Zito
Torrie Zito, the orchestrator behind Lennon's 'Imagine,' died last Thursday when he lost his battle with emphysema. Zito died at the age of 76 at his home in Manhattan, New York.
After starting out as a jazz pianist, he found lasting success as an arranger and orchestrator. He also worked with Perry Como on his 1966 album Lightly Latin, and arranged tunes for artists including Frank Sinatra, Bobby Darin, Sinead O'Connor, Carly Simon, George Michael, Clay Aiken and Tony Bennett, with whom he toured for seven years through the 1960s and 70s.
Zito's work on Bennett's 2008 'A Swingin' Christmas,' album has been nominated for a Grammy Award. He is survived by his wife, jazz singer Helen Merrill, a stepson, brother, Alan, drummer Ronnie Zito, and a daughter, Lisa.