Lee Ritenour

Lee Mack Ritenour ( ; born January 11, 1952) is an American jazz, jazz fusion guitarist who has been active since the late 1960s. At the age of 17 he worked with Lena Horne and Tony Bennett. He studied classical guitar at the University of Southern California.

1976–1988

Ritenour's solo career began with the album First Course (1976), followed by Captain Fingers (1977), The Captain's Journey (1978).

In 1979, he "was brought in to beef up" one of Pink Floyd's The Walls guitar parts, "Run Like Hell". He played "uncredited rhythm guitar" on "One of My Turns". As the 1980s began, Ritenour began to add stronger elements of pop to his music, beginning with Rit (1981). Rit became his only release to chart in Australia, peaking at number 98. "Is It You" with vocals by Eric Tagg reached No. 15 on the Billboard pop chart and No. 27 on the Soul chart. The track peaked at number fifteen on Hot Adult Contemporary chart. He continued with the pop-oriented music for Rit/2 (1982) and Banded Together (1984), while releasing a Direct-Disk instrumental album in 1983 called On the Line. He also provided rhythm guitar on Tom Browne's album Funkin' for Jamaica. He recorded Harlequin (1985) with Dave Grusin and vocals by Ivan Lins. Portrait (GRP, 1987) included guest performances by the Yellowjackets, Djavan, and Kenny G.

In 1988, his Brazilian influence came to the forefront on Festival, an album featuring his work on nylon-string guitar.

Ritenour has been a judge for the Independent Music Awards.

In 2018, Ritenour lost his Malibu home and personal recording studio in the Woolsey Fire in California.

Lead vocalists Lee Ritenour's first few solo albums consisted entirely of instrumentals. Beginning with Captain Fingers (1977), Ritenour used vocalists on many of his songs: Djavan Bill Champlin Eric Tagg Patti Austin Ivan Lins Phil Perry João Bosco Kate Markowitz Maxi Priest Lisa Fischer Michael McDonald

Awards Grammy Awards Ritenour has received one Grammy award out of sixteen nominations. Album of the Year, Jazziz magazine (2010) - 6 String Theory. Best International Instrumentalist, Echo Jazz Award (2011)

Discography Albums Title Peak chart positions Label Year released US USJazz First Course — — Epic 1976 Captain Fingers 178 — Epic 1977 Gentle Thoughts — — JVC 1977 Sugar Loaf Express — — JVC 1977 Friendship — — JVC 1978 The Captain's Journey 78 — Elektra 1978 Rio 163 — JVC 1979 Feel the Night 136 — Elektra 1979 Rit 26 — Elektra 1981 Rit/2 99 — Elektra 1982 On the Line — — Elektra Musician 1983 Banded Together 145 — Elektra 1984 Harlequin, with Dave Grusin 192 — GRP 1985 Earth Run — — GRP 1986 Portrait — — GRP 1987 Festival 156 — GRP 1988 Color Rit — — GRP 1989 Stolen Moments — — GRP 1990 Collection — — GRP 1991 Wes Bound — 19 GRP 1993 Larry & Lee, with Larry Carlton — 4 GRP 1995 Alive in L.A. — 18 GRP 1997 This Is Love — 4 I.E. Music 1998 Two Worlds, with Dave Grusin — — Decca 2000 Rit's House — 5 Verve 2002 World of Brazil — — GRP 2003 Overtime — 24 Peak 2005 Smoke 'n' Mirrors — 10 Peak 2006 Amparo, with Dave Grusin — — Decca 2008 6 String Theory — — Concord 2010 Rhythm Sessions — 3 Concord 2012 A Twist of Rit — 3 Concord 2015 Dreamcatcher — — The Players Club 2020 Brasil — — Candid 2024

Charted singles Date Title Position Chart (US) 1981 "Countdown Captain Fingers" 43 Dance "Is It You" 15 Hot 100 1982 "Cross My Heart" 69 1993 "Waiting in Vain" (ft. Maxi Priest) 54 R&B 2007 "Smoke 'n' Mirrors" 27 Smooth Jazz "Forget Me Nots" 14 2010 "Shape of My Heart" (Lee Ritenour, Steve Lukather & Andy McKee) 19 "Put the Top Down" (Dave Koz ft. Lee Ritenour) 1 2012 "Roadtrip" (Michael Lington ft. Lee Ritenour) 3 2013 "The Village" 3 "L.A. by Bike" 15 2015 "A Little Bit of This and a Little Bit of That" 5

As a member Friendship With Abraham Laboriel, Alex Acuña, Don Grusin, Ernie Watts and Steve Forman Friendship (Elektra, 1979)

L.A. Workshop Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown) (Denon, 1988) Norwegian Wood, Vol. 2 (Denon, 1994)

Fourplay Fourplay (Warner Bros., 1991) Between the Sheets (Warner Bros., 1993) Elixir (Warner Bros., 1995) Best of Fourplay (Warner Bros., 1997)

GRP All-Star Big Band GRP All-Star Big Band (GRP, 1992)

Other credits 1977 "Strawberry Letter 23" from the album Right On Time by Brothers Johnson 1987 Joyride - track 6 "Midi Citi" - (En Pointe) 1985 American Flyers (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) with Greg Mathieson - GRP

As sideman

With Alessi Brothers Driftin (A&M, 1977) Words & Music (A&M, 1978)With Patti Austin Love Is Gonna Getcha (GRP, 1990) That Secret Place (GRP, 1994)With Carole Bayer Sager Carole Bayer Sager (Elektra, 1977) ...Too (Elektra, 1978) Sometimes Late at Night (Boardwalk, 1981)With George Benson Give Me the Night (Warner Bros., 1980) Songs and Stories (Concord, 2009)With The Brothers Johnson Look Out for #1 (A&M, 1976) Right on Time (A&M, 1977)With Natalie Cole Thankful (Capitol, 1977) Stardust (Elektra, 1996)With Judy Collins Hard Times for Lovers (Elektra, 1979) Home Again (Elektra, 1984)With Brass Fever Brass Fever (Impulse!, 1975) Time Is Running Out (Impulse!, 1976)With Aretha Franklin You (Atlantic, 1975) Sweet Passion (Atlantic, 1977)With Art Garfunkel Breakaway (Columbia, 1975) Fate for Breakfast (Columbia, 1979)With Margie Joseph Hear the Words, Feel the Feeling (Cotillion, 1976) Feeling My Way (Atlantic, 1978)With Bill LaBounty Promised Love (Curb, 1975) This Night Won't Last Forever (Warner Bros., 1978)With Melissa Manchester Don't Cry Out Loud (Arista, 1978) Mathematics (MCA, 1985)With Letta Mbulu There's Music in the Air (A&M, 1976) Letta (A&M, 1978)With Alphonse Mouzon 1974: Mind Transplant (Blue Note, 1975) 1975: The Man Incognito (Blue Note, 1976)With Leo Sayer Endless Flight (Chrysalis, 1976) Thunder in My Heart (Chrysalis, 1977)With Neil Sedaka All You Need Is the Music (Elektra, 1978) In the Pocket (Elektra, 1980)With Carly Simon Playing Possum (Elektra, 1975) Torch (Warner Bros., 1981)With Barbra Streisand Lazy Afternoon (Columbia, 1975) Songbird (Columbia, 1978) Guilty (Columbia, 1980) – rec. 1979–1980With others''' Herb Alpert, Herb Alpert / Hugh Masekela (Horizon, 1978) Paul Anka, The Painter (United Artists, 1976) Stephen Bishop, Careless (ABC, 1976) Simone Bittencourt de Oliveira, Corpo e Alma (CBS, 1982) Lisa Hartman Black, Lisa Hartman (Kirshner, 1976) Bobby Bland, Reflections in Blue (ABC, 1977) Bloodstone, Don't Stop (Motown, 1978) Debby Boone, Debby Boone (Capitol, 1979) Glen Campbell, Basic (Capitol, 1978) Captain & Tennille, Make Your Move (Casablanca, 1979) The Carpenters, Passage (A&M, 1977) Keith Carradine, I'm Easy (Asylum, 1976) Casiopea, 4x4 (Alfa, 1982) David Castle, Castle in the Sky (Parachute, 1977) Cher, I'd Rather Believe in You (Warner Bros., 1976) Sparks, Introducing Sparks (Columbia, 1977) Paulinho da Costa, Agora (Pablo, 1977) England Dan & John Ford Coley, Dr. Heckle and Mr. Jive (Big Tree, 1979) John Denver, I Want to Live (RCA, 1977) Diana DeGarmo, Blue Skies (RCA, 2004) Neil Diamond, Heartlight (Columbia, 1982) Will Downing, Sensual Journey (Verve, 2002) Sheena Easton, A Private Heaven (EMI, 1984) Yvonne Elliman, Yvonne (RSO, 1979) Joe Farrell, Night Dancing (Warner Bros, 1978) Roberta Flack, I'm the One (Atlantic, 1982) Pink Floyd, The Wall (EMI, 1979) Four Tops, Night Lights Harmony (ABC, 1975) Ted Gärdestad, Blue Virgin Isles (Polar, 1978) Dizzy Gillespie, Free Ride (Pablo, 1977) Cyndi Grecco, Making Our Dreams Come True (Private Stock Records, 1976) Lani Hall, Sweet Bird (A&M, 1976) John Handy, Carnival (Impulse, 1977) Eddie Henderson, Comin' Through (Capitol, 1977) Joe Henderson, Black Miracle (Milestone, 1976) Marcia Hines, Ooh Child (Miracle Records, 1979) Al Jarreau, All Fly Home (Warner Bros., 1978) Al Johnson, Back for More (Columbia, 1980) Quincy Jones, Roots (A&M, 1977) Karimata, Jezz (Aquarius, 1991) – on "Rainy Days and You" only B. B. King, King Size (ABC, 1977) Ben E. King, Let Me Live in Your Life (Atlantic, 1978) Carole King, Speeding Time (Atlantic, 1983) Peggy Lee, Let's Love (Atlantic, 1974) Kenny Loggins, Celebrate Me Home (Columbia, 1977) – rec. 1975–1976 Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis Jr., Marilyn & Billy (Columbia, 1978) Mary MacGregor, Mary MacGregor (RSO, 1980) Johnny Mathis and Deniece Williams, That's What Friends Are For (Columbia, 1979) Barry Manilow, Even Now (Arista, 1978) Lonette McKee, Words and Music (Warner Bros., 1978) Bette Midler, Broken Blossom (Atlantic, 1977) Walter Murphy, Phantom of the Opera (Private Stock, 1978) Anne Murray, Together (Capitol, 1975) Oliver Nelson, Skull Session (Flying Dutchman, 1975) David "Fathead" Newman, Keep the Dream Alive (Prestige, 1978) Olivia Newton-John, Soul Kiss (MCA, 1985) Wayne Newton, Tomorrow (Chelsea Records, 1976) Kenny Nolan, A Song Between Us (Polydor, 1978) Michael Omartian, Adam Again (Myrrh, 1977) Freda Payne, Hot (Capitol, 1979) June Pointer, Baby Sister (Planet, 1983) Michel Polnareff, Michel Polnareff (Atlantic, 1975) Minnie Riperton, Love Lives Forever (Capitol, 1980) Sonny Rollins, The Way I Feel (Milestone, 1977) Brenda Russell, Between the Sun and the Moon (Dome, 2004) Evie Sands, Suspended Animation (RCA Victor, 1979) Lalo Schifrin, Rollercoaster (MCA, 1977) – soundtrack Diane Schuur, Schuur Thing (GRP, 1985) Seals and Crofts, Get Closer (Warner Bros., 1976) Raul Seixas, O Dia em que a Terra Parou (WEA, 1977) Nancy Shanks, Nancy Shanx (United Artists, 1977) Frank Sinatra, L.A. Is My Lady (Qwest, 1984) Steely Dan, Aja (ABC Records, 1977) Suzanne Stevens, Crystal Carriage (Capitol, 1977) Livingston Taylor, Three Way Mirror (Epic, 1978) Naoko Terai, Live (Videoarts Music, 2001) Stanley Turrentine, Everybody Come On Out (Fantasy, 1976) Frankie Valli, Valli (Private Stock, 1976) Sarah Vaughan, Songs of the Beatles (Atlantic, 1981) Grover Washington Jr., The Best Is Yet to Come (Elektra, 1982) The Whispers, Open Up Your Love (Soul Train, 1977) Lenny Williams, Sparks of Love (ABC, 1978) Syreeta Wright, Syreeta'' (Tamla, 1980)