Celebrating Black Music Month with Saxman Damon Rentie
Jazz N LA — By Kim Webster on June 21, 2010 at 10:51 pmDamon Rentie describes the saxophone as “more than an auditory experience, the saxophone actually touches you to the core of your soul.” Damon grew up in Compton, CA and began playing the sax at ten years old. “ I started in the Compton Unified School District,” said Damon Rentie. “They sent paperwork home asking my parents to fill it out. My mom asked me what I wanted to play. I said trumpet, at first; then my dad said no, he should play the saxophone.” Damon was one of ten children and despite limited resources, his parents managed to get him a cheap sax and a few private lessons. “I just basically taught myself and having band class every year at school helped.”
Rentie’s early musical experience allowed him to appear with a musical legend. “ I was fortunate enough to go on my first tour with a guy named Willie Hutch and recorded with him in 1977, said Rentie of the late Willie Hutch, a notable musician, producer, and songwriter, famous for such movie soundtracks as “The Mack” and “Foxy Brown.” “I remember going to Seattle, Portland, San Francisco and back south to Atlanta GA, Burmingham AL, Macon, GA Augusta, Jacksonville and Miami FL. Needless to say, I had never been on an airplane before. That was quite a summer to remember, I was twenty and having the time of my life!” On his return to California, he began rehearsing with the New York band Atlantic Starr. He worked with them on their first two albums during 1977 – 1980, and moved to New York in 1978.
In 1980, Damon moved to Long Beach CA and began studying at Long Beach City College where he met music professor Dr George Shaw. “In 1982, I toured with Patrice Rushen and in 1984 I toured with Teena Marie on the “Starchild Tour,” said Rentie. Dr Shaw called him in 1985 to work with him on a production deal with Palo Alto Records. “I did three records with Palo Alto Records; ‘Designated Hitter,’ ‘Don’t Look Back” and ‘Skyline’ that charted in the top ten jazz charts on Billboard.” After touring with his band in Canada, Damon returned to the states and toured with Billy Ocean during 1986-87 and Miki Howard in 1988. After the 1988 tour he decided a change was necessary in his life. “I had to walk away from music for a while; I got a divorce and had to restructure my life; sometimes you have to start over again,” he reflected. Damon began playing gospel music at Faithful Central Church in Los Angeles and Church on the Way in the valley. “I remarried and started writing a lot of original music with my now wife Melique Berger-Rentie,” said the outstanding musician. They have two young sons and Melique teaches evening classes. Her beautiful voice is on Damon’s latest CD Day Ahh, available at World Famous VIP Records in Long Beach CA. All songs are original with the exception of Stevie Wonder’s “Visions.” “It’s one of my favorite Stevie Wonder songs,” he said with a smile. He and his live band musicians are working on a new CD targeted for release in 2011.
Damon and Melique will be at the Lynwood Jazz Festival July 4 and the Gardena Jazz Festival on August 22. Every 3rd Saturday of the month, fans can enjoy the sax experience of Damon Rentie at Cat Man Blue in downtown Long Beach.
99 Comments
I truly enjoyed watching this movie. I could hardly wait to get this movie for a long time, thank you. Excellent moviedownload!
Never heard of this before, but thanks for opening up my eyes.
Christ CHRIST FTW
Would you structure fb backgrounds by any probability? Or possibly a single of one’s audience?
Not too long ago, I did not give plenty of thought to leaving comments on site page reports and have left feedback even much less. Reading through by means of your nice article, will assist me to do so sometimes.
Hello friend. My partner and i truly love that writing and also your webpage all in all! That article is incredibly clearly created as well as simply understandable. The WordPress theme is impressive as well! Would be great to know exactly where My partner and i are able obtain that. Please hold up the very good job. We require much more this kind of website owners just like you online and also much fewer spammers. Fantastic mate!
Hi Web site owner. I actually love the particular posting and your site all in all! That post is actually really clearly written and simply understandable. The WordPress theme is great as well! Would be great to know exactly where My partner and i are able acquire this. If possible maintain up the very good job. We all require far more such webmasters just like you online and also much less spammers. Fantastic friend!
Dear Webmaster. I really enjoy your article along with the internet site all in all! The posting is actually very plainly created and effortlessly understandable. The WP style is impressive as well! Would definitely be fantastic to learn exactly where My partner and i can download this. Be sure to maintain up the great work. All of us require a lot more such web owners such as you online and also much fewer spammers. Fantastic friend!
I was just chatting with my friend about this yesterday at Outback steak house. Don’t know how we landed on the topic really, they brought it up. I do recall eating a excellent steak salad with ranch on it. I digress…
I would just like to let you know how much I learn from reading website Tweeted you.Hope to be back soon for some more goodies
I would just like to tell you how much I learn from your website Liked u.Hope to be back again for some more goodies
My mate and I had been just talking about this specific issue, she actually is always trying to prove me completely wrong! I am going to show her this particular blog post and rub it in a little!
Lately, I did not give a lot of thought to giving responses on site page reports and have placed feedback even less. Reading through through your nice content, will aid me to do so sometimes.
That was just like getting a lump of coal.
I have been looking around via the internet looking for some ideas on how to get my blog site coded, your present layout together with style are amazing. Did you actually code it by yourself or did you employ a programmer to do it for you?
Lately, I didn’t give plenty of consideration to giving responses on site page reports and have positioned comments even less. Reading by means of your nice content, will assist me to do so sometimes.
Hello mate. I seriously love this article along with your current internet site all in all! Your post is actually incredibly plainly written and also effortlessly understandable. The WP style is great as well! Would definitely be good to know where I are able obtain this. Please hold up the very good work. We require more this kind of site owners just like you on the internet and much fewer spammers. Great friend!
A difficulty only trails behind and a distinction in that area.
Simply just needed to point out I truly enjoy your work on this blogging site and the quality blogposts you make. These type of post are generally precisely what keeps me going through the day. I discovered this post right after a very good buddy of my own advised it to me. I perform a little blogging and site-building personally and I am always pleased to see others giving good quality data towards the community. I will certainly be following and also have book-marked your web site to my personal myspace account for others to check out.
I’m trying to figure out how I’m going to fund my next semester, since apparently my parents aren’t going to. I’ll get student loans if I have to but I already have messed up credit (long story) and my options are pretty limited. I’m looking into grants and scholarships but I’m hoping someone can point me in the right direction. I just signed up with these guys: scholarshipzone.com. They look like the most legitimate that I’ve come across so far, and I’ve found a bunch of scholarships to apply for (they help with the process). Does anyone have any experience with this sort of stuff?
Hello Website owner. I truly like the particular posting as well as your current internet site all in all! Your post is actually very plainly created and effortlessly understandable. Your current WP style is impressive as well! Would be awesome to learn exactly where My partner and i can get this. If possible maintain up the very good job. We all need a lot more this kind of web owners such as you on the net and much fewer spammers. Excellent mate!
Not long ago, I didn’t give plenty of consideration to giving feedback on blog page articles or blog posts and have placed feedback even less. Reading by means of your enjoyable posting, will assist me to do so sometimes.
Here’s how to cope with.
However, I feel is much better than.
Couldnt agree more with that, very attractive article
Took me time to study all of the comments, but I really enjoyed the article. It proved to be really helpful to me and I’m certain to all of the commenters here! It is always good when you cannot only be informed, but also engaged! I am certain you had pleasure writing this article.
If you see that, you’ll believe this.
You ought to really think about working on growing this website into a major authority in this market. You certainly have a grasp handle of the subjects everybody is looking for on this website anyways and you could without a doubt even earn a buck or two off of some advertisements. I would explore following recent topics and raising the amount of write ups you put up and I guarantee you’d begin seeing some awesome targeted traffic in the near future. Just a thought, good luck in whatever you do!
Do you have any concept where is coming from?
Hey very nice blog!! Man .. Beautiful .. Amazing .. I will bookmark your blog and take the feeds also…
Found y0ur amazing blog with yahoo g00d bl0g
Great post, I have been reading into this a bit recently. Good to hear some more info on this. Keep up the good work!
Haha, I really liked your blog, it is in my bookmarks. I think my site you will like it too.
Informative blog post, I have been reading into this a lot recently. Interesting to hear some more news on this. Keep up the good work!
Really awesome blog, have been searching a bit for this recently so it is awesome to hear some information on this. I like the design of the site too, looking swell.
Hello webmaster, If I can use some of the information from this post, I’ll provide a link back to your website.
Really good blog, have been searching a bit for this recently so it is good to hear some news on this. I like the layout of the site too, looking good.
Superb write-up have got to, you placed lots of time and energy involved with it We can tell! Your present website is absolutely wonderful additionally. How long did the idea take you to assemble this web site close to where it really is presently?
Hey just checked out this blog, been looking around at a few websites but this post is one of the best I have read. Good work!
Just found this website searching on google, good to finally see a good post about this. Great work! I also like the wordpress theme you are using, where can I get a copy of that from?
Nice to be visiting your blog again, it has been months for me. Nicely this post that i’ve been waited for so long. I require this article to complete my assignment in the college, and it has same topic with your post. Many thanks, excellent share.
Hey man, was just browsing through the net looking for some information and came across your blog. I am impressed by the knowlege that you have on this blogsite. It shows how well you understand this subject. Bookmarked this page, will come back for more. You, my friend, ROCK!!!
Very helpful information. Thanks, have a good day!
Hey, just looking around some blogs, seems a pretty nice platform you are using. I’m currently using WordPress for a few of my sites but looking to change one of them over to a platform the same as yours as a trial run. Anything in particular you would recommend about it?
Hello dude, you may have a great weblog. I enjoy it. And I feel several people today will love too. Why not strive harder to optimize your site, so it is going to be simpler to find this blog in search engine. I will not understand how to, but I understand you can do slightly tweak with your site to acquire a better place. Quite a few men and women will thanks for the good facts. Excellent task!
Hey, just looking around some blogs, seems a pretty nice platform you are currently using. I’m currently using WordPress for a few of my sites but looking to change one of them over to a platform similar to yours as a trial run. Anything in particular you would recommend about it?
This can be the very first time I take a look at a blog with full information and no abuse. Thank you for sharing your knowledge here. Please retain update it, I feel many individuals will appreciate your site and say thank. Retain on your track, guys!
Good thinking. Wondering what you think of it’s implication on society as a whole though? Sometimes people get a little upset with global expansion. I’ll check back to see what you have to say.
Been visiting this blog for a while now, though I might comment and let you know to keep up the good posts!
you made my day this was a great read i love these insightful types of articles. cheers. p.s fantastic website youv’e done a wonderful job in creating a informative website on subject’s such as these ! i currently work for this web organization http://www.health.cbd.co healthy america 2010 advise board. And found this website to have some really interesting articles. i have passed this article onto some close colleagues who should find this well worth a read.