Mike Longo

Michael Josef Longo (March 19, 1937 – March 22, 2020) was an American jazz pianist, composer, and author.

Early life Longo was born in Cincinnati, Ohio to parents who had a musical background. His father played bass, his mother played organ at church, and his music training began at a young age. Mike recalled seeing Sugar Chile Robinson playing boogie woogie piano: "The first time I saw him, man, he knocked me out. I must have been three or four years old. He played after the Count Basie show, so I went home and started picking out boogie woogie bass lines." His parents took him for formal lessons at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music at four. He moved to Fort Lauderdale, Florida soon after. At the age of 12, he won a local talent contest.

Career Longo's career began in his father's band, but later Cannonball Adderley helped him get gigs of his own. Their working relationship pre-dated Adderley's emergence as a band leader. Adderley approached the teenaged Longo because he needed a pianist at his church. At this time the town was largely segregated, so the white Longo playing at a black church was unusual. When this led to recordings with Adderley in the mid-1950s, Longo was too young to go to clubs with him. Longo played at Porky's, which was later portrayed in the movie. a tradition he helped start. Like Gillespie, he was a member of the Baháʼí Faith. Longo also taught a master class to upcoming jazz musicians including Adam Rafferty.

Awards and honors Mike Longo received a scholarship from the Ft. Lauderdale Symphony Orchestra in 1955, a Downbeat Hall of Fame Scholarship in 1959, and a National Endowment for the Arts Grant in 1972. He was inducted into Western Kentucky University's Wall of Fame in 2002.

Death Longo died in Manhattan on March 22, 2020, three days after his 83rd birthday, from complications of COVID-19. He was survived by his wife of 32 years, Dorothy Longo. 1977 Jazzberry Patch JPB 1978 New York '78 Consolidated Artists With big band; released 1990s 1981 Solo Recital Consolidated Artists 2001 Aftermath Consolidated Artists With big band 2004 Oasis Consolidated Artists With big band 2007 Float Like a Butterfly Consolidated Artists Trio, with Paul West (bass), Jimmy Wormworth (drums) 2012 A Celebration of Diz and Miles Consolidated Artists Trio, with Paul West (bass), Ray Mosca (drums); in concert 2017 Only Time Will Tell Consolidated Artists Trio, with Paul West (bass), Lewis Nash (drums)

As sideman With Dizzy Gillespie Swing Low, Sweet Cadillac (Impulse!, 1967) The Dizzy Gillespie Reunion Big Band (MPS, 1968) The Real Thing (Perception, 1969) Portrait of Jenny (Perception, 1970)

With Lee Konitz Chicago 'n All That Jazz (Groove Merchant, 1975)