Joel DiBartolo

Joel DiBartolo (November 24, 1945—September 27, 2011) was an American jazz and studio bassist and University professor. He is best known as the NBC Tonight Show bassist for Doc Severinsen from the Johnny Carson years.

He has played all over the world with many music legends like Maynard Ferguson, Louie Bellson, Chuck Mangione, Carman McRae, and Vic Lewis.

DiBartolo was inducted into the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame in 2001.

Joel DiBartolo was born in Buffalo, New York, on November 24, 1945, to Rose Sedola and Angelo DiBartolo. He had two brothers—Russell and Henry, and two sisters—Joanna and Rosanne.

DiBartolo received his Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, where he studied with Buell Neidlinger, among others. He also played with the Buffalo Philharmonic under Josef Krips and Lukas Foss.

After completing his education, DiBartolo served in the military during the Vietnam War as a member of the U.S. Army Band Jazz Ambassadors.

After his discharge, he began his professional music career with Chuck Mangione, Buddy Rich, and Maynard Ferguson.

In 1972, he was a member of Chuck Mangione's Quartet with Gerry Niewood (flute, soprano saxophone, tuba) and Ron Davis (drums, congas, timbales). Later that year, he played bass on the "God Bless The Child" track of Buddy Rich's album The Exciting Buddy Rich (RCA International) with Brian A. Grivna (alto saxophone, flute); Richard Centaloza (baritone saxophone); Bill Reichenbach (bass trombone); Walt Namuth (guitar); Pat LaBarbera (soprano saxophone); and Greg Hopkins, Lin Biviano, Wayne Naus (trumpet).

In March 1973, DiBartolo played on Maynard Ferguson's recording of Live At The Great American Music Hall Part II at the Great American Music Hall, San Francisco, California. He was accompanied by Andy Mackintosh (alto saxophone); Bruce Johnstone (baritone saxophone); Ed Byrne (bass trombone); Randy Jones (drums); Tony Buchanan (tenor saxophone); and John DeFlon, Lyn Biviano, Wayne Naus (trumpet).

In the following years, DiBartolo played with several musicians:

In the mid-1980s, DiBartolo joined Doc Severinsen's The Tonight Show Band (aka The NBC Orchestra) for Johnny Carson. He was with the orchestra for 18 years, working, at various times, with: Tommy Newsom (flute, clarinet, alto saxophone); Bill Perkins, Ernie Watts, John Bambridge, Pete Christlieb, Don Menza, Donald Ashworth, Lew Tabackin; Allen Vizzutti, Chuck Findley, Conte Candoli, Frank Szabo, Maury Harris, Oscar Brashear, Pete Candoli, Snooky Young, Clark Terry (trumpet and flugelhorn); Ernie Tack, Gil Falco, Hal Crook (trombone); Ross Tompkins, Russ Freeman (piano); Bob Bain, Bucky Pizzarelli, Herb Ellis, Mitch Holder, Tony Mottola (guitar); John B. Williams, John/Jennifer Leitham (bass); and Ed Shaughnessy, Jack Sperling, Louie Bellson, Shelly Manne, Colin Bailey (drums).

In 1986, DiBartolo, with the band, received a Grammy Award for "Best Jazz Instrumental Performance-Big Band" for Doc Severinsen and The Tonight Show Band, Volume I.

In 1988, he played on Ernie Watts Quartet's The Ernie Watts Quartet. The following year, he was on James Clay Quintet's album with The Right Chemistry (Bill Perkins, Billy Mintz, and Frank Strazzeri.

DiBartolo left the NBC Orchestra in 1992. That year, he recorded Vic Lewis West Coast All Stars's tribute album Shake Down The Stars, The Music Of Jimmy Van Heusen.

In 1994, he left Los Angeles and moved to Arizona. In 1995, he began teaching bass at the NAU School of Music (Northern Arizona University) in Flagstaff, Arizona. He eventually became the head of the jazz studies department at the university.

In 1996, DiBartolo and his wife pianist Liz Story recorded an album titled Liz Story at Luna Recording Studio, Prescott, Arizona (Windham Hill Records).

In 1997, DiBartolo and Aaron Stang co-authored a bass technique book titled Serious Electric Bass: The Bass Player's Complete Guide to Scales and Chords with Alfred Music.

He was inducted into the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame in 2001.

Misc work

DiBartolo's Broadway and Hollywood credits included musical theater productions (Cats, Evita, Les misérable), television theme songs and soundtracks (M.A.S.H., Dallas, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Heat of the Night, Little House on the Prairie), and several film soundtrack (Saturday Night Fever, Jaws, Star Wars, Rocky).

DiBartolo was married three times. He was married to Kathy Piazza Haik from 1972 until their divorce in 1993. They had two children—Adriana di Bartolo and Cristina di Bartolo. He was then married to Liz Story from 1993 to 2000 (divorced).

In 2005, he married Mary Beadell.

DiBartolo died from lung cancer in Scottsdale, Arizona, on September 27, 2011, at age 65.