Richie Cannata

Cannata, who is of Italian heritage, was born March 3, 1949 in Brooklyn, New York, the son of Ernest (March 26, 1914 – April 14, 1993) and Anna (February 25, 1926 — April 1, 2007) Cannata. Interested in music from a very early age, Cannata was introduced by his family first to the piano at the age of four and later to clarinet and tenor saxophone at the age of eight. He also plays flute and keyboards in addition to alto, soprano and baritone sax. In 1950s his family moved to Garden City South where Cannata blossomed as a musician. He played his first gig at the age of 13 and went on to play in school bands and with local musicians, perfecting his skills as a live performer and studio musician. ==Career==

Over the years Cannata's performing style has been influenced by John Coltrane, Charlie Parker, Gene Ammons, and King Curtis. He also played for Taylor Dayne in the late 1980s/early 1990s, and was a saxophonist with Bernie Williams. From 1991 until 1998, Cannata toured with the Beach Boys, playing saxophone, woodwinds and synthesizers. After leaving the Beach Boys in 1998, he frequently worked with the band's co-founder Al Jardine on his solo tours and appeared on one song on Jardine's solo album A Postcard from California. In 1993, Cannata briefly reunited with Joel for Joel's River of Dreams album. In 2006, Cannata briefly toured again with Joel, and was part of his record-setting 12-show run at Madison Square Garden. In 2009, Cannata coached and oversaw recording sessions with singer Jenna Rose, who only a year later became a viral video sensation. In December 2013, Cannata and Sean J. Kennedy's educational jazz improv play-along series Improvising and Soloing in the Pocket (Book/CD/DVD) was released by Carl Fischer Music to critical acclaim. The series includes books for all instruments, and features music from Cannata's 2011 solo album Richie Cannata, featuring Cannata and Julio Fernandez, guitarist of jazz fusion/smooth jazz group Spyro Gyra. On October 23, 2014, Cannata, DeVitto, and Javors (with Stegmeyer, posthumously) were inducted into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame, primarily for their work with Joel. ==Billy Joel album credits==

• 1976 Turnstiles • 1977 The Stranger • 1978 52nd Street • 1980 Glass Houses • 1981 Songs in the Attic • 1985 Greatest Hits Volume I & II • 1993 River of Dreams • 1997 Greatest Hits Volume III ==See also==