In celebration of what would have been Johnny Rotella's 100th birthday on November 4th, 2020, we are proud to highlight and bring attention to his amazing life and works. From vintage cuts by Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Doris Day, to songs written with Academy Award-winning lyricists Johnny Mercer and Sammy Cahn, Johnny's talents had no limits.

Johnny Rotella was a highly sought-after session man, born in Jersey City, N.J. He began his career in his teens, playing clarinet and saxophone, and has played with marquee artists in hundreds of studio sessions for TV and film projects.

After his military service in World War II, Johnny joined Raymond Scott’s band in New York and later, the bands of Goodman and Dorsey. He made Hollywood his home and worked as a studio woodwind player. He was a band regular on the 1970s CBS variety series The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour and contributed to TV’s I Spy, and the first two Godfather films. He also played in the orchestra for Broadway shows and Los Angeles theater productions.

With more than 60 years of experience, Johnny wrote more than 300 songs, some of which were recorded by Dean Martin, Doris Day, Rosemarie Clooney and Tony Bennett. He wrote the Frank Sinatra standard “Nothing But The Best,” and recorded with Neil Diamond, Frank Zappa, and Steely Dan, among others. Johnny passed away in 2014, but his legacy lives on through his timeless music.