Jazz guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli was born John Paul Pizzarelli in Paterson, New Jersey on January, 9 1926. Apart from his own impressive and lengthy career, he was the father of John Pizzarelli, a modern guitarist known for his work with Paul McCartney and James Taylor. His other son, Martin, is a well-known double bass player. Bucky Pizzarelli learned to play guitar and banjo while still a schoolboy. He began his professional career at the age of 17 when he joined Vaughn Monroe's dance band. His tenure with the band was interrupted when Monroe served as an infantryman during WWII. After his demobilization, Bucky Pizzarelli rejoined Monroe and continued with the band until the early 1950s. After leaving Monroe, Pizzarelli became a staffer at NBC playing alongside pianist Skitch Henderson, eventually becoming a member of The Tonight Show Band. Bucky Pizzarelli toured with Benny Goodman, made numerous TV appearances and played at the White House on a number of occasions. In 2011, was inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame. Bucky Pizzarelli recorded quite frequently, appearing on over 70 albums as a sideman, collaborator, and leader. His catalog included Music Minus Many Men (1960), Green Guitar Blues (1972), Bucky’s Bunch (1977), A Portrait (1992), Passion Guitars (1998/with his son John Pizzarelli), One Morning in May (2001), and Renaissance (A Journey from Classical to Jazz) (2015). Bucky Pizzarelli died on April 1, 2020 at the age of 94.
