James Argiro

James Argiro, Pianist-Composer-Arranger-Conductor-Producer, began his professional career at age 14 has lived a widely diverse life in music and entertainment. At age 16, he led a popular R&B/Blues band during the latter half of the 1950's, providing backup for many of the top singers and vocal groups of the period: The Moonglows, The Caddilacs, Lavern Baker, The Drifters, and Ruth Brown, among others. After a tour of duty in an Army band, functioning as band librarian/saxophonist, percussionist and assistant conductor, his first national tour began in 1967, as assistant conductor and arranger for the Ice Capades. With vast experience in all phases and aspects of music creation, production, and the performing arts, he has been affiliated with dozens of stars in all media. As Music Director and/or arranger, he has been associated with many celebrities such as: Bernadette Peters, Leslie Uggams, Carol Channing, Mickey Rooney, Lainie Kazan, Joan Rivers, Frank Sinatra Jr., Florence Henderson, Anthony Newley, Carol Lawrence, Juliet Prowse and more. As a jazz pianist and arranger, he has performed with Mel Torme, Marlena Shaw, Ernie Andrews, Lionel Hampton, "Cat" Anderson, Red Rodney, Ernie Watts, Jeff Hamilton, Shelly Manne and Louis Bellson, among many others. His big band credits include Harry James, Tommy Dorsey, Bill Holman, Count Basie, Richard Maltby, Alvino Rey and musical Collaborations with Nelson Riddle, Neal Hefti, Henry Mancini, Fred Karlin, Anthony Newley, David Rose and Peter Matz. Much of his career was spent in Hollywood television and recording studios and as a staff member on many television variety shows, including, Sonny & Cher, Tony Orlando & Dawn. Other accolades include: Former Chairman and host for Monday Night Jazz, the longest running continuous jazz series in the nation; Nationally published arranger; Arranger and Jazz/Pop pianist for the Hartford Symphony; Arranger and pianist with The Hartford Symphony Classical Jazz Quartet; Former board member of The American Society of Music Arrangers; Music Director/Arranger for Dave Brubeck's, The Real Ambassadors, featuring Jon Hendricks and Kurt Elling; Composer and publisher member of the American Society of Composers, Authors & Publishers (ASCAP). James has also been an actor, appearing in three award-winning movies: Twice, Past Tense and Chasing Rainbows, the latter for which he shared a Global Music Award for the musical score with writer/director, Robert Fritz. James is currently on the music faculty at Westfield State University.