Lee Mack Ritenour ( ; born January 11, 1952) is an American jazz guitarist who has been active since the late 1960s.

Biography

Ritenour was born in 1952, in Los Angeles, California. At the age of eight he started playing guitar and four years later decided on a career in music. When he was 16 he played on his first recording session with

the Mamas & the Papas The Mamas & the Papas were an American folk rock vocal group that recorded and performed from 1965 to 1968, with a brief reunion in 1971. The group was a defining force in the music scene of the counterculture of the 1960s. Formed in New York C ...

. He developed a love for jazz and was influenced by guitarist

Wes Montgomery John Leslie "Wes" Montgomery (March 6, 1923 – June 15, 1968) was an American jazz guitarist. Montgomery was known for his unusual technique of plucking the strings with the side of his thumb and for his extensive use of octaves, which gave him a ...

. At the age of 17 he worked with

Lena Horne Lena Mary Calhoun Horne (June 30, 1917 – May 9, 2010) was an American singer, actress, dancer and civil rights activist. Horne's career spanned more than seventy years and covered film, television and theatre. Horne joined the chorus of the C ...

and

Tony Bennett Anthony Dominick Benedetto (August 3, 1926 – July 21, 2023), known professionally as Tony Bennett, was an American jazz and traditional pop singer. He received many accolades, including 20 Grammy Awards, a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, ...

. He studied classical guitar at the

University of Southern California The University of Southern California (USC, SC, or Southern Cal) is a Private university, private research university in Los Angeles, California, United States. Founded in 1880 by Robert M. Widney, it is the oldest private research university in ...

1976–1988

Ritenour's solo career began with the album ''First Course'' (1976), a good example of the jazz-funk sound of the 1970s, followed by ''

Captain Fingers ''Captain Fingers'' is the third studio album by guitarist Lee Ritenour, released in 1977 by Epic Records. Track listing Personnel * Lee Ritenour – electric guitars, 360 Systems Polyphonic guitar synthesizer (1, 2, 4, 6), electric 12-str ...

'', ''The Captain's Journey'' (1978), and ''Feel the Night'' (1979). In 1979, he "was brought in to beef up" one of Pink Floyd's ''

The Wall ''The Wall'' is the eleventh studio album by the English rock band Pink Floyd, released on 30 November 1979 by Harvest/ EMI and Columbia/ CBS Records. It is a rock opera which explores Pink, a jaded rock star, as he constructs a psychologic ...

''s heaviest rock numbers, "

Run Like Hell "Run Like Hell" is a song by the English progressive rock band Pink Floyd, written by David Gilmour and Roger Waters. It appears on their eleventh studio album '' The Wall'' (1979) and was released as a single in 1980, reaching #15 in the Canadian ...

". He played "uncredited rhythm guitar" on "

One of My Turns "One of My Turns" is a song by the English rock band Pink Floyd, appearing on their 1979 album '' The Wall''. The song was also released as a B-side on the single of " Another Brick in the Wall (Part 2)". Composition The song is split into dist ...

". As the 1980s began, Ritenour began to add stronger elements of pop to his music, beginning with ''Rit'' (1981). ''Rit'' became his only release to chart in Australia, peaking at number 98. " Is It You" with vocals by

Eric Tagg Eric Tagg (born January 9, 1953) is an American singer, songwriter and musician. He was previously a member of Dutch music groups Beehive and Rainbow Train. He is also notable for being the songwriter, bassist and vocalist in guitarist Lee Riteno ...

reached No. 15 on the ''Billboard'' pop chart and No. 27 on the Soul chart. The track peaked at number fifteen on

Hot Adult Contemporary Adult contemporary music (AC) is a form of radio-played popular music, ranging from 1960s vocal and 1970s soft rock music to predominantly ballad-heavy music of the 1980s to the present day, with varying degrees of easy listening, pop, soul ...

chart. He continued with the pop-oriented music for ''Rit/2'' (1982) and ''Banded Together'' (1984), while releasing a Direct-Disk instrumental album in 1983 called ''On the Line''. He also provided rhythm guitar on Tom Browne's album ''Funkin' for Jamaica''. He recorded ''Harlequin'' (1985) with

Dave Grusin Robert David Grusin (born June 26, 1934) is an American composer, arranger, producer, jazz pianist, and band leader. He has composed many scores for feature films and television and has won numerous awards for his soundtrack and record work, incl ...

and vocals by

Ivan Lins Ivan Guimarães Lins (born 16 June 1945) is a Latin Grammy-winning Brazilian musician. He has been an active performer and songwriter of Brazilian popular music (MPB) and jazz for over fifty years. His first hit, "Madalena", was recorded by ...

. His next album, ''

Earth Run ''Earth Run'' is the fifteenth studio album by jazz guitarist Lee Ritenour, released in April 1986 through GRP Records.Grammy Award for Best Jazz Fusion Performance The Grammy Award for Best Jazz Fusion Performance was an award given to a song or album for excellence in the jazz fusion genre, a combination of rock and jazz. It was given at the Grammy Awards, which began in 1958 under the name Gramophone Awar ...

. The album's title track was also Grammy nominated in the category of

Best Instrumental Composition The Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Composition (including its previous names) has been awarded since 1960. The award is presented to the composer of an original piece of music (not an adaptation), first released during the eligibility year. I ...

. ''

Portrait A portrait is a painting, photograph, sculpture, or other artistic representation of a person, in which the face is always predominant. In arts, a portrait may be represented as half body and even full body. If the subject in full body better r ...

'' (GRP, 1987) included guest performances by

the Yellowjackets Yellowjackets is an American jazz fusion band founded in 1977 in Los Angeles, California. History In 1977, guitarist Robben Ford, for his first solo album, recruited keyboardist Russell Ferrante, electric bassist Jimmy Haslip and drummer R ...

Djavan Djavan Caetano Viana (; born 27 January 1949) is a Brazilian singer-songwriter and guitarist. He is widely considered to be one of the greatest singers in Brazilian history. Early life and career Djavan was born in Maceió, Brazil to a whit ...

, and

Kenny G Kenneth Bruce Gorelick (born June 5, 1956) is an American smooth jazz saxophonist, composer, and record producer. His 1986 album ''Duotones'' brought him commercial success. Kenny G is one of the List of best-selling music artists, best-selli ...

. In 1988, his Brazilian influence came to the forefront on ''Festival'', an album featuring his work on nylon-string guitar. He changed direction with his straight-ahead jazz album ''Stolen Moments'' which he recorded with saxophonist

Ernie Watts Ernest James Watts (born October 23, 1945) is an American jazz and R&B saxophonist who plays soprano, alto, and tenor saxophone. He has worked with Charlie Haden's Quartet West and toured with the Rolling Stones. On Frank Zappa's album '' ...

, pianist Alan Broadbent, bassist

John Patitucci John Patitucci (born December 22, 1959) is an American jazz bassist and composer. Biography John James Patitucci was born in Brooklyn, New York. He began playing the electric bass at age 10, performing and composing at age 12, and at age 15, s ...

, and drummer

Harvey Mason Harvey William Mason (born February 22, 1947) is an American jazz drummer, record producer, and member of the band Fourplay. He was the original drummer for Herbie Hancock's band The Headhunters. Life and career Mason was born and grew ...

. During the same year, he composed the theme song for the Canadian TV series ''

Ramona ''Ramona'' is an 1884 American novel written by Helen Hunt Jackson. Set in Southern California after the Mexican–American War and annexation of the territory by the United States, ''Ramona'' explores the life of a mixed-race Scottish– Native ...

''.

1990–present

In 1991 Ritenour and keyboardist Bob James formed the group

Fourplay Fourplay (stylized as fOURPLAY) is a contemporary American smooth jazz quartet. The original members of the group were Bob James (keyboards), Lee Ritenour (guitars), Nathan East (bass), and Harvey Mason (drums). In 1997, Ritenour left the ...

. He left the group in 1997 and was replaced by

Larry Carlton Larry Eugene Carlton (born March 2, 1948) is an American guitarist who built his career as a studio musician in the 1970s and 1980s for acts including Steely Dan and Joni Mitchell. One of the most sought after guitarists of his era, Carlton has ...

. He released the career retrospective ''Overtime'' in 2005. ''Smoke n' Mirrors'' came out the next year with the debut of his thirteen-year-old son, Wesley, on drums. Celebrating his fifty years as a guitarist in 2010, Ritenour released ''6 String Theory'', a title that refers to six musical areas covered by the use of guitar. Ritenour has been a judge for the Independent Music Awards.

Lead vocalists

Lee Ritenour's first few solo albums consisted entirely of instrumentals. Beginning with ''Captain Fingers'' (1977), Ritenour used vocalists on many of his songs: *

Bill Champlin William Bradford Champlin (born May 21, 1947) is an American singer, keyboardist, guitarist and songwriter. He formed the band Sons of Champlin in 1965, which still performs today, and was a member of the rock band Chicago (band), Chicago from 1 ...

Patti Austin Patti Austin (born August 10, 1950) is an American Grammy Award-winning R&B, pop, and jazz singer and songwriter best known for " Baby, Come to Me", her 1982 duet with James Ingram, which topped the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 after its re-release ...

Phil Perry Philip Eugene Perry (born January 12, 1952) is an American Contemporary R&B, R&B singer, songwriter, musician and a former member of the soul group, The Montclairs, from 1971 to 1975. He was also known for performing the opening song to Disney� ...

João Bosco João Bosco de Freitas Mucci, known professionally as João Bosco () is a Brazilian singer-songwriter and guitarist. In the 1970s he established his reputation in ''música popular Brasileira'' (Portuguese: "Brazilian pop music") with lyricist ...

Kate Markowitz Catherine Judith "Kate" Markowitz (born 28 April 1956) is an American singer-songwriter known as a backup singer who has recorded and performed with a number of singers, most notably James Taylor but also Willy DeVille, Shawn Colvin, Mylène Farm ...

Maxi Priest Max Alfred Elliott (born 10 June 1961), known by his stage name Maxi Priest, is a British reggae vocalist of Jamaican descent. He is best known for singing reggae music with an Contemporary R&B, R&B influence, otherwise known as reggae fusion. ...

Lisa Fischer Lisa Melonie Fischer (born December 1, 1958) is an American singer and songwriter. She found success with her 1991 debut album '' So Intense'', which produced the Grammy Award–winning hit single " How Can I Ease the Pain". She has been a back ...

* Michael McDonald

Awards

Grammy Awards

Ritenour has received one Grammy award out of sixteen nominations. * Album of the Year, ''Jazziz'' magazine (2010) - 6 String Theory. * Best International Instrumentalist, Echo Jazz Award (2011)

Discography

Albums

Charted singles

As a member

* ''

'' (Warner Bros., 1991) * '' Between the Sheets'' (Warner Bros., 1993) * ''

Elixir An elixir is a sweet liquid used for medical purposes, to be taken orally and intended to cure one's illness. When used as a dosage form, pharmaceutical preparation, an elixir contains at least one active ingredient designed to be taken orall ...

'' (Warner Bros., 1995) * ''Best of Fourplay'' (Warner Bros., 1997) L.A. Workshop * ''Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)'' (Denon, 1988) * ''Norwegian Wood, Vol. 2'' (Denon, 1994)

GRP All-Star Big Band The GRP All-Star Big Band was a contemporary big band assembled in the late 1980s by Dave Grusin and Larry Rosen, the founders of GRP Records. The band played new arrangements of popular jazz pieces from the 1950s and 1960s. Its albums '' GRP Al ...

* ''

'' (GRP, 1992)

Other credits

* 1977 "

Strawberry Letter 23 "Strawberry Letter 23" is a song written and composed by Shuggie Otis from his 1971 album '' Freedom Flight''. It is also widely known by the 1977 cover version recorded by the Brothers Johnson and produced by Quincy Jones. Lyrics The song's ...

" from the album '' Right On Time'' by Brothers Johnson * 1987 Joyride - track 6 "Midi Citi" - (En Pointe) * 1985 ''American Flyer (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)'' with Greg Mathieson - GRP

As sideman

With Alessi Brothers * ''Driftin (A&M, 1977) * ''Words & Music'' (A&M, 1978) With

* '' Love Is Gonna Getcha'' (GRP, 1990) * '' That Secret Place'' (GRP, 1994) With

Carole Bayer Sager Carole Bayer Sager (born Carol Bayer on March 8, 1944) is an American lyricist, singer, songwriter, and painter. Early life and career Carole Bayer was born in New York City, to Anita Nathan Bayer and Eli Bayer. Her family was Jewish. She gradu ...

* ''

'' (Elektra, 1977) * '' ...Too'' (Elektra, 1978) * '' Sometimes Late at Night'' (Boardwalk, 1981) With

George Benson George Washington Benson (born March 22, 1943) is an American jazz fusion guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He began his professional career at the age of 19 as a jazz guitarist. A former child prodigy, Benson first came to prominence in the ...

* '' Give Me the Night'' (Warner Bros., 1980) * '' Songs and Stories'' (Concord, 2009) With

The Brothers Johnson The Brothers Johnson was an American funk and R&B band consisting of the American brothers George ("Lightnin' Licks") and Louis E. Johnson ("Thunder Thumbs"). They achieved their greatest success from the mid-1970s to early 1980s, with three ...

* '' Look Out for #1'' (A&M, 1977) * '' Right on Time'' (A&M, 1978) With

The Carpenters The Carpenters were an American vocal and instrumental duo consisting of siblings Karen Carpenter, Karen (1950–1983) and Richard Carpenter (musician), Richard Carpenter (born 1946). They produced a distinctive soft musical style, combining ...

* '' Passage'' (A&M, 1977) With

Natalie Cole Natalie Maria Cole (February 6, 1950 – December 31, 2015) was an American singer, songwriter, and actress. She was the daughter of singer and jazz pianist Nat King Cole. She rose to prominence in the mid-1970s, with the release of her debut ...

* '' Thankful'' (Capitol, 1977) * '' Stardust'' (Elektra, 1996) With

Brass Fever Brass Fever was an American jazz musical ensemble, which recorded two albums for Impulse! Records. Consisting of both session musicians and leaders such as Shelly Manne, their two albums covered jazz and R&B genres. Their second album charted at ...

* ''

'' (Impulse!, 1975) * '' Time Is Running Out'' (Impulse!, 1976) With

Four Tops The Four Tops are an American vocal group formed in Detroit, Michigan in 1953 as the Four Aims. They were one of the most commercially successful American pop music groups of the 1960s and helped propel Motown Records to international fame. The ...

* '' Night Lights Harmony'' (ABC, 1975) With

Aretha Franklin Aretha Louise Franklin ( ; March 25, 1942 – August 16, 2018) was an American singer, songwriter and pianist. Honored as the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Queen of Soul", she was twice named by ''Rolling Stone'' magazine as the Roll ...

* ''

You In Modern English, the word "''you''" is the second-person pronoun. It is grammatically plural, and was historically used only for the dative case, but in most modern dialects is used for all cases and numbers. History ''You'' comes from ...

'' (Atlantic, 1975) * '' Sweet Passion'' (Atlantic, 1977) With

Art Garfunkel Arthur Ira Garfunkel (born November 5, 1941) is an American singer, actor and poet who is best known for his partnership with Paul Simon in the folk rock duo Simon & Garfunkel. Born in Forest Hills, Queens, New York, Garfunkel became acquainte ...

* '' Breakaway'' (Columbia, 1975) * ''

Fate for Breakfast ''Fate for Breakfast'' is the fourth solo studio album by Art Garfunkel, released in March 1979 on Columbia Records. It was his first album to miss the U.S. Billboard Top 40 (charting at 67) and his first album containing no U.S. Top 40 singles. ...

'' (Columbia, 1979) With

Margie Joseph Margaret Marie Joseph (born August 19, 1950) is an American R&B, soul and gospel singer. Her greatest success came in the 1970s with a duet with Blue Magic on " What's Come Over Me" and her versions of Paul McCartney's " My Love" and The Supre ...

* ''Hear the Words, Feel the Feeling'' (Cotillion, 1976) * ''Feeling My Way'' (Atlantic, 1978) With

Bill LaBounty Bill LaBounty is an American musician. He was initially a singer-songwriter in the soft rock genre. As a solo artist, LaBounty recorded six studio albums, including four on Curb/Warner Bros. Records. His first charting single, " This Night Won't ...

* ''Promised Love'' (Curb, 1975) * ''This Night Won't Last Forever'' (Warner Bros., 1978) With

Melissa Manchester Melissa Manchester (born February 15, 1951) is an American singer-songwriter and actress. Since the 1970s, her songs have been played by adult contemporary radio stations. She has also appeared on television, in films, and on stage. Early li ...

* '' Don't Cry Out Loud'' (Arista, 1978) * ''

Mathematics Mathematics is a field of study that discovers and organizes methods, Mathematical theory, theories and theorems that are developed and Mathematical proof, proved for the needs of empirical sciences and mathematics itself. There are many ar ...

'' (MCA, 1985) With

Alphonse Mouzon Alphonse Lee Mouzon (November 21, 1948 – December 25, 2016) was an American musician and vocalist, most prominently known as a jazz fusion drummer. He was also a composer, arranger, producer, and actor. Mouzon gained popularity in the late 196 ...

* ''

Mind Transplant ''Mind Transplant'' is the third album by American jazz drummer Alphonse Mouzon recorded in 1974 and released on the Blue Note label.

'' (Blue Note, 1974) * '' The Man Incognito'' (Blue Note, 1975) With

Michael Omartian Michael S. Omartian (born November 26, 1945) is an American singer-songwriter, arranger, keyboardist, and music producer. He produced number-one records in three consecutive decades. He has earned 11 Grammy Awards nominations and won three. H ...

* ''

Adam Again Adam Again was an American rock band active from 1982 until the death of founder, leader and vocalist Gene Eugene in 2000. Other band members included Riki Michele on vocals, Paul Valadez on bass, Jon Knox on drums, and Greg Lawless on guitar ...

'' (Myrrh, 1977) With

Leo Sayer Leo Sayer (born Gerard Hugh Sayer, 21 May 1948) is an English-Australian singer and songwriter who has been active since the early 1970s. He has been an Australian citizen and resident since 2009. Sayer launched his career in the United Kingd ...

* '' Endless Flight'' (Chrysalis, 1976) * '' Thunder in My Heart'' (Chrysalis, 1977) With

Carly Simon Carly Elisabeth Simon (born June 25, 1943) is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and author. She rose to fame in the 1970s with a string of hit records; her 13 Billboard Hot 100, top 40 U.S. hits include "Anticipation (song), Anticipatio ...

* ''

Playing Possum ''Playing Possum'' is the fifth studio album by American singer-songwriter Carly Simon, released by Elektra Records, on April 16, 1975. It was Simon's third consecutive album to reach the top 10 on the ''Billboard'' Pop albums chart, peaking a ...

'' (Elektra, 1975) * ''

Torch A torch is a stick with combustible material at one end which can be used as a light source or to set something on fire. Torches have been used throughout history and are still used in processions, symbolic and religious events, and in juggl ...

'' (Warner Bros., 1981) With

Frank Sinatra Francis Albert Sinatra (; December 12, 1915 – May 14, 1998) was an American singer and actor. Honorific nicknames in popular music, Nicknamed the "Chairman of the Board" and "Ol' Blue Eyes", he is regarded as one of the Time 100: The Most I ...

* '' L.A. Is My Lady'' (Qwest, 1984) With

Barbra Streisand Barbara Joan "Barbra" Streisand ( ; born April 24, 1942) is an American singer, actress, songwriter, producer, and director. With a career spanning over six decades, she has achieved success across multiple fields of entertainment, being the ...

* '' Lazy Afternoon'' (Columbia, 1975) * ''

Songbird A songbird is a bird belonging to the suborder Passeri of the perching birds (Passeriformes). Another name that is sometimes seen as the scientific or vernacular name is Oscines, from Latin ''oscen'', "songbird". The Passeriformes contains 5,00 ...

'' (Columbia, 1978) * '' Guilty'' (Columbia, 1980) – rec. 1979–1980 With

Lenny Williams Leonard Charles Williams (born February 16, 1945)"Biography by Alex Henderson"
AllMus ...

* ''Sparks of Love'' (ABC, 1978) With others *

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, '' Herb Alpert / Hugh Masekela'' (Horizon, 1978) *

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, '' The Painter'' (United Artists, 1976) * Stephen Bishop, '' Careless'' (ABC, 1976) * Simone, ''Corpo e Alma'' (CBS, 1982) *

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, ''Lisa Hartman'' (Kirshner, 1976) *

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, ''Reflections in Blue'' (ABC, 1977) * Bloodstone, ''Don't Stop'' (Motown, 1978) *

Debby Boone Deborah Anne Boone (born September 22, 1956) is an American singer, author, and actress. She is best known for her 1977 hit, " You Light Up My Life", which spent ten weeks at No. 1 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart and led to her winning the G ...

, ''

'' (Capitol, 1979) *

Glen Campbell Glen Travis Campbell (April 22, 1936 – August 8, 2017) was an American country musician and actor. He was best known for a series of hit songs in the 1960s and 1970s, and for hosting ''The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour'' on CBS television from ...

, ''

Basic Basic or BASIC may refer to: Science and technology * BASIC, a computer programming language * Basic (chemistry), having the properties of a base * Basic access authentication, in HTTP Entertainment * Basic (film), ''Basic'' (film), a 2003 film ...

'' (Capitol, 1978) *

Captain & Tennille Captain & Tennille were an American recording duo whose primary success occurred in the 1970s. The husband-and-wife team were "Captain" Daryl Dragon (1942–2019) and Toni Tennille (born 1940). They have five albums certified gold or platinum a ...

, '' Make Your Move'' (Casablanca, 1979) *

Keith Carradine Keith Ian Carradine ( ; born August 8, 1949) is an American actor. In film he is known for his roles as Tom Frank in Robert Altman's ''Nashville'', E. J. Bellocq in Louis Malle's ''Pretty Baby'', and Mickey in Alan Rudolph's '' Choose Me.'' ...

, '' I'm Easy'' (Asylum, 1976) *

Casiopea , is a Japanese jazz fusion band formed in 1976 by guitarist Issei Noro, bassist Tetsuo Sakurai, drummer Tohru "Rika" Suzuki, and keyboardist Hidehiko Koike. In 1977, keyboardist Minoru Mukaiya and drummer Takashi Sasaki ( ja) replaced Koik ...

, '' 4x4'' (Alfa, 1982) * David Castle, ''Castle in the Sky'' (Parachute, 1977) *

Cher Cher ( ; born Cheryl Sarkisian, May 20, 1946) is an American singer, actress and television personality. Dubbed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Goddess of Pop", she is known for her Androgyny, androgynous contralto voice, Music an ...

, '' I'd Rather Believe in You'' (Warner Bros., 1976) *

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, '' Hard Times for Lovers'' (Elektra, 1979) * Judy Collins, '' Home Again'' (Elektra, 1984) * Sparks, '' Introducing Sparks'' (Columbia, 1977) *

Paulinho da Costa Paulinho da Costa (, born Paulo Roberto da Costa on May 31, 1948) is a Brazilian percussionist. Beginning his career as a samba musician in Brazil, he moved to the United States in the early 1970s and worked with Brazilian bandleader Sérgio Me ...

, ''

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'' (Pablo, 1977) * England Dan & John Ford Coley, '' Dr. Heckle and Mr. Jive'' (Big Tree, 1979) *

John Denver Henry John Deutschendorf Jr. (December 31, 1943 – October 12, 1997), known professionally as John Denver, was an American Country music, country and Folk music, folk singer, songwriter, and actor. He was one of the most popular acoustic m ...

, '' I Want to Live'' (RCA, 1977) *

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, '' Blue Skies'' (RCA, 2004) *

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, '' Heartlight'' (Columbia, 1982) *

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, ''

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'' (EMI, 1984) – rec. 1983–1984 *

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, ''Yvonne'' (RSO, 1979) *

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, '' I'm the One'' (Atlantic, 1982) *

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, ''

'' (EMI, 1979) *

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, ''

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'' (Polar, 1978) *

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, '' Free Ride'' (Pablo, 1977) *

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, ''

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'' (Private Stock Records, 1976) *

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, '' Sweet Bird'' (A&M, 1976) *

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, ''

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'' (Impulse, 1977) * Eddie Henderson, '' Comin' Through'' (Capitol, 1977) *

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, '' Black Miracle'' (Milestone, 1976) *

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, '' Ooh Child'' (Miracle Records, 1979) *

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, ''All Fly Home'' (Warner Bros., 1978) * Al Johnson, ''Back for More'' (Columbia, 1980) *

Quincy Jones Quincy Delight Jones Jr. (March 14, 1933 – November 3, 2024) was an American record producer, composer, arranger, conductor, trumpeter, and bandleader. Over the course of his seven-decade career, he received List of awards and nominations re ...

, ''

Roots A root is the part of a plant, generally underground, that anchors the plant body, and absorbs and stores water and nutrients. Root or roots may also refer to: Art, entertainment, and media * ''The Root'' (magazine), an online magazine focusin ...

'' (A&M, 1977) * Karimata, ''Jezz'' (Aquarius, 1991) – on "Rainy Days and You" only *

B.B. King Riley B. King (September 16, 1925 – May 14, 2015), known professionally as B.B. King, was an American blues guitarist, singer, songwriter, and record producer. He introduced a sophisticated style of soloing based on fluid string bending, sh ...

, '' King Size'' (ABC, 1977) * Ben E. King, '' Let Me Live in Your Life'' (Atlantic, 1978) *

Carole King Carole King Klein (born Carol Joan Klein; February 9, 1942) is an American singer-songwriter and musician renowned for her extensive contributions to popular music. She wrote or co-wrote 118 songs that charted on the Billboard Hot 100, ''Billbo ...

, '' Speeding Time'' (Atlantic, 1983) *

Peggy Lee Norma Deloris Egstrom (May 26, 1920 – January 21, 2002), known professionally as Peggy Lee, was an American jazz and popular music singer, songwriter, and actress whose career spanned seven decades. From her beginning as a vocalist on local r ...

, '' Let's Love'' (Atlantic, 1974) *

Kenny Loggins Kenneth Clark "Kenny" Loggins (born January 7, 1948) is an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist. His early songs were recorded with the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band in 1970, which led to seven albums recorded with Jim Messina (musician), Jim Mess ...

, '' Celebrate Me Home'' (Columbia, 1977) – rec. 1975–1976 *

Marilyn McCoo Marilyn McCoo (born September 30, 1943) is an American singer, actress, and television presenter, who is best known for being the lead female vocalist in the group the 5th Dimension as well as hosting the 1980s music television show '' Solid Gol ...

& Billy Davis Jr., ''Marilyn & Billy'' (Columbia, 1978) *

Mary MacGregor Mary MacGregor (born May 6, 1948) is an American singer. She is best known for singing the 1976 song "Torn Between Two Lovers", which topped the ''Billboard'' charts for two weeks. Career MacGregor was born May 6, 1948, in St. Paul, Minneso ...

, ''

'' (RSO, 1980) *

Barry Manilow Barry Manilow ( ; born Barry Alan Pincus on June 17, 1943) is an American singer, songwriter and record producer with a career that spans over sixty years. His hit recordings include "Could It Be Magic", "Looks Like We Made It", "Brandy (Scott ...

, '' Even Now'' (Arista, 1978) * Letta Mbulu, ''There's Music in the Air'' (A&M, 1976) * Letta Mbulu, ''Letta'' (A&M, 1978) *

Lonette McKee Lonette Rita McKee (born July 22, 1954) is an American actress and singer. She made her big screen debut starring as Sister Williams in the original 1976 musical-drama film '' Sparkle''. McKee later appeared in films '' Which Way Is Up?'' (1977) ...

, ''Words and Music'' (Warner Bros., 1978) *

Bette Midler Bette Midler ( ;''Inside the Actors Studio'', 2004 born December 1, 1945) is an American actress, comedian, singer, and author. Throughout her five-decade career Midler has received List of awards and nominations received by Bette Midler, numero ...

, '' Broken Blossom'' (Atlantic, 1977) *

Walter Murphy Walter Anthony Murphy Jr. (born December 19, 1952) is an American composer, keyboardist, songwriter, and record producer. He is best known for the instrumental " A Fifth of Beethoven", a disco adaptation of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony which topp ...

, ''Phantom of the Opera'' (Private Stock, 1978) *

Anne Murray Morna Anne Murray (born June 20, 1945) is a retired Canadian country, pop and adult contemporary music singer who has sold over 55 million album copies worldwide during her over 40-year career. Murray has won four Grammys including the Grammy ...

, ''

Together ''ToGetHer'' (, aka Superstar Express) is a 2009 Taiwanese drama starring Jiro Wang of Fahrenheit, Rainie Yang and George Hu. It was produced by Comic International Productions ( 可米國際影視事業股份有限公司) and directed by Linzi ...

'' (Capitol, 1975) *

Oliver Nelson Oliver Edward Nelson (June 4, 1932 – October 28, 1975) was an American jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, arranger, composer, and bandleader. His 1961 Impulse! album '' The Blues and the Abstract Truth'' (1961) is regarded as one of the most signi ...

, ''

Skull Session ''Skull Session'' is an album by American jazz composer/arranger Oliver Nelson featuring performances recorded in 1975 for the Flying Dutchman Records, Flying Dutchman label.Payne, D.Oliver Nelson discographyaccessed February 8, 2016

'' (Flying Dutchman, 1975) *

David "Fathead" Newman David "Fathead" Newman (February 24, 1933 – January 20, 2009) was an American jazz and rhythm-and-blues saxophonist, who made numerous recordings as a session musician and leader, but is best known for his work as a sideman on seminal 1950s an ...

, '' Keep the Dream Alive'' (Prestige, 1978) *

Olivia Newton-John Dame Olivia Newton-John (26 September 1948 – 8 August 2022) was a British and Australian singer and actress. With over 100 million records sold, Newton-John was one of the List of best-selling music artists#100 million to 119 million record ...

, '' Soul Kiss'' (MCA, 1985) *

Wayne Newton Carson Wayne Newton (born April 3, 1942), also known as Mr. Las Vegas, is an American singer and actor. One of the most popular singers in the United States from the mid-to-late 20th century, Newton remains one of the best-known entertainers in ...

, ''Tomorrow'' (Chelsea Records, 1976) *

Kenny Nolan Kenneth "Kenny" Nolan (born September 30, 1949) is an American singer-songwriter from Los Angeles. He is best remembered for the 1976–77 song " I Like Dreamin'", which he wrote and performed; it reached No. 3 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 an ...

, ''A Song Between Us'' (Polydor, 1978) *

Freda Payne Freda Charcilia Payne (born September 19, 1942Some sources give a birth year of 1945, but this appears to be an error as all sources agree that she is older than her sister Scherrie, born 1944.) is an American singer and actress. Payne is best ...

, ''

Hot Hot commonly refers refer to: *Heat, a hot temperature *Pungency, in food, a spicy or hot quality Hot or HOT may also refer to: Places *Hot district, a district of Chiang Mai province, Thailand ** Hot subdistrict, a sub-district of Hot Distric ...

'' (Capitol, 1979) *

June Pointer June Antoinette Pointer (November 30, 1953 – April 11, 2006) was an American singer, best known as the youngest of the founding members of the vocal group the Pointer Sisters. Early life and career Born the youngest of six children to minister ...

, ''Baby Sister'' (Planet, 1983) *

Michel Polnareff Michel Polnareff (born 3 July 1944) is a French singer-songwriter who rose to prominence in the 1960s. He is noted for integrating rock and pop elements into his early work. He wrote pop hits such as "La Poupée qui fait non" and "Love Me, Ple ...

, ''Michel Polnareff'' (Atlantic, 1975) *

Minnie Riperton Minnie Julia Riperton (November 8, 1947 – July 12, 1979) was an American soul singer and songwriter best known for her 1974 single " Lovin' You", her five-octave vocal range, and her use of the whistle register. Born in 1947, Riperton grew ...

, '' Love Lives Forever'' (Capitol, 1980) – rec. 1978 *

Sonny Rollins Walter Theodore "Sonny" Rollins (born September 7, 1930) is an American retired jazz tenor saxophonist who is widely recognized as one of the most important and influential jazz musicians. In a seven-decade career, Rollins recorded over sixt ...

, '' The Way I Feel'' (Milestone, 1977) *

Brenda Russell Brenda Russell (née Gordon; born April 8, 1949) is an American singer-songwriter, producer, and keyboardist. Russell has a diverse musical range which encompasses Rhythm and blues, R&B, pop music, pop, soul music, soul, dance music, dance, and ...

, ''Between the Sun and the Moon'' (Dome, 2004) *

Evie Sands Evie Sands (born July 18, 1946) is an American singer, songwriter and musician. Sands' music career spans more than 50 years. In the mid-1960s, while still a teenager, she began her career and eventually found chart success in 1969. Sands retired ...

, ''Suspended Animation'' (RCA Victor, 1979) *

Lalo Schifrin Boris Claudio "Lalo" Schifrin (born June 21, 1932) is an Argentine-American pianist, composer, arranger, and conductor. He is best known for his large body of film and TV scores since the 1950s, incorporating jazz and Music of Latin America, Lati ...

, ''

Rollercoaster A roller coaster is a type of amusement ride employing a form of elevated railroad track that carries passengers on a train through tight turns, steep slopes, and other elements, usually designed to produce a thrilling experience, though some r ...

'' (MCA, 1977) – soundtrack *

Diane Schuur Diane Joan Schuur (born December 10, 1953), nicknamed "Deedles", is an American jazz singer and pianist. As of 2015, Schuur had released 23 albums, and had extended her jazz repertoire to include essences of Latin, gospel, pop and country musi ...

, '' Schuur Thing'' (GRP, 1985) *

Seals and Crofts Seals and Crofts were an American soft rock duo formed in Los Angeles, California in 1969 by James Eugene Seals (October 17, 1942 – June 6, 2022) and Darrell George "Dash" Crofts (born August 14, 1938). They are best known for their hits " Su ...

, '' Get Closer'' (Warner Bros., 1976) *

Neil Sedaka Neil Sedaka (; born March 13, 1939) is an American singer, songwriter and pianist. Since his music career began in 1957, he has sold millions of records worldwide and has written or co-written over 500 songs for himself and other artists, collabo ...

, ''

All You Need Is the Music ''All You Need Is the Music'' is a 1978 in-studio album containing the works of the American pop-singer Neil Sedaka. It was released in the US on Elektra Records, his second album for the company. Outside the United States it was released on the ...

'' (Elektra, 1978) * Neil Sedaka, '' In the Pocket'' (Elektra, 1980) *

Raul Seixas Raul Santos Seixas (; 28 June 1945 – 21 August 1989) was a Brazilian rock musician foundational to the genre.allmusic Biography/ref> ''Rolling Stone'' Brazil named Seixas among the greatest artists in Brazilian music. Throughout his career, S ...

, '' O Dia em que a Terra Parou'' (WEA, 1977) * Nancy Shanks, ''Nancy Shanx'' (United Artists, 1977) *

Steely Dan Steely Dan is an American rock band formed in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York, in 1971 by Walter Becker (guitars, bass, backing vocals) and Donald Fagen (keyboards, lead vocals). Originally having a traditional band lineup, Becker and Fagen cho ...

, '' Aja'' (ABC Records, 1977) * Suzanne Stevens, ''Crystal Carriage'' (Capitol, 1977) *

Livingston Taylor Livingston Taylor (born November 21, 1950) is an American singer-songwriter and folk musician. Born in Boston and raised in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, he is the brother of singer-songwriter James Taylor, singer-songwriter Kate Taylor, singer ...

, '' Three Way Mirror'' (Epic, 1978) * Naoko Terai, ''Live'' (Videoarts Music, 2001) *

Stanley Turrentine Stanley William Turrentine (April 5, 1934 – September 12, 2000) was an American jazz tenor saxophone, tenor saxophonist and record producer. He began his career playing R&B for Earl Bostic and later soul jazz recording for the Blue Note Reco ...

, '' Everybody Come On Out'' (Fantasy, 1976) *

Frankie Valli Francesco Stephen Castelluccio (born May 3, 1934), better known by his stage name Frankie Valli, is an American singer and occasional actor, best known as the frontman (lead singer) of The Four Seasons (band), the Four Seasons. He is known for ...

, ''

Valli Valli () is a devi, Hindu goddess, and the second consort of the deity Murugan. An incarnation of the goddess Sundaravalli, daughter of Vishnu, Valli is born on earth as the daughter of a chieftain, leading a life of a huntress. Murugan, the god ...

'' (Private Stock, 1976) *

Sarah Vaughan Sarah Lois Vaughan (, March 27, 1924 – April 3, 1990) was an American jazz singer and pianist. Nicknamed "Sassy" and "List of nicknames of jazz musicians, The Divine One", she won two Grammy Awards, including the Lifetime Achievement Award, ...

, '' Songs of the Beatles'' (Atlantic, 1981) * Grover Washington Jr., ''

The Best Is Yet to Come "The Best Is Yet to Come" is a 1959 song composed by Cy Coleman to lyrics by Carolyn Leigh. It is associated with Frank Sinatra, who recorded it on his 1964 album ''It Might as Well Be Swing'' accompanied by Count Basie under the direction of ...

'' (Elektra, 1982) *

The Whispers The Whispers are an American vocal group from Los Angeles, California. Scoring hit records since the late 1960s, they are best known for their two number-one R&B singles, " And the Beat Goes On" in 1979 and " Rock Steady" in 1987. The Whispers ...

, '' Open Up Your Love'' (Soul Train, 1977) *

Syreeta Wright Syreeta Wright (born Rita Wright, February 28, 1946 – July 6, 2004), known mononymously as Syreeta, was an American singer-songwriter, best known for her music during the early 1970s through the early 1980s. Wright's career heights were songs ...

, ''

Syreeta Syreeta Wright (born Rita Wright, February 28, 1946 – July 6, 2004), known mononymously as Syreeta, was an American singer-songwriter, best known for her music during the early 1970s through the early 1980s. Wright's career heights were songs ...

'' (Tamla, 1980)

References

External links

Lee Ritenour official siteLee Ritenour Interview
at NAMM Oral History Collection (2014) {{DEFAULTSORT:Ritenour, Lee 1952 births Living people 20th-century American guitarists 21st-century American guitarists American jazz guitarists Jazz fusion guitarists American session musicians Brass Fever members Concord Records artists Decca Records artists Discovery Records artists Elektra Records artists Epic Records artists Fourplay members Grammy Award winners GRP All-Star Big Band members GRP Records artists Guitarists from California Singers from California Smooth jazz guitarists The Love Unlimited Orchestra members USC Thornton School of Music alumni Warner Records artists