Bill LaVorgna

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William A. "Bill" LaVorgna (born June 3, 1933 in Paterson , New Jersey , † July 31, 2007 in Stuart , Florida ) was an American traditional pop and jazz musician ( drums ) who served as musical director for many years worked for Liza Minnelli .

Live and act

LaVorgana attended Paterson Central High School, which he graduated in 1951; he then studied at New York University , where he earned degrees in music education and music. The first recordings were made in the early 1960s with Tony Mottola ( Warm Feelings ); in the following years he played a. a. also with Eddie Hazell , Sam Most , with Warren Kimes Brass Choir, Stan Free , Toots Thielemans , Phil Woods , Elaine "Sparky" Farlane, Marvin Stamm , Pat Williams , Gary McFarland , Paul Desmond , and in the 1970s also with Gary Burton , Urbie Green , Joe Thomas , The Jack Manno Singers ( The Greatest Song Hits of Walter Donaldson ), Kimiko Kasai / Bobby Scott , Barbara Carroll and Ralph Burns . He has also performed with Judy Garland , Frank Sinatra , Dizzy Gillespie , Sammy Davis Jr. , Pat Boone and Barry Manilow .

LaVorgna served as musical director for Liza Minnelli for over 30 years. In the field of jazz he was involved in 35 recording sessions between 1961 and 1987, most recently with Bob Dorough . He is said to have participated in 10,000 recording sessions over the course of his life. With Ted Sommer, Bill LaVorgna presented two easy-listening LPs in 1961 . With Walter Raim he wrote the song "East Is East But Mae Is West".

Discographic notes

  • Ted Mazio Percussion Group, Ted Sommer, Bill Lavorgna: Dancing Percussion Music of the 30's (1961)
  • Ted Sommer & Bill Lavorgna: Cole Porter in Pleasing Percussion (1961)

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c d Bill LaVorgna (Obituary). Local 802, October 5, 2007, accessed July 12, 2018 .
  2. ↑ a b Tom Lord : The Jazz Discography (online, accessed July 12, 2018)
  3. ^ Billboard May 29, 1961 p. 30
  4. ^ Catalog of Copyright Entries: Third series, 1970, p. 152
personal data
SURNAME LaVorgna, Bill
ALTERNATIVE NAMES LaVorgna, William A.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American traditional pop & jazz musician
DATE OF BIRTH June 3, 1933
PLACE OF BIRTH Paterson , New Jersey
DATE OF DEATH July 31, 2007
Place of death Stuart , Florida