Roger Rossi
Encyclopedia
Roger Rossi is an American
pianist
, accompanist, vocalist, bandleader
, published author
and composer
born Roger Rossitto, in Brooklyn, New York. He is the son of concert violinist Vincent Rossitto, who graduated from the Royal Conservatory of Bellini in Palermo, Sicily and performed on many of the great stages of Italy including Teatro Massimo
.
in Amityville, New York
and was elected "Class Musician". He first studied piano under Mary Findley Ades of Brightwaters, New York
and later under James Ball, Professor of Piano Studies at Crane School of Music
in Potsdam, New York
.
For years Rossi was piano accompanist and music director for Canadian recording artist Tommy Desmond, and later for Columbia Records
artist Gene Stridel. He was on staff for Ultrasonic Recording Studios in New York where he played on several hit recordings including The Shangri-Las
No. 1 Billboard
hit “Leader of the Pack
”.
Throughout his 50-plus years as a musician, he’s performed a wide variety of music throughout Canada, New York, and New England. In Florida he was the bandleader
in the main dining room of the 5-star Boca Raton Hotel & Club for almost 4 years; and Resident Pianist at St. Paul of the Cross Catholic Church, Singer Island for 15 years.
Roger Rossi is a Past President of Rotary International Club
of Wellington, Florida
where he received the Spirit of Rotary Award and Paul Harris Fellowship.
, John Kennedy, Jr., Princess Diana, Perry Como
, Tony Bennett
, Vic Damone
, Johnny Mathis
, Joe Louis
, Rocky Graziano
, Rodney Dangerfield
, Jack Nicklaus
, Itzhak Perlman
, Evel Knievel
, and Shelley Winters
.
in that it’s a Latin
translation of the Hail Mary prayer
calling for the intercession of Mary
, the mother of Jesus
. However, Rossi’s version differs from most others because it includes additional lyrics to that prayer’s text. In a world greatly troubled with wars, terrorism, immorality, greed and selfishness, Rossi felt compelled to ask for divine guidance. His addendum
states, “Sancta Maria, beata et casta, ora pro nobis; adiuva nos; egemus tua caritate.” In English it means: “Holy Mary, blessed and pure, pray for us; help us; we need your love.”
In 2007, the Vero Beach Choral Society performed Hawley Ades’
choral arrangement of Rossi’s Ave Maria, with Dr. Marcos D. Flores conducting
what was billed The World Premiere. In 2008, soprano Melissa Rowell recorded Charles Calello’s symphonic orchestration of Rossi's Ave Maria. In 2009, internationally acclaimed operatic soprano Susan Neves sang Rossi’s Ave Maria with the composer (Rossi) at the piano in a performance presented by the Vero Beach Opera.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
, accompanist, vocalist, bandleader
Bandleader
A bandleader is the leader of a band of musicians. The term is most commonly, though not exclusively, used with a group that plays popular music as a small combo or a big band, such as one which plays jazz, blues, rhythm and blues or rock and roll music....
, published author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
and composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
born Roger Rossitto, in Brooklyn, New York. He is the son of concert violinist Vincent Rossitto, who graduated from the Royal Conservatory of Bellini in Palermo, Sicily and performed on many of the great stages of Italy including Teatro Massimo
Teatro Massimo
The Teatro Massimo Vittorio Emanuele is an opera house and opera company located on the Piazza Verdi in Palermo, Sicily. It was dedicated to King Victor Emanuel II....
.
Musician
Rossi attended Amityville Memorial High SchoolAmityville Memorial High School
Amityville Memorial High School is a Public High School located in Amityville, New York on the South shore of Long Island. The high school is part of the Amityville Union Free School District, which includes the Village of Amityville and portions of North Amityville and East Massapequa...
in Amityville, New York
Amityville, New York
Amityville is a village in the town of Babylon in Suffolk County, New York, in the United States. The population was 9,441 at the 2000 census.-History:...
and was elected "Class Musician". He first studied piano under Mary Findley Ades of Brightwaters, New York
Brightwaters, New York
Brightwaters is a village in southwest part of the town of Islip, which is in western Suffolk County, New York, United States. The population was 3,248 at the 2000 census. Brightwaters is a suburb of New York City.-Geography:...
and later under James Ball, Professor of Piano Studies at Crane School of Music
Crane School of Music
The Crane School of Music is located in Potsdam, New York, and is one of three schools which make up the State University of New York at Potsdam....
in Potsdam, New York
Potsdam, New York
Potsdam, New York relates to two locations in Saint Lawrence County, New York:*Potsdam , New York*Potsdam , New York, in the town of Potsdam; site of the State University of New York at Potsdam...
.
For years Rossi was piano accompanist and music director for Canadian recording artist Tommy Desmond, and later for Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
artist Gene Stridel. He was on staff for Ultrasonic Recording Studios in New York where he played on several hit recordings including The Shangri-Las
The Shangri-Las
The Shangri-Las were an American pop girl group of the 1960s. Between 1964 and 1966 they charted with often heartbreaking teen melodramas, and remain best known for "Leader of the Pack" and "Remember ".- Early career :...
No. 1 Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
hit “Leader of the Pack
Leader of the Pack
"Leader of the Pack" is a 1964 pop song recorded by girl group The Shangri-Las. It became number one on the Billboard Hot 100 on November 28, 1964.-Original Shangri-Las recording:...
”.
Throughout his 50-plus years as a musician, he’s performed a wide variety of music throughout Canada, New York, and New England. In Florida he was the bandleader
Bandleader
A bandleader is the leader of a band of musicians. The term is most commonly, though not exclusively, used with a group that plays popular music as a small combo or a big band, such as one which plays jazz, blues, rhythm and blues or rock and roll music....
in the main dining room of the 5-star Boca Raton Hotel & Club for almost 4 years; and Resident Pianist at St. Paul of the Cross Catholic Church, Singer Island for 15 years.
Roger Rossi is a Past President of Rotary International Club
Rotary International
Rotary International is an organization of service clubs known as Rotary Clubs located all over the world. The stated purpose of the organization is to bring together business and professional leaders to provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help...
of Wellington, Florida
Wellington, Florida
Wellington is a village in Palm Beach County, Florida, United States. As of 2006, the village had a population of 55,584 according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Wellington is part of the South Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
where he received the Spirit of Rotary Award and Paul Harris Fellowship.
Author
In 2000, Roger Rossi authored From The Piano Bench: Memorable Moments With Mobsters, Moguls, Movie Stars and More. The book contains 70 very interesting short stories about his encounters with many famous and notorious people throughout his music career, including: LiberaceLiberace
Wladziu Valentino Liberace , best known simply as Liberace, was a famous American pianist and vocalist.In a career that spanned four decades of concerts, recordings, motion pictures, television and endorsements, Liberace became world-renowned...
, John Kennedy, Jr., Princess Diana, Perry Como
Perry Como
Pierino Ronald "Perry" Como was an American singer and television personality. During a career spanning more than half a century he recorded exclusively for the RCA Victor label after signing with them in 1943. "Mr...
, Tony Bennett
Tony Bennett
Tony Bennett is an American singer of popular music, standards, show tunes, and jazz....
, Vic Damone
Vic Damone
Vic Damone is an American singer and entertainer.- Early life :Damone was born Vito Rocco Farinola in Brooklyn, New York to French-Italian immigrants based in Bari, Italy—Rocco and Mamie Farinola. His father was an electrician; and his mother taught piano. His cousin was the actress and singer...
, Johnny Mathis
Johnny Mathis
John Royce "Johnny" Mathis is an American singer of popular music. Starting his career with singles of standards, he became highly popular as an album artist, with several dozen of his albums achieving gold or platinum status, and 73 making the Billboard charts...
, Joe Louis
Joe Louis
Joseph Louis Barrow , better known as Joe Louis, was the world heavyweight boxing champion from 1937 to 1949. He is considered to be one of the greatest heavyweights of all time...
, Rocky Graziano
Rocky Graziano
Rocky Graziano, born Thomas Rocco Barbella in New York City , was an Italian American boxer. Graziano was considered one of the greatest knockout artists in boxing history, often displaying the capacity to take his opponent out with a single punch...
, Rodney Dangerfield
Rodney Dangerfield
Rodney Dangerfield , was an American comedian, and actor, known for the catchphrases "I don't get no respect!," "No respect, no respect at all... that's the story of my life" or "I get no respect, I tell ya" and his monologues on that theme...
, Jack Nicklaus
Jack Nicklaus
Jack William Nicklaus , nicknamed "The Golden Bear", is an American professional golfer. He won 18 career major championships on the PGA Tour over a span of 25 years and is widely regarded as one of the greatest professional golfers of all time. In addition to his 18 Majors, he was runner-up a...
, Itzhak Perlman
Itzhak Perlman
Itzhak Perlman is an Israeli-born violinist, conductor, and instructor of master classes. He is regarded as one of the pre-eminent violinists of the 20th and early-21st centuries.-Early life:...
, Evel Knievel
Evel Knievel
Evel Knievel , born Robert Craig Knievel, was an American daredevil and entertainer. In his career he attempted over 75 ramp-to-ramp motorcycle jumps between 1965 and 1980, and in 1974, a failed jump across Snake River Canyon in the Skycycle X-2, a steam-powered rocket...
, and Shelley Winters
Shelley Winters
Shelley Winters was an American actress who appeared in dozens of films, as well as on stage and television; her career spanned over 50 years until her death in 2006...
.
Composer
In 2005, Roger Rossi composed his version of Ave Maria after it came to him in a dream. The piece follows the same concept as many other Ave MariasHail Mary
The Angelic Salutation, Hail Mary, or Ave Maria is a traditional biblical Catholic prayer asking for the intercession of the Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus. The Hail Mary is used within the Catholic Church, and it forms the basis of the Rosary...
in that it’s a Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
translation of the Hail Mary prayer
Hail Mary
The Angelic Salutation, Hail Mary, or Ave Maria is a traditional biblical Catholic prayer asking for the intercession of the Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus. The Hail Mary is used within the Catholic Church, and it forms the basis of the Rosary...
calling for the intercession of Mary
Marian devotions
A Marian devotion is a gift of oneself, or one's activities to the Virgin Mary. It is a willingness and desire to dedicate oneself to, or venerate her; either in terms of prayers or in terms of a set of pious acts...
, the mother of Jesus
Mary (mother of Jesus)
Mary , commonly referred to as "Saint Mary", "Mother Mary", the "Virgin Mary", the "Blessed Virgin Mary", or "Mary, Mother of God", was a Jewish woman of Nazareth in Galilee...
. However, Rossi’s version differs from most others because it includes additional lyrics to that prayer’s text. In a world greatly troubled with wars, terrorism, immorality, greed and selfishness, Rossi felt compelled to ask for divine guidance. His addendum
Addendum
An addendum, in general, is an addition required to be made to a document by its reader subsequent to its printing or publication. It comes from the Latin verbal phrase addendum est, being the gerundive form of the verb addo, addere, addidi, additum, "to give to, add to", meaning " must be added"...
states, “Sancta Maria, beata et casta, ora pro nobis; adiuva nos; egemus tua caritate.” In English it means: “Holy Mary, blessed and pure, pray for us; help us; we need your love.”
In 2007, the Vero Beach Choral Society performed Hawley Ades’
Hawley Ades
Hawley Ades was an American, choral arranger, born in Wichita, Kansas in 1908. He died March 26, 2008, at the age of 99, three months shy of his 100th birthday. He was the son of two professional musicians; choral director Lucius Ades, and concert pianist and teacher Mary Findley Ades.Hawley...
choral arrangement of Rossi’s Ave Maria, with Dr. Marcos D. Flores conducting
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
what was billed The World Premiere. In 2008, soprano Melissa Rowell recorded Charles Calello’s symphonic orchestration of Rossi's Ave Maria. In 2009, internationally acclaimed operatic soprano Susan Neves sang Rossi’s Ave Maria with the composer (Rossi) at the piano in a performance presented by the Vero Beach Opera.
External links
- Website for Roger Rossi Music
- Website for Ave Maria by Roger Rossi
- YouTube Video of Susan Neves performing Rossi's Ave Maria with Rossi at the piano
- YouTube Audio of Melissa Rowell performing Rossi's Ave Maria
- "From The Piano Bench: Memorable Moments With Mobsters, Moguls, Movie Stars and More" at Amazon.com
- Rossi's Author Bio at Aslan Publishing
- Publisher's Summary of "From The Piano Bench: Memorable Moments With Mobsters, Moguls, Movie Stars and More" at Aslan Publishing