Richie Cannata

Musical artist (b. 1949)

Richie Cannata

Richie Cannata in March 2021

Background information
Born|  (1949-03-03) March 3, 1949 (age 76)[1]
Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Origin| Long Island, New York, U.S.
Genres|

* Pop
* pop rock
* rock

Occupations|

* Musician
* producer
* studio owner

Instruments|

* Saxophone
* flute
* clarinet
* keyboards

Spouse| Shirlene Cannata (1979-Present)

Musical artist

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,[2] 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

[edit]

Cannata, who is of Italian heritage,[3] was born March 3, 1949[4] in Brooklyn, New York, the son of Ernest (March 26, 1914 – April 14, 1993)[5] and Anna (February 25, 1926 — April 1, 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

[edit]

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 2009, Cannata coached and oversaw recording sessions with singer Jenna Rose, who only a year later became a viral video sensation.[13]

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,[14] featuring Cannata and Julio Fernandez, guitarist of jazz fusion/smooth jazz group Spyro Gyra.[15]

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.[16][17] 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.[18]

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.[19]

## Billy Joel album credits

[edit]

* 1976 Turnstiles
* 1977 The Stranger
* 1978 52nd Street
* 1980 Glass Houses
* 1981 Songs in the Attic
* 1985 Greatest Hits Volume I & II
* 1993 River of Dreams
* 1997 Greatest Hits Volume III

## See also

[edit]

* List of Billy Joel band members

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Cannata's birthday celebration". Themondaynightjam.com.
2. ^ Kreps, Daniel. "Clive Davis, Billy Joel's Band Among Long Island Music Hall of Fame Inductees". Rolling Stone. Retrieved March 26, 2017.
3. ^ https://glencovedowntown.org/richie-cannata/
4. ^ "A Collection of songs written & arranged by Richard Cannata and Daniel J. Vitalo, Junior". Copyright Encyclopedia. Retrieved March 29, 2017.
5. ^ "Anna Cannata on Deathfigures". DeathFigures. Retrieved March 29, 2017.
6. ^ "Anna Cannata on Deathfigures". DeathFigures. Retrieved March 29, 2017.
7. ^ a b "Saxophonist Richie Cannata on Live it Up with Donna Drake". YouTube. January 23, 2016. Retrieved March 29, 2017.
8. ^ a b Bentley, Mary. "On the Side - Richie Cannata". SmoothViews. Retrieved March 26, 2017.
9. ^ a b "Long Island Music Hall of Fame Inductees - Richie Cannata". Long Island Music Hall of Fame. Retrieved March 26, 2017.
10. ^ "Richie Cannata". Cove City Sound Studios. Retrieved March 26, 2017.
11. ^ McCormick, Moira (November 3, 1984). "Shaw Sticks to 'Guns' - Solo Project for Styx Guitarist". Billboard. Vol. 96, no. 44\. p. 57. Retrieved March 26, 2017.
12. ^ Williams, Bernie (2011). Rhythms of the Game: The Link Between Musical and Athletic Performance. Hal Leonard Books. ISBN 9781458429179. Retrieved March 26, 2017.
13. ^ Jenna Rose & Richie Cannata – News 12 interview (Television news). Long Island, New York: News 12. August 1, 2009. Archived from the original on April 25, 2012. Retrieved October 12, 2011.
14. ^ "Richie Cannata - Richie Cannata - Songs, Reviews, Credits - AllMusic". AllMusic.
15. ^ "Improvising And Soloing In The Pocket - Book Review". Archived from the original on June 1, 2016. Retrieved April 7, 2015.
16. ^ Gamboa, Glenn (October 23, 2014). "Billy Joel Band set to join Piano Man in Long Island Music Hall of Fame". New York Newsday. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
17. ^ "Long Island Music Hall of Fame induction 2014". Newsday.com. October 29, 2014. Retrieved March 26, 2017.
18. ^ Filipski, Kevin (February 5, 2016). "Interview with Guitarist Russell Javors". Flipsidereviews.blogspot.com. Retrieved July 14, 2016.
19. ^ "12 Jul Mayor Spinello Recognizes Musician Richie Cannata with Honorary Street Dedication". City of Glen Cove. July 12, 2016. Retrieved March 26, 2017.

## External links

[edit]

* Cove City Sound Studios
* Richie Cannata at IMDb
* Richie Cannata at AllMusic

* v
* t
* e

Billy Joel

Studio albums|

* Cold Spring Harbor
* Piano Man
* Streetlife Serenade
* Turnstiles
* The Stranger
* 52nd Street
* Glass Houses
* The Nylon Curtain
* An Innocent Man
* The Bridge
* Storm Front
* River of Dreams
* Fantasies & Delusions

Live albums|

* Songs in the Attic
* Kontsert
* 2000 Years: The Millennium Concert
* 12 Gardens Live
* Live at Shea Stadium: The Concert

Compilations|

* Greatest Hits – Volume I & Volume II
* Souvenir: The Ultimate Collection
* Greatest Hits Volume III
* The Complete Hits Collection: 1973–1997
* The Ultimate Collection
* The Essential Billy Joel
* Piano Man: The Very Best of Billy Joel
* My Lives
* The Hits
* Billy Joel: Opus Collection

Singles|

* "She's Got a Way" / "Everybody Loves You Now"
* "Piano Man" / "You're My Home"
* "Worse Comes to Worst"
* "Travelin' Prayer"
* "The Ballad of Billy the Kid"
* "The Entertainer"
* "James"
* "I've Loved These Days" / "Say Goodbye to Hollywood"
* "Just the Way You Are" / "Vienna"
* "Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)"
* "Only the Good Die Young"
* "She's Always a Woman"
* "The Stranger"
* "My Life"
* "Big Shot"
* "Honesty"
* "Until the Night"
* "All for Leyna"
* "You May Be Right"
* "It's Still Rock and Roll to Me"
* "Don't Ask Me Why"
* "Sometimes a Fantasy"
* "Say Goodbye to Hollywood" (Live)
* "She's Got a Way" (Live)
* "Pressure"
* "Allentown"
* "Goodnight Saigon"
* "Tell Her About It"
* "Uptown Girl"
* "An Innocent Man"
* "The Longest Time"
* "Leave a Tender Moment Alone"
* "This Night"
* "Keeping the Faith"
* "You're Only Human (Second Wind)"
* "The Night Is Still Young"
* "Modern Woman" / "Sleeping with the Television On"
* "A Matter of Trust"
* "This Is the Time"
* "Baby Grand"
* "Back in the U.S.S.R." (Live)
* "We Didn't Start the Fire"
* References
* "Leningrad"
* "I Go to Extremes"
* "The Downeaster 'Alexa'"
* "That's Not Her Style"
* "And So It Goes"
* "Shameless"
* "All Shook Up"
* "The River of Dreams"
* "No Man's Land"
* "All About Soul"
* "Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel)"
* "To Make You Feel My Love"
* "All My Life"
* "Christmas in Fallujah"
* "Turn the Lights Back On"

Other songs|

* "Captain Jack"
* "Tomorrow Is Today"
* "Los Angelenos"
* "Root Beer Rag"
* "New York State of Mind"
* "Prelude/Angry Young Man"
* "Miami 2017 (Seen the Lights Go Out on Broadway)"
* "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant"
* "Zanzibar"
* "Laura"
* "Scandinavian Skies"
* "Big Man on Mulberry Street"

Tours|

* The Nylon Curtain Tour
* An Innocent Man Tour
* The Bridge Tour
* Storm Front Tour
* River of Dreams Tour
* Face to Face Tours
* 1994
* 1995
* 1998
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2009
* 2010
* Billy Joel in Concert

See also|

* Discography
* Billy Joel band members
* Movin' Out
* The Last Play at Shea
* The Hassles
* Attila
* Alexa Ray Joel
* Christie Brinkley
* Oliver & Company
* soundtrack
* Katie Lee
* "Movin' Out" (Glee episode)
* Billy Joel: And So It Goes

* Category

Authority control databases

International|

* ISNI
* VIAF

National|

* Germany
* United States
* Czech Republic
* Netherlands

Artists|

* MusicBrainz

Other|

* Yale LUX

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