Artist of the Week

Vinny Raniolo, Artist of the Week

Published

5 years ago

May 7, 2019

JGT Newsroom

JGT Artist of the Week, Vinny Raniolo

» A LITTLE ABOUT

As a touring musician, performer, and educator guitarist Vinny keeps a busy touring schedule in a variety of musical settings. His dynamic playing has brought him to 18 countries and musical collaborations with Tommy Emmanuel, Bucky Pizzarelli, Leon Redbone, Vince Giordano and Deana Martin to name a few. Also becoming a familiar figure on PBS being featured on three popular shows, including the heavily programmed “Tommy Emmanuel and Friends”, in Frank Vignola’s “Four Generations of Guitar” as the youngest generation in the lineage of jazz guitarists with veteran Bucky Pizzarelli and in the “Music Gone Public” series. Film and recording credits include soundtracks and on-screen appearances for HBO’s “Boardwalk Empire”, Woody Allen’s film “Café Society” and Martin Scorsese’s upcoming film “The Irishman”.

» HAS PLAYED WITH…

Vinny has been a long time musical partner of world-renowned guitarist, Frank Vignola and together they have performed thousands of concerts. They are featured on Tommy Emmanuel’s latest album “Accomplice One” along with heavy hitters such as Mark Knopfler, Jerry Douglas and David Grisman.

» BIRTHDAY

June 5, 1984

» INTERESTING NOTE

Grew up playing alto saxophone in school bad and Sunday morning church services until the guitarist showed me an “A” chord on his acoustic guitar. Then I was hooked.

» FUN FACT

Vinny says: I learned how to play electric bass in college because a teacher told me “Every band needs a bass player” and began to focus on rhythm after Bucky told me “If you want to work a lot in this business, play great rhythm guitar”. I also had a teacher who told me, “If you can imagine yourself doing anything else for a living, even a little, then do that”. Commitment to not only the music but the work involved to get to the point where you don’t have to do anything but play music was a huge driving force in my professional growth.