Jazz Insights: Dick Lupino

Rhode Island’s Dick Lupino has done it all. He’s a talented veteran bassist, guitar player, torch-singer, business man and important local music agent.packed into one. Dick is known for leading group performances at weddings, parties and high society gatherings. A graduate of the New England Conservatory (Boston), he has played with symphony orchestras, jazz combos and big bands alike. His career includes stints with Issac Stern, Chuck Berry, Fifth Dimension, Steve Lawrence, Mike Renzi and Micky Rooney. He has lived and performed in Boston, New York, Las Vegas, New Orleans, the Dominican Republic and several European cities.

Dick has taught music in the Central Falls school system for 13 years, teaching music to elementary and middle school students. His teaching efforts granted him an honorable retirement for his dedication there. Currently he leads regularly performing groups on Wednesday evenings at Sardella’s Restaurant (Newport) and Saturday afternoons at the Greenvale Vineyards (Portsmouth).

Dick hires outstanding veteran performers to headline these weekly gig. Many of these individuals come from New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Seattle, Washington. Dick’s latest CD, titled I’ll Be Home for Christmas and featuring the background piano of the spectacular Mike Renzi, is a winner.

So, keep your eyes on these two locations, Sardells’s Restaurant and Greenvale Vineyards (and Dick Lupino’s website) for terrific ongoing musical entertainment.