T Lavitz facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
T Lavitz
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| Background information | |
| Born | April 16, 1956 Lakewood, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Died | October 7, 2010 (aged 54) |
| Genres | |
| Instruments | Piano, keyboards |
| Years active | 1970s–2010 |
Terry "T" Lavitz (born April 16, 1956 – died October 7, 2010) was an American musician. He was a talented keyboardist, a person who writes music (a composer), and a producer who helps make music albums. He was most famous for his work with the bands Dixie Dregs and Jazz Is Dead.
Contents
About T Lavitz's Life
Early Life and Musical Start
T Lavitz was born on April 16, 1956, and grew up in New Jersey. He started playing the piano when he was just seven years old. He was so good that he earned a special scholarship to the Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan. There, he studied both keyboard and saxophone.
After high school, he went to the University of Miami's School of Music. During his last year at the university, he was invited to join a band called the Dixie Dregs. He said yes and played his first show with them in January 1980. His music can be heard on their album Dregs of the Earth, which came out in 1980. In 1981, he was even named 'Best New Talent' in a poll by Keyboard Magazine!
Joining Different Bands
The Dixie Dregs band split up in January 1983. After that, T Lavitz went on tour with some other musicians, including Rod Morgenstein and Andy West. They played with Paul Barrere, a guitarist and singer from the band Little Feat. They released a short album called Extended Play in 1984.
In 1985, Lavitz joined a blues-rock band called the Bluesbusters. This band also had Paul Barrere, Catfish Hodge, Freebo on bass, and Larry Zack on drums. They made two albums and toured a lot. T Lavitz also released his first solo album, Storytime, in 1986. He then made another album called Players in 1987 with famous musicians like Jeff Berlin and Steve Smith.
Reunions and New Projects
The Dixie Dregs got back together in 1988 to record some new songs. They also went on a short tour. Later that year, T Lavitz toured with the band Mother's Finest. He also toured with other well-known musicians like Bill Bruford and the Billy Cobham Trio.
In 1991, T Lavitz was asked to join the band Widespread Panic. He played keyboards on their first album for Capricorn Records. He toured with Widespread Panic for most of 1991. However, he left the band when the Dixie Dregs reunited and signed with Capricorn Records again in 1992.
The Dixie Dregs recorded an album called Bring 'Em Back Alive during a tour in February 1992. Their violinist, Allen Sloan, couldn't tour anymore, so Jerry Goodman joined the band. That same year, T Lavitz won 'Jazz Keyboardist of the Year' in Keyboard Magazine's poll. The Dixie Dregs released Full Circle in 1994, which was their first studio album in 12 years.
Before joining Jefferson Starship in 1996, T Lavitz recorded another solo album called Gossip. At the end of 1997, he helped form the band Jazz Is Dead. This band, with T Lavitz, Jimmy Herring, Alphonso Johnson, and Billy Cobham, played instrumental jazz versions of Grateful Dead songs. Their first album, Blue Light Rain, was recorded in 1998.
Later Years and Legacy
The Dixie Dregs did a short tour in 1999, with original members Andy West and Allen Sloan joining them. T Lavitz continued to tour with Jazz Is Dead and also with the Dixie Dregs whenever he could.
In the early 2000s, T Lavitz worked on several other music projects. These included Endangered Species (2001), Cosmic Farm (2005), and Boston T Party (2006). In the summer of 2006, he also started teaching at the Berklee College of Music in Boston.
T Lavitz sadly passed away on October 7, 2010. Five years after he died, in 2015, a Jazz Is Dead CD called Grateful Jazz was released. This album was recorded in 2004 and featured his bandmate Rod Morgenstein and other special guests.
Music Albums (Discography)
Solo Albums
- 1984 Extended Play
- 1986 Storytime
- 1987 From The West
- 1989 And The Bad Habitz
- 1991 Mood Swing
- 1996 Gossip
- 2009 Electric
With Dixie Dregs
- 1980 Dregs of the Earth
- 1981 Unsung Heroes
- 1982 Industry Standard
- 1988 Off The Record
- 1989 The Best Of The Dregs – Divided We Stand
- 1992 Bring 'Em Back Alive
- 1994 Full Circle
- 1997 King Biscuit Flower Hour Presents: Dixie Dregs
- 2000 California Screamin'
With Jazz Is Dead
- 1998 Blue Light Rain
- 1999 Laughing Water
- 2001 Great Sky River
- 2015 Grateful Jazz
With The Bluesbusters
- 1986 Accept No Substitute
- 1987 This Time
With Jefferson Starship
- 1999 Windows of Heaven
Other Projects
- 1987 Players – Players
- 1992 The Connection – Inside Out
- 2001 Jimmy Herring, T Lavitz, Richie Hayward, Kenny Gradney – Endangered Species
- 2005 Rob Wasserman, Craig Erickson, T Lavitz, Jeff Sipe – Cosmic Farm
- 2006 Dennis Chambers, Jeff Berlin, Dave Fiuczynski, T Lavitz – Boston T Party
- 2007 T Lavitz, Dave Weckl, John Patitucci, Frank Gambale, Steve Morse, Jerry Goodman – School of the Arts
Other Appearances
- 1979 University of Miami Concert Jazz Band – Halcyon Days
- 1980 Darryl Rhoades and the HaHaVishnu Orchestra – Burgers From Heaven
- 1981 Projections – Projections
- 1983 Art in America – Art In America
- 1983 Paul Barrere – On My Own Two Feet
- 1984 John Macey – Meltdown
- 1984 Steve Morse Band – The Introduction
- 1984 Paul Barrere – Real Lies
- 1984 Stretch – Stretch
- 1985 Steve Morse Band – Stand Up
- 1985 Nils Lofgren – Flip
- 1985 Jeff Berlin & Vox Humana – Champion
- 1985 Electric Tigers – Electric Tigers
- 1987 Mark O'Connor – Stone From Which The Arch Was Made
- 1987 Col. Bruce Hampton – Arkansas
- 1987 Electric Tigers – Here To Stay
- 1988 Widespread Panic – Space Wrangler
- 1989 Steve Morse – High Tension Wires
- 1990 Lonesome Val – Lonesome Val
- 1991 David Becker Tribune – In Motion
- 1991 Widespread Panic – Widespread Panic
- 1992 Various Artists – Legacy II: A Collection Of Singer Songwriters
- 1992 Kiko – Kiko
- 1992 Dave LaRue – Hub City Kid
- 1992 Bob Mansueto – Like A Stranger
- 1993 Glenn Alexander – Rainbow's Revenge
- 1994 Steve Bailey – Evolution
- 1994 Jeff Richman – The Blue Heart
- 1995 Catfish Hodge – Like A Big Dog Barkin'
- 1995 Greg Koch And The Tone Controls – Strat's Got Your Tongue
- 1995 Gary Tanin – Sublime Nation
- 1996 Kacee Clanton – Seeing Red
- 1997 Pat Benatar – Innamorata
- 1998 Peter Himmelman – Love Thinketh No Evil
- 1998 [Soundtrack] – The Souler Opposite
- 1998 Robbie Krieger – Cinematix
- 1998 Jeff Richman – Sand Dance
- 2000 Soulfarm – Live At Wetlands
- 2000 Jim Stubblefield – Cities Of Gold
- 2000 Inasense – Get Your Shinebox
- 2001 C Lanzbom – From This Day On
- 2002 Andy West With Rama – Rama 1
- 2002 Candlewyck – Play
- 2002 Candlewyck – Once Up
- 2003 Bluestrain – Dancing With My Baby
- 2003 Widespread Panic – Panic In The Streets
- 2003 Peter Himmelman – My Best Friend Is A Salamander
- 2003 Roy Vogt – Simplicity
- 2003 Zyg – To The Rescue
- 2005 Steve Yanek – Across The Landscape
- 2007 Woody Moran – Tu-Toned Stranger
- 2008 Teresa Storch – Stream Of Concrete
- 2009 Laura Siersema – Talon of The Blackwater
- 2010 Julien Kasper Band – Trance Groove
