Gene Cipriano who performed on a long list of popular albums and major motion pictures, has passed away at the age of 94 years old. His death was confirmed by his son, who confirmed Cipriano had passed on November 12th of natural causes. Cipriano was born into a very musical family, with his father playing on Broadway as well as the New Haven Symphony. Cipriano took up the clarinet as a kid and became proficient with all woodwinds, including the saxophone, flute, and oboe. As an adult he moved to California where composer Henry Mancini used him for the TV series Peter Gunn.
Back in 2019 Cipriano recalled, “That got me started, because it became such a hot item and then all the other leaders said, ‘Well, get me those guys who played with Henry Mancini.’ And that got me rolling.” His cinematic career spanned over generations with him contributing to the scores for The Days of Wine and Roses (1962), Charade (1963) and The Hawaiians (1970). Others include, The Thomas Crown Affair (1968), West Side Story (1961), Cleopatra (1963), The Wild Bunch (1969), The French Connection (1971), The Karate Kid (1984), Up (2009) and many more.
Cipriano also contributed to a long list of famous rock and pop songs including material from the Monkees, Harry Nilsson, Randy Newman, Glen Cambell, Frank Zappa, Neil Diamond, Johnny Cash and the Beach Boys. He also played woodwinds on Prince’s 1986 album Parade and Frank Sinatra’s “It Was a Very Good Year.”
Other highlights from Cipriano include work alongside two former Beatles. He played on John Lennon’s 1975 album Rock ‘n’ Roll and jazz singer Peggy Lee’s 1974 Lp Let’s Love, which Paul McCartney produced.
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