Bucky Pizzarelli (1926-2020)

Bucky Pizzarelli was an influential jazz guitarist and studio musician. He enjoyed a prolific studio career, playing with the likes of Aretha Franklin, Frank Sinatra, Sarah Vaughn, and Benny Goodman.

Pizzarelli was known for his rhythm guitar playing, which was influenced by the likes of Django Reinhardt and Freddie Greene. His son John Pizzarelli is also a professional jazz guitarist and vocalist.

Bio

John Paul Pizzarelli, known as Bucky Pizzarelli throughout his life, was born in 1926 in Paterson, New Jersey. He began playing guitar at age 9, inspired by his uncles Pete and Bobby who were professional big band guitarists.

From the beginning, Pizzarelli was immersed in jazz; he soaked up the music of George Van Eps, Benny Goodman, and Charlie Christian from records recommended by his uncles.

Throughout high school, he learned to play on an acoustic guitar. He also joined the school string orchestra, although due to the lack of guitar parts he mostly played upright bass. The orchestra rehearsed a half hour before class, and an hour after school. This was Pizzarelli's formal background in ensemble playing, which he would later put to use as a studio musician.

In 1944, the 17-year-old Pizzarelli picked up his first professional gig as a member of the Vaughn Monroe dance band.

Quotes

Every day I get up and I try to correct what I screwed up the night before! That’s my theory. I prepare for the next time.

- Bucky Pizzarelli

It was always a pleasure to play for Tony Bennett or Frank Sinatra, because you knew the music was great and you didn’t have to play any gimmick.

- Bucky Pizzarelli

I mean, he's the best doing what he does. So I always try to hire the best musicians. And I can play rhythm guitar, but not like him.

- John Pizzarelli

I loved hearing him play. And whoever he was playing with was fun. So I loved going with him to record dates when I was a little kid. I could sit in a studio all day and listen to him play.

- John Pizzarelli

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