Life Member. Composer
4/14/1929 – 6/21/2022

by Mike Lang, Life Member

So sad to read of Artie’s departure…

Artie was so special on so many levels, having had three uniquely successful careers… firstly, as a first call studio pianist, then, as a prolific and talented composer for film and television, and, finally, as the “go-to” conductor for major film composers.

Personally, I am so grateful and indebted to all the encouragement and support he gave me as we first met and got to know one another… quietly recommending me to composers and others…

When we first met, playing together on a recording session, he was immediately both complimentary and helpful to me… letting me know when I was doing something good, and, more importantly, letting me know when there were important things to consider and improve on… mostly just understanding what the specific needs were for recording musicians… being quick, not wasting composers’ time with unnecessary questions etc etc.

He always did all of this with a unique charismatic energy and humor too… it was easy for me to see how intoxicating he was to others, and why so many people wanted him to be a part of their musical life. His spontaneity, talent and unerring craft so identified him as a “must have” on composer’s and arranger’s projects.

Maybe the most important thing I learned from Artie was how to “read” the needs of each specific composer or situation, how to understand what the best approach to take would be on each individual project… and… always with an upbeat “twinkle” attached (!).

And… gratefully… this relationship continued to grow as I had the pleasure of working with Artie as a composer on so many of his scoring sessions, and, then, as a conductor… all of the “good stuff” just continued…

He was equally generous to so many throughout his amazing professional life.

Also… to note… when Artie retired, he did a series of solo piano videos (on his FaceBook pages)… playing many of his favorite songs from the Great American Songbook.

In those performances, he always made me feel that he totally “got” the intention of the composer… that his harmonic and arranging choices really went to the focal point of each song in such a striking way…

My warm condolences and love to JoAnn and his family. He will be profoundly missed by many…