Gene Dinovi
2017 TMA149 Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient
By Paul Spurgeon
The City of Toronto — and the TMA — have been fortunate to be the home of the creative talents of pianist, composer, songwriter, and vocalist Gene DiNovi for well over forty years. But the world has had the opportunity to enjoy his talents for even longer. For decades, Gene has played and recorded in the UK, Europe, and the Far East, in addition to Canada and the U.S., as a soloist and with the who’s who of the music and entertainment world.
This is not the place to list the names of the musicians, vocalists, entertainers, and others with whom Gene has been associated — this space is too limited to detail the interesting places, gigs and events at which Gene has had the opportunity to create and interpret music. If you know of Gene, you probably know of some of these interesting times; for those who don’t, check out his diverse discography that spans many decades and many musical genres, and access his online book I Can Hear The Music: The Life of Gene DiNovi. When you do, you will realize the depth and breadth of a long career — a career that he has sustained for over three quarters of a century, and that is still going strong today.
Gene’s music was informed as a teenager in the 40s and 50s when he played in the clubs of New York City (where he became a member of Local 802) with some of the greats of bebop and other genres of jazz. His music was also influenced by the visual medium when he worked in Hollywood in the 1950s (and became a member of Local 47), creating music for film and television, before he came to Canada and joined our Local. This eclectic background and an encyclopedic knowledge of jazz, popular repertoires, and other musical genres, together with an understanding of what it takes to communicate that repertoire to people are just some of the keys to Gene’s success as a musician and entertainer.
Gene’s knowledge of and ability to interpret the Great American Songbook is unique. And his original works, along with his talent for melody, lyrics, harmony, rhythm, and improvisation make him a rare talent, who is equally at home as a soloist, in duos, trios, quartets, and in larger ensembles, including orchestras.
Gene continues to be active both in Toronto and elsewhere. He is an inspiration to young and older players alike, demonstrating that it’s possible to make great music well into one’s eighties. And if you want to hear him… just check him out at the Old Mill, and listen.
The Toronto Musicians’ Association is delighted to present our Lifetime Achievement Award to Gene DiNovi.
