Bill LaVorgna (Liza's Pappy) has died. (updated)- Page 3

[DAME]

Posted: 8/16/07 at 1:00pm

The obituary:

From NorthJersey.com

Bill LaVorgna, 74; music director for Liza Minnelli

Wednesday, August 8, 2007
By JAY LEVIN
STAFF WRITER

Back in the day, no one at Paterson Central High School played a meaner set of drums than Bill LaVorgna.

"He was the most popular boy in school," said the girl who married the musical prodigy in 1953.

"And he got off to play with the USO," Joan LaVorgna said. "That would annoy us."

Bill LaVorgna, who grew up on Ryerson Avenue in Paterson's Totowa section, went on to perform with show business greats: Judy Garland, Frank Sinatra, Dizzy Gillespie, Sammy Davis Jr., Pat Boone and Barry Manilow, among others. For more than 30 years, he was musical director for Garland's daughter, Liza Minnelli.

Mr. LaVorgna, 74, died at his home in Stuart, Fla., on July 31, two days after suffering a heart attack.

This week and next, he was to accompany Minnelli on a concert tour of Spain and Monaco.

Minnelli, who was 11 years old when her mother signed Mr. LaVorgna to a contract in 1957, offered a tribute to the man she called "Pappy" on her Web site, officiallizaminnelli.com.

In a broadcast interview last year, Mr. LaVorgna discussed his long association with Minnelli:

"When the red light's on and we're working, it's dead serious. But other than that, she treats my kids like they're family."

"Liza calls me every day," Joan LaVorgna said. "She has been a part of our family."

Mr. LaVorgna took up the drums as a child. Jack Smith, who lived across the street from the LaVorgna family, remembered neighborhood musicians -- including the future jazz guitar great John "Bucky" Pizzarelli -- flocking to his classmate's house for jam sessions.

Smith said young Bill knew where his destiny lay.

"Bill was a very good athlete," said Smith, of West Paterson, "but he gave up sports to protect his hands."

After graduating from Paterson Central in 1951, Mr. LaVorgna attended New York University, earning degrees in education and music. He was never without work; his wife said his 10,000 recording dates in New York City must be some sort of record.

Early in their marriage, the LaVorgnas lived in Paterson and Kinnelon.

Besides his wife, Mr. LaVorgna is survived by three sons, David of Baltimore and Mark and Blaise, both of Salisbury, Md., and six granddaughters.

The family is holding a memorial service Sunday at Trinity United Methodist Church in Salisbury, Md.