At the age of 10, Buffalo-born Leonard Pennario moved with his family to Los Angeles. L.A. would remain his base of operations for the rest of his career. He made his first recordings for Capitol Records in 1950 (over 40 albums were pressed). By 1959, he was the best-selling American pianist.
This week on “The Lost Chord,” we’ll anticipate the centenary of Pennario’s birth (on July 9) with highlights from his Capitol catalogue, remastered for a 4-CD set on the MSR label. Tune in to enjoy his superlative interpretations of Prokofiev’s “Visions fugitives,” Ravel’s “La valse,” and the rarely-heard Piano Sonata by Miklós Rózsa.
I’d love to tell you more – about Pennario’s remarkable development and early triumphs, his professional relationships with top-tier musicians and personal ones with Hollywood glitterati, his ambivalent reception by the critics and his excellence at bridge – but it’s a holiday weekend, so I hope you’ll understand if I leave a little something for the show!
I hope you’ll join me for “Go West, Young Man” – Leonard Pennario in Los Angeles – on “The Lost Chord,” now in syndication on KWAX, the radio station of the University of Oregon!
Clip and save the start times for all three of my recorded shows:
PICTURE PERFECT, the movie music show – Friday at 8:00 PM EDT/5:00 PM PDT
SWEETNESS AND LIGHT, the light music program – ALL NEW! – Saturday at 11:00 AM EDT/8:00 AM PDT
THE LOST CHORD, unusual and neglected rep – Saturday at 7:00 PM EDT/4:00 PM PDT
Stream them, wherever you are, at the link!
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