Bucky Pizzarelli

Bucky Pizzarelli, born John Paul Pizzarelli in Paterson, New Jersey, was an American jazz guitarist known especially for swing, traditional jazz, and seven-string guitar playing. Deezer describes him as a jazz guitarist born in 1926 who began his professional career at 17 with Vaughn Monroe’s dance band.

He recorded and performed with many major artists, including Benny Goodman, Les Paul, Stéphane Grappelli, Oscar Peterson, Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra, Rosemary Clooney, and Paul McCartney. JazzTimes called him a celebrated guitarist and “master of the seven-string guitar,” noting that his collaborators ranged from Vaughn Monroe and Benny Goodman to Ben E. King and Paul McCartney.

Important albums and recordings include Green Guitar Blues, Café Pierre Trio, April Kisses, Five for Freddie, Doug & Bucky, Generations, Passion Guitars, and Three for All. He is known for his warm swing feel, elegant chord-melody style, rhythm-guitar mastery, and for helping keep classic jazz guitar traditions alive into the 21st century.