Motown arranger Van De Pitte dies
Susan Whitall / Detroit News Music Writer


David Van De Pitte, the arranger who helped Marvin Gaye take jazz, soul and
the rumblings of the counter-culture and turn it into the genius of "What's
Going On," died on Aug. 9 of cancer. The arranger, composer and music
director, a longtime Metro Detroiter, was 68.


He is survived by Carolyn Barnett-Goldstein, his partner of 26 years, two
daughters by a previous marriage, a brother and a sister.


The work of an arranger isn't always understood by the general public; they
often take a creative but unfinished idea and translate it into musical
language, spelling out what each musician is supposed to play.



While early Motown music was simpler, by the time Van De Pitte arrived
arrangements were complex and that unseen structure of the Motown sound was
part of its appeal.


When an arranger tweaks and advances the music, it's considered co-writing,
and Van De Pitte did that on "What's Going On." He was nominated for a
Grammy for best arranger for the album in 1971.


"We worked on that album for six, maybe eight months," Van De Pitte told The
News in 2008. "I'd go to the house and Marvin wouldn't show. He was playing
basketball. Or he was trying out for the Lions!"


Van De Pitte was born in Detroit on Oct. 28, 1941. He studied music at the
Westlake College of Music in Los Angeles, was proficient in classical, jazz
and pop music and played the bass, among other instruments.


The musician got to know famed Motown bassist James Jamerson back in
Detroit, long before they both worked at "the Factory," as they called
Motown, and Jamerson would sub for Van De Pitte playing bass in Johnny
Trudell's orchestra at the Roostertail.


Jamerson was known as a creative bass player, but Van De Pitte was one of
the few he trusted to write bass parts for him.


"He played note for note everything I wrote for him on 'What's Going On,'"
Van De Pitte said. "He may have gotten a little inspired here and
there...but he played what I wrote out of respect for me."


As a Motown staff arranger from 1968-72, and as a freelance arranger after
that, Van De Pitte arranged some of soul music, and Motown's most memorable
works.


Along with the "What's Going On" album, he arranged Gaye's "Let's Get it On"
album, as well as the songs "Still Waters (Run Deep)" by the Four Tops,
"Ball of Confusion" and "Psychedelic Shack" by the Temptations, "Darling
Dear" by the Jackson 5, "I Hear the Bells" by the Originals, "Keep on
Truckin'" by Eddie Kendricks, "Indiana Wants Me" by R. Dean Taylor, "If I
Were Your Woman" by Gladys Knight, and "If You Really Love Me" by Stevie
Wonder, among many others.


He also arranged music for Martha and the Vandellas, Michael Henderson,
Stanley Turrentine, David Ruffin, Chuck Jackson, Paul Anka, Denise LaSalle,
Millie Jackson and many more.


As a music director Van De Pitte was responsible for the live music
performed on Gaye's appearances on the "Ed Sullivan Show," as well as live
appearances by the Temptations, Four Tops, Diana Ross' Las Vegas shows and
Paul Anka's concert tours.


He also composed "How About You" recorded by Diana Ross, "Please Be There"
recorded by Gloria Gaynor, and a raft of classical compositions.


As a contractor, he wrote music for ads and live shows for many
corporations, including Ford, General Motors and Chrysler.


Van De Pitte was also an adjunct professor in the Jazz Studies program at
Wayne State University from 1979-83.


He explained the difference between Motown and other soul music labels like
Stax to The News in 2008.


"The jazz thing, I think, really influenced the whole Motown thing," he
said. "When we tried to do something a little out of the pocket, out of the
norm, we could usually get away with it because Berry's ears were tuned to
the way the guys played, so it swung a little jazzy."


Van De Pitte was cremated privately, but friends and loved ones say a
memorial concert is in the works.



Actor, Comedian Sammy Petrillo has Died
Sammy Petrillo, the comedian who was often mistaken for entertainer Jerry Lewis in the 1950s, has died in a New York hospital



PRLog (Press Release) – Aug 16, 2009 – As a youngster, I loved watching a movie titled, Bela Lugosi Meets a Brooklyn Gorilla. The low budget film was a comedy starring a comedy team named, Duke Mitchell and Sammy Petrillo. Sammy was a clone of entertainer, Jerry Lewis. Sammy didn't have to try to imitate Jerry Lewis. The resemblance was remarkable. They could have been twins.

Jerry Lewis was never kind to Sammy Petrillo. Although Lewis did book Petrillo for a comedy spot on the Martin and Lewis Colgate Comedy Hour, Jerry Lewis also used his influence to bar Sammy from appearing on other NBC comedy shows. Lou Costello had to inform Sammy that his appearance on the Abbot and Costello, Colgate Comedy Hour was canceled, because Jerry Lewis complained to NBC that he didn't want Duke Mitchell and Sammy Petrillo to appear on any subsequent NBC shows.

In November of 2008, Jerry Lewis tried to have Sammy Petrillo removed from his front row seat when he learned out that Petrillo was in attendance at a speaking engagement Lewis was starring in, in New York City. I was with Sammy Petrillo that night and Sammy was crushed, although he did not leave his seat. Sammy only wanted to enjoy the seminar conducted by the man who influenced his own career for such a very long time.

Sammy was a popular figure at scores of celebrity autograph shows throughout the years because of his appearance in the film with Bela Lugosi. Sammy was also a top notch comedian, appearing in night clubs across the USA beginning in the 1950s. Most importantly, Sammy was a gentle, kindhearted man who loved making people laugh. He also gave of his time freely to help needy people with legal issues, with his expertise as a trained paralegal.

Sammy Petrillo died as a result of Cancer on August 15, 2009. I was proud to represent Sammy, and honored to have him as a friend.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xc8XOmnXgbE



CNN and ABC News is reporting that Senator Ted Kennedy has died.

The 77 year old was the youngest of the Kennedy brother and sisters.

He was diagnosed with a brain tumor in May of 2008 and had successful surgery. But his health deteriorated and he suffered a seizure in January.

Of the nine Kennedy children, tonight's passing leaves just one surviving sibling. Jean Kennedy Smith is four years older than Ted.

Here is his biography from his website on Senate.gov

Edward M. Kennedy is the senior United States Senator from Massachusetts and the second longest-serving current member of the Senate. He was first elected in 1962 to complete the final two years of the Senate term of his brother, Senator John F. Kennedy, who was elected President in 1960. Since then, Senator Kennedy has been re-elected to eight full terms.

Throughout his career, Senator Kennedy has been an advocate for health care, education, civil rights, immigration reform, raising the minimum wage, defending the rights of workers and their families, assisting individuals with disabilities, protecting the environment, and safeguarding and strengthening Social Security and Medicare. He is also a strong opponent of the war in Iraq.

Senator Kennedy is currently Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. He also serves on the Senate Armed Services Committee, where he is Chairman of the Seapower Subcommittee. In addition, he is a member of the Congressional Joint Economic Committee and the Congressional Friends of Ireland, and a trustee of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.

Senator Kennedy is a graduate of Harvard University and the University of Virginia Law School. He lives in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts, with his wife Victoria Reggie Kennedy. Together, they have five children—Kara, Edward Jr., and Patrick Kennedy, and Curran and Caroline Raclin.