea ...

, ''Born to Laugh at Tornadoes'' (Geffen, 1983) * Thomas Young, ''High Standards'' (ESS.A.Y 1992)

References

External links

* *
Mike Renzi
at Artistdirect.com * 1941 births 2021 deaths 21st-century American male musicians 21st-century American pianists American people of Italian descent American jazz composers Songwriters from Rhode Island American jazz musicians Emmy Award winners Musicians from Providence, Rhode Island American male pianists American male jazz composers Sesame Street crew {{US-jazz-musician-stub