About RENZO J.
My name in Italian is Lorenzo J. Marino, but the shorter version of Lorenzo J. Marino is RENZO J. It just had a nice ring to it, while honoring my Italian heritage.
Born and raised in Buffalo, New York, my musical influences were quite diverse, with a leaning toward the R&B genre. Living in an ethnically diverse neighborhood all music was welcomed in my home. My sisters would sing the Supremes, my dad was always whistling some Army tune, and my mom would have Tom Jones on the combo radio-record player.
Buffalo has always been a hallmark for music, bands, musicians, bars and nightclubs. My friends and I would start our musical journeys in garage bands, right smack in the middle of those crazy 60’s and 70’s. When I hitched a ride to southern California in the mid 70’s, I found my passion in playing guitar, piano, writing, and singing.
“I loved the idea that I could change someone’s mood just by playing music and singing a song. Yes, I was hooked!”
Influences…Steely Dan, Doobie Brothers, Earth Wind & Fire, The Commodores, Boz Scaggs, Luther Vandross, The Eagles, David Bowie, Santana, Journey, George Benson, George Michael, Michael McDonald, Ambrosia, Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes, Bonnie Raitt, The Beatles, Stones, Chicago, Stevie Wonder…and so many more. Everyone of those great acts has something in common to me: great melodies and great lyrics - which are still so unforgettable, even in today’s music world.
“The music is in my soul!”
Back in the 80’s, 90’s and 2000’s, I had the pleasure of recording with some of the great players in the music world of that day:
Andrew Wolfolk - Saxophone - Earth Wind and Fire
Dick Dodd (RIP) - Drums/Percussion/Vocals - The Standels
Burleigh Drummond - Drums/Percussion - Ambrosia
Steve Groves (Euge Groove) - Smooth Jazz Saxophonist
Lester McFarland - Bassist - BB King
In those years I went under the name “Streetking” and tried my best at making it on the radio scene. I made a few good YouTube videos, got some airplay, and played out. But there was too much going on and I soon found out the hard way that this was a very tough business to make a name for yourself, by yourself, while working a 50 hour week, raising a family, coaching sports and trying to be a good dad and husband. So, I put it all on the back burner …for years, until now.
Now I got time, now I got serious, and now I got RENZO J.
Welcome to my world!
Thank you.
Larry Marino (Renzo j.) is also an accomplished actor and producer. Read more about his film career at the IMDB website here: