Gene Cipriano | |
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| Background information | |
| Born | Gene Fred Cipriano (1928-07-06)July 6, 1928 New Haven, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Died | November 12, 2022(2022-11-12) (aged 94) Studio City, California, U.S. |
| Genres | Jazz,pop,soundtracks |
| Occupation | Musician |
| Instrument(s) | Clarinet, saxophone, oboe, flute, other woodwind |
| Years active | 1952–2006 |
Gene Fred Cipriano[1] (July 6, 1928 – November 12, 2022), known familiarly as "Cip", was an Americanwoodwindist andsession musician, playing clarinet, oboe, flute and saxophone among other instruments. He played on hundreds of recording sessions, possibly more than any other woodwind musician.
He was born inNew Haven, Connecticut, the son of a musician who playedclarinet in bands onBroadway. Gene Cipriano learned clarinet, saxophone and flute when young, played withTed Fio Rito's band,[2] and at the age of 23 was invited to joinTommy Dorsey's orchestra. He married band singer Frances Irvin,[2] and settled inNew York City where he played with such musicians asLee Konitz andClaude Thornhill. He then joined the continuationGlenn Miller Orchestra led byTex Beneke, where he metHenry Mancini.[3]
When Mancini began writing music for television series such asPeter Gunn, he invited Cipriano to join him in California and contribute on flute. The two worked together many times on television and film scores in later years, and Cipriano played the clarinet solo on Mancini's "Baby Elephant Walk".[4] Cipriano also worked with many other TV and film composers, includingMichel Legrand,Andre Previn,Neal Hefti,Lalo Schifrin, andMarvin Hamlisch. During his career he recorded music for numerous television shows includingBatman,The Flintstones,M*A*S*H*,Mission Impossible,Star Trek,The Simpsons, andAmerican Dad. He played onWest Side Story, performed the saxophone part for the character played byTony Curtis in the filmSome Like It Hot,[3] and played on the soundtrack of boththe originalThe Thomas Crown Affair andits 1999 remake.[2]
Cipriano was also a noted session musician inLos Angeles, as a member of "The Wrecking Crew". Initially, he was sought byHarry Nilsson to play oboe, and subsequently played on manypop hits of the 1960s and 1970s, including those bythe Beach Boys andthe Monkees.[2] Other musicians with whom he worked includedFrank Sinatra,Neil Diamond,Rosemary Clooney,Stan Kenton,Tony Bennett,Frank Zappa, andLady Gaga.[2] Fellow musician and record producerTom Ranier said that Cipriano was "one of, if not the most, recorded woodwind player in history having played on thousands of record dates, movies, jingles and TV shows."[3] In 2019, it was reported that Cipriano had played in theAcademy Awards orchestra in each of the previous 59 years.[2]
As ajazz musician, Cipriano played many shows and on over 200 recordings, including as a member ofThelonious Monk’s band onMonk's Blues. He also played withGerry Mulligan,Shelly Manne, and many others. He made his only album as a leader,First Time Out, a double CD on which he played all the solos, in 2006 at the age of 78. On the album, he played saxophone, clarinet, andEnglish horn. Ranier said of the album: "He played all his instruments superbly, producing beautiful singing sounds on each. His technical ability on each instrument was at the highest level and he could sight read music of any style and adapt to any genre, and do so perfectly."[3]
Cipriano died on November 12, 2022, at the age of 94.[5][6]
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