Photo: Ohconfucius at English Wikipedia / CC BY 3.0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
My Take
Lee Ritenour is one of those guitarists who makes you feel like the instrument was invented specifically for him. Born in Hollywood in 1952 and sharpening his craft at the University of Southern California, he became one of the most in-demand session players in Los Angeles before most people his age had even figured out their career path. His nickname "Captain Fingers" says everything you need to know — the man has technique for days, but what keeps me coming back is how he bridges jazz purity with fusion warmth without ever sounding clinical. His work across decades, from smooth jazz recordings to collaborative projects with the cream of the jazz world, shows a musician who never stopped being curious. He's one of those guys who defined an era of sophisticated, feel-good guitar playing that still sounds fresh.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Lee Ritenour
- Name (Japanese)
- リー・リトナー
- Reading
- りー・りとなー
- Born
- January 11, 1952 (age 74)
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Capricorn / Dragon
- Origin
- Hollywood, California, United States
- Occupation
- guitarist / composer / jazz musician / jazz guitarist / record producer
2. Background
- University
- University of Southern California
4. Personality
Motto
Private
6. Links
Frequently asked questions
When was Lee Ritenour born?
Born January 11, 1952 (age 74).
Where is Lee Ritenour from?
Lee Ritenour is from Hollywood, California, United States.
What does Lee Ritenour do?
Lee Ritenour works as guitarist, composer, jazz musician, jazz guitarist, record producer.
Guitarist — see all → · Composer — see all → · More people from United States →
7. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-02
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.