Ron Anthony
| Ron Anthony | |
|---|---|
| Born |
16 December 1933 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Genres | Jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | Guitar, vocals |
| Years active | 1951–present |
| Associated acts | George Shearing, Frank Sinatra |
Ron Anthony (born December 16, 1933) is an American jazz guitarist and singer.
Career
The song of a postal worker, Anthony grew up in Pittsburgh. At sixteen he started taking guitar lessons from a local teacher, then from Joe Negri, who was a friend of his teacher and who became one of Anthony's biggest influences. Anthony was proficient enough to work in a quartet in Pittsburgh during his teens. When the Stan Getz quintet visited, he saw them perform and was impressed and inspired by the band's guitarist, Jimmy Raney. During the 1950s, he enlisted in the Army and played guitar in an Army band.[1]
When he returned home, he attended Duquesne University to study music. After one year, he moved to New York City and played informally with Lennie Tristano, Lee Konitz, and Warne Marsh. He worked at night playing bass, rather than guitar, because he could make money playing bass. During the day he studied classical guitar through music books. He befriended Billy Bean and spend much time playing guitar with him. Anthony considers Bean an important influence and his idea of the model jazz guitarist. Through their mutual friend Joe Negri, Barry Galbraith recommended Anthony for a job with George Shearing.[1]
Anthony toured with Shearing's quintet during the early 1960s. He moved to Los Angeles, but when Shearing needed a guitarist, Anthony went back on the road with him for four years.[2][3]
Settling in Los Angeles, he gave guitar lessons and wrote an instructional book, Comping: A Practical Method for the Accompanying Guitarist. In 1986, he was invited to join Frank Sinatra's band to replace guitarist Tony Mottola, and he toured with Sinatra for nearly ten years. Years later, he played at Sinatra's memorial service and played on a tribute album, The Memory of All That.[3]
Discography
- Same Time, Same Place with Conte Candoli[1]
- It's Always 4 A.M. with Dave Carpenter[2]
- 1972 As Requested, George Shearing
- 1993 Vierd Blues, Ron Affif
- 1993 Duets, Frank Sinatra[4]
- 1994 Duets II, Frank Sinatra
References
- 1 2 3 Barth, Joe (2006). Voices in Jazz Guitar. Pacific, Missouri: Mel Bay. p. 40. ISBN 0786676795.
- 1 2 3 Yanow, Scott (2013). The great jazz guitarists : the ultimate guide. San Francisco: Backbeat. p. 10. ISBN 978-1-61713-023-6.
- 1 2 King, Peter B. (29 July 1999). "Jazzman Ron Anthony has kept beat with elite". Pittsburgh Post Gazette. Retrieved 19 March 2017.
- ↑ "Ron Anthony | Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 20 March 2017.
External links
- Ron Anthony Interview NAMM Oral History Library (2011)