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Pianist Roger Kellaway was born outside of Boston in Waban, Mass., in 1939. Both of his parents played the piano and enjoyed listening to and playing the standards of the day. Kellaway began mimicking his parents at the keyboard and by age 7, he had begun his official piano studies. By the time he reached high school, Kellaway was progressing rapidly at the keyboard in addition to playing the double bass in the school orchestra. He also began listening intently to jazz and had the opportunity to play bass in a local jazz band.
Kellaway's musical talents took him to the New England Conservatory of Music where he continued his studies on both the keyboard and double bass. He also studied composition. The conservatory life only lasted for two years before Kellaway ventured out to play bass with Jimmy McPartland's band.
After several years of playing bass, Kellaway returned to the piano full time, and began a fruitful career working as a sideman in New York for the likes of Clark Terry, Ben Webster, Maynard Ferguson and Sonny Rollins, among others. Kellaway sought out numerous outlets for his musical talent, and he landed a gig as the musical director for comedian Jackie Leonard. He followed Leonard to Los Angeles where he found additional work as a sideman, conductor and arranger in L.A. studios. His work with Leonard eventually led to another musical director gig, this time with pop icon Bobby Darin. Kellaway has recently released two CDs recalling his work with Darrin -- a solo album called I Was There and a trio album called Remembering Bobby Darin.
Throughout his career, Kellaway has composed a wide variety of music, from his Academy Award-nominated film score for A Star Is Born, to his most well-known tune, "Remembering You," the stride-piano inspired tune that accompanied the closing credits of the '70s sitcom All In the Family. He has been commissioned to write all kinds of music for various groups, from orchestras and chamber groups to big bands and musical theater productions.
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Set List for Roger Kellaway on Piano Jazz:My One And Only Love (Mellin, Wood)
Heather On The Hill (fr. Brigadoon) (Lerner, Loewe)
I'm Beginning to See The Light (Ellington, George, Hodgest, James)
Twilight World (McPartland)
I Found a New Baby (Palmer, Williams)
Remembering You (Kellaway)
Free Piece (Kellaway, McPartland)
For All We Know (Coots, Lewis)
Cherry (Gilbert, Redman)
Kellaway's musical talents took him to the New England Conservatory of Music where he continued his studies on both the keyboard and double bass. He also studied composition. The conservatory life only lasted for two years before Kellaway ventured out to play bass with Jimmy McPartland's band.
After several years of playing bass, Kellaway returned to the piano full time, and began a fruitful career working as a sideman in New York for the likes of Clark Terry, Ben Webster, Maynard Ferguson and Sonny Rollins, among others. Kellaway sought out numerous outlets for his musical talent, and he landed a gig as the musical director for comedian Jackie Leonard. He followed Leonard to Los Angeles where he found additional work as a sideman, conductor and arranger in L.A. studios. His work with Leonard eventually led to another musical director gig, this time with pop icon Bobby Darin. Kellaway has recently released two CDs recalling his work with Darrin -- a solo album called I Was There and a trio album called Remembering Bobby Darin.
Throughout his career, Kellaway has composed a wide variety of music, from his Academy Award-nominated film score for A Star Is Born, to his most well-known tune, "Remembering You," the stride-piano inspired tune that accompanied the closing credits of the '70s sitcom All In the Family. He has been commissioned to write all kinds of music for various groups, from orchestras and chamber groups to big bands and musical theater productions.
Check out this week's Piano Jazz Shorts: the Piano Jazz podcast.
Subscribe!
Set List for Roger Kellaway on Piano Jazz: