2 Quotes & Sayings By Lee Ritenour
Lee Ritenour was born on June 28, 1945 in Goochland County, Virginia. He began playing piano at age six and quickly became a prodigy. At the age of eight, he entered the Virginia State Music Competition, where he placed first. He won first prize at his first national competition at age eleven
At the age of fifteen, Lee entered the U.S. National Piano Competition in Washington D.C., where he again won first prize. Upon graduating from high school at age sixteen, Lee entered Fisk University where he received his Bachelor of Music degree with Distinction in 1967.
He also studied classical music under Dr. Sergei Rachmaninoff at The Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, PA, one of the most prestigious music schools in the world. In 1968, at age seventeen, Lee moved to New York City to pursue his musical career.
While performing on Broadway with several notable jazz musicians, he also played with popular artists including Ray Charles and Ray Manzarek of The Doors. After making his recording debut on the album "The Bridge" by John Williams and Quincy Jones (Columbia Records), Lee moved to Los Angeles where he enjoyed five years as a session musician and music arranger for such artists as Herbie Hancock and Frank Sinatra Jr., before becoming a studio guitarist for such pop and rock recording artists as Al Jarreau and Harry Nilsson (whose album “Son Of Schmilsson” Lee co-wrote).