James Argiro, a multifaceted pianist-composer-arranger-conductor-producer, embarked on his professional journey at the tender age of 14, and has since led a diverse life in music and entertainment.
At 16, he took the reins of a popular R&B/Blues band, providing backing for numerous top singers and vocal groups of the era, including The Moonglows, The Caddilacs, Lavern Baker, The Drifters, and Ruth Brown, to name a few.
Following a stint in an Army band, where he served as band librarian/saxophonist, percussionist, and assistant conductor, Argiro's first national tour began in 1967 as assistant conductor and arranger for the Ice Capades.
Throughout his illustrious career, Argiro has been affiliated with dozens of stars across various media, with a vast array of experience in music creation, production, and the performing arts.
As Music Director and/or arranger, he has worked alongside celebrities such as Bernadette Peters, Leslie Uggams, Carol Channing, Mickey Rooney, Lainie Kazan, Joan Rivers, Frank Sinatra Jr., Florence Henderson, Anthony Newley, Carol Lawrence, Juliet Prowse, and many more.
As a jazz pianist and arranger, Argiro has performed with luminaries like Mel Torme, Marlena Shaw, Ernie Andrews, Lionel Hampton, "Cat" Anderson, Red Rodney, Ernie Watts, Jeff Hamilton, Shelly Manne, and Louis Bellson, to name a few.
His big band credits include Harry James, Tommy Dorsey, Bill Holman, Count Basie, Richard Maltby, Alvino Rey, and musical collaborations with Nelson Riddle, Neal Hefti, Henry Mancini, Fred Karlin, Anthony Newley, David Rose, and Peter Matz.
Much of his career was spent in Hollywood television and recording studios, as well as a staff member on numerous television variety shows, including Sonny & Cher and Tony Orlando & Dawn.
Argiro's numerous accolades include serving as former Chairman and host for Monday Night Jazz, the longest-running continuous jazz series in the nation; nationally published arranger; arranger and jazz/pop pianist for the Hartford Symphony; arranger and pianist with The Hartford Symphony Classical Jazz Quartet; former board member of The American Society of Music Arrangers; Music Director/Arranger for Dave Brubeck's The Real Ambassadors, featuring Jon Hendricks and Kurt Elling; composer and publisher member of the American Society of Composers, Authors & Publishers (ASCAP).
In addition to his music endeavors, Argiro has also ventured into acting, appearing in three award-winning movies: Twice, Past Tense, and Chasing Rainbows, the latter for which he shared a Global Music Award for the musical score with writer/director, Robert Fritz.
Currently, Argiro is on the music faculty at Westfield State University.
