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Ranny Reeve

Francis W. Reeve, Jr., was born May 20, 1925 on Sound Ave., Long Island, NY. He later became known as Ranny Reeve, jazz musician, piano teacher, composer, performer, husband, father, and grandfather in a lifetime of 90 years. His first recollection of his love of jazz began when he was about 8 years old, listening to the Benny Goodman orchestra performing "Sing, Sing, Sing" on the radio. From that moment on, he was hooked. Piano lessons began right away, progressed through High School in Riverhead, NY. His years at Columbia University included composition classes with such professors as Elliott Carter. His degree was in Education and he became a private house-to-house teacher to kids as young as five years old to men and women older than he was at the time. His home in Fort Salonga was the place for lectures and student recitals for many years. Both jazz and classical music were inclusive. His continued education included such teachers as Roland Hanna, Hale Smith, and Michael Weiss. His own performances included many in New York City with trios and/or quartets. During the 1970's he was active with the International Art of Jazz, an organization that brought many well-known jazz artists to Long Island. A Jazz festival in Kings Park, NY,was renamed in his honor in 2013. The Ranny Reeve Jazz Festival takes place every spring.


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