Marini Jr., Lou (13th May 1945-Present)

He is a saxophonist, clarinettist, flautist, composer and arranger nicknamed “Blue Lou” and “Blueness” born in Charleston, South Carolina and raised in Beach City, Ohio. His father, also Lou, has an award given in his honour and is recognised for creating the Alma Mater and being the Band Director of Fairless High school in Navarre, Ohio. He studied at this high school and then took his further education at the University of North Texas, where he concentrated first on the clarinet before moving onto the saxophone. Here he became a member of the One O’Clock Lab Band, composing the still performed “Looking With New Eyes”, and after graduating ventured out on his professional career in Manhattan, New York, as a musician.

He became a member of the group Blood, Sweat & Tears, writing songs for them such as “Hip Pickles”, and then in 1975 joined up with the Saturday Night Live house band, who he stayed with until 1983, as well as spending time working as a session musician.

1980 saw him performing in the movie The Blues Brothers where he first got his nickname “Blue Lou” given to him by Dan Aykroyd, and made a further appearance in Blues Brothers 2000. In 2001 he spread his wings further and became the leader, composer and arranger on the album Lou’s Blues performed with the Magic City Jazz Orchestra.

Throughout his incredibly busy career as a respected session musician in the New York area, that has spanned more than three decades, he has worked with literally hundreds of acts in many genres of music that include Patti Austin, Philip Bailey, The Band, Tony Bennett, Jose Carreras, Eric Clapton, Deodato, Manu Dibango, Dr. John, Donald Fagen, Eddie Floyd, Aretha Franklin, The J. Geils Band, Woody Herman, D.C. LaRue, Maureen McGovern, Laura Nyro, Billy Preston, Lou Reed, Buddy Rich, The Rolling Stones, Diana Ross, Lalo Schifrin, Neil Sedaka, Doc Severinson, Carly Simon, Slave, B.J. Thomas, Stevie Wonder and Frank Zappa among many others.

The albums he has featured on are countless and far too many to mention but some of them are Box of Fire by Aerosmith, Briefcase Full of Blues by The Blues Brothers, Off to See the Lizard(as a member of The Nuff Brothers) by Jimmy Buffett, Feel Me by Cameo, So Close by Dina Carroll, Genius & Soul: The 50^th Anniversary Collection by Ray Charles, The Girl From Ipanemaby Astrud Gilberto, King of Blues: 1989 by B.B. King, Dead Ringer by Meat Loaf, A Fifth of Beethoven by Walter Murphy, Something Real by Phoebe Snow, City Kids by Spyro Gyra, Ringo’s Rotogravure by Ringo Starr, Two Against Nature by Steely Dan and October Road by James Taylor, Forever, For Always, For Love by Luther Vandross, Sings Cole Porter by Dionne Warwick, and the soundtracks of Chicago, Closer Than Ever, Contact, Family Thing, Glengarry Glen Ross, The Great Outdoors, Just the Ticket and The Wiz.

He currently resides in New York City and still performs and tours with the ever popular The Blues Brothers as well as keeping busy as a session musician and composer.

Here he is on sax with Misha Segal performng as Men From Sminck…

Sources:

Marini Jr., Lou (13th May 1945-Present)

Navigation