{{Short description|American composer (1941–2021)}} {{distinguish|Mike Enzi}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2017}} {{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject Musicians --> | name = Mike Renzi | image = MikeRenziPhoto.jpg | caption = Renzi, c. 2009 | background = solo_singer | birth_name = | birth_date = {{Birth date|1941|4|28}} | birth_place = Providence, Rhode Island, U.S. | death_date = {{Death date and age|2021|09|29|1941|4|28}} | death_place = Newport, Rhode Island, U.S. | genre = Jazz, vocal jazz, traditional pop | occupation = Musician, singer, arranger, composer, musical director | instrument = Piano, vocals | years_active = 1962–2021 }}
'''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 in 1973 and from Berklee College of Music in 1974.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-10-06|title=RIP Mike Renzi|url=https://www.thenewportbuzz.com/rip-mike-renzi/32447|access-date=2021-12-14|website=Newport Buzz|language=en-US}}</ref> He was a musical director for Peggy Lee and Mel Tormé for over 25 years.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.peggylee.com/tribute/tribute_popup8.htm |title=Peggy Lee's official website |publisher=Chuck Pulin |date=2003 |accessdate=2008-07-02}}</ref> He worked on ''Sesame Street'' as the music director for seasons 31 through 40 and led the Mike Renzi Trio.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nj.com/entertainment/music/index.ssf/2012/10/cyrille_aimee_wins_the_first_s.html |title=Cyrille Aimee wins the first Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Competition |date=October 21, 2012 |website=NJ.com |accessdate=January 26, 2017}}</ref>
He died in Newport, Rhode Island, on September 28, 2021, at the age of 80.<ref>{{cite web|title=Mike Renzi, a Jazz Singer's Best Friend, Dies at 80|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/14/arts/mike-renzi-dead.html|work=The New York Times|last=Genzlinger|first=Neil|date=October 14, 2021|accessdate=October 14, 2021|archive-url = https://archive.today/20211015054427/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/14/arts/mike-renzi-dead.html |archive-date = October 15, 2021|url-status = live}}</ref><ref>[https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Composer-and-Musical-Director-Mike-Renzi-Dies-at-80-20210929 Composer and Musical Director Mike Renzi Dies at 80]</ref>
==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''' * ''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 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 Sings TNT'' (Milestone, 1991) * ''Body & Soul'' (Milestone, 1993) * ''Feeling Free'' (Pow Wow, 1999)
'''With others''' *Laurie Beechman, ''Time Between the Time'' (DRG, 1983) * Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga, ''Cheek to Cheek'' (Columbia/Interscope, 2014) * Ruth Brown, ''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, ''Positively Volume VII'' (Daffodil, 1983) * Blossom Dearie & Mike Renzi, ''Tweedledum & Tweedledee (Two People Who Resemble Each Other, in this Case Musically)'' (Master Mix, 1991) * Denise DeCaro, ''Providence...Live!'' (bigBang, 1998) * Denise DeCaro, ''Christmas and You'' (bigBang, 2016) * Trudy Desmond, ''Make Me Rainbows'' (Koch, 1995) * Ann Burton, ''New York State of Mind'' (Apollon, 1986) * Judy Carmichael & Harry Allen, ''Can You Love Me Once More?'' (JC/GAC, 2016) * Meredith D'Ambrosio, ''Echo of a Kiss'' (Sunnyside, 1998) * Jane Harvey, ''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 Sings Jerome Kern'' (Stash, 1985) *Nicolas King, ''Nineteen'' (2010) * Nicolas King, ''On Another Note'' (2017) * Nicolas King, ''Act One'' (Club44 Records, 2021) * Hilary Kole, ''You Are There'' (Justin Time, 2010) * Hilary Kole, ''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, ''Bridges: Gene Lees Sings the Gene Lees Song Book'' (Kanata/CBC, 1971) * Jay Leonhart, ''Salamander Pie'' (DMP, 1983) * Jay Leonhart, ''Life Out On the Road'' (Nesak, 1990) * Gloria Lynne, ''This One's On Me'' (HighNote, 1998) * Ray Materick, ''Sidestreets'' (Kanata, 1972) * Liza Minnelli, ''Gently'' (Angel, 1996) * Anne Marie Moss, ''Don't You Know Me?'' (Stash, 1981) * Gerry Mulligan, ''Soft Lights & Sweet Music'' (Concord Jazz, 1986) * Mark Murphy, ''Satisfaction Guaranteed'' (Muse, 1980) * Regis & Joy, ''Just You Just Me'' (Big Dot, 2009) * Samuel Ramey, ''Sam Ramey On Broadway'' (Teldec, 1993) * Annie Ross, ''Music Is Forever'' (DRG, 1996) * Annette Sanders, ''Everything I Love'' (Ripe & Ready, 1998)<ref>Adderton, Donald V. (May 1, 1998). [https://www.newspapers.com/image/744375549/?clipping_id=115720606 "Sanders' jazzy sounds shine through on CD"]. ''Biloxi Sun Herald''. p. 62. Retrieved February 14, 2023.</ref> * Jonathan Schwartz, ''Anyone Would Love You'' (Muse, 1986)<ref>[https://www.worldcat.org/title/1269377828?oclcNum=1269377828 "'Anyone Would Love You' Personnel"]. WorldCat.</ref> * Carol Sloane, ''The Real Thing'' (Contemporary, 1990) * Carol Sloane, ''Live at Birdland'' (Club44 Records, 2022) * Sylvia Syms, ''She Loves to Hear the Music'' (A&M, 1978) * Was (Not Was), ''Born to Laugh at Tornadoes'' (Geffen, 1983) * Thomas Young, ''High Standards'' (ESS.A.Y 1992)
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{IMDb name|0719966|Mike Renzi}} *{{IBDB name|93305|Mike Renzi}} *[http://www.artistdirect.com/nad/music/artist/card/0,,484209,00.html Mike Renzi] at Artistdirect.com * {{Discogs artist|Mike Renzi}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Renzi, Mike}} Category:1941 births Category:2021 deaths Category:21st-century American pianists Category:American people of Italian descent Category:American jazz composers Category:Songwriters from Rhode Island Category:American jazz musicians Category:Daytime Emmy Award winners Category:Musicians from Providence, Rhode Island Category:American male jazz composers Category:21st-century American male pianists