Originally from New York, Sal Gentile has been playing the guitar since age 13. Throughout his musical career, he’s had the honor of playing with the following entertainers: Johnny Maestro and the Crests, The Epitome, Four Wheel Drive, Sarajobe, Jimmie Rodgers, B.B. King, Carol Channing, Jim Bailey, Rip Taylor, Margaret Whiting, RoseMarie, Rosemary Clooney, Don Rickles, Lester Lanin Orchestra, Bill Clifford Orchestra, and the Dick Stabile Orchestra.
During the late 50’s, Sal performed with the Purcell’s. In the late 60’s Sal signed with Columbia Records, with Richie Havens, producer. Venues played: Arthur’s N.Y, Trudy Heller’s N.Y., Cloud Nine, The Apollo Theatre, Sanger Theatre, The Blue Room at the Fairmont Hotel, Maison du Puy, Seafood Steamery, Visko’s, The Old Absinthe Bar, The Montelone, Royal Sonesta, Hyatt Hotel, Hilton Hotels, The Waverly Hotel, Radisson, Marriott, The Four Seasons Atlanta, The Ritz Carlton, and the Sheraton Hotels.
After leaving New York in 1973, Sal relocated to New Orleans where he played music and continued to teach guitar from 1973 to 1985. New Orleans is where Sal just fell in love with Jazz. In 1985 Sal moved to Atlanta with his wife, and continued a successful performing career teaching and playing with great style and charisma. Articles have been written in AJC. Guitar Players Magazine, Just Jazz, Times Picayune, and Creative Loafing, and Simply Buckhead, just to name a few.
Sal’s musical styles range from Jazz, where he features a variety of musical styles from Wes Montgomery, Charlie Parker, Joe Pass, and Grant Green. Sal’s musical and vocal expertise extends his repertoire to Swing, Jazz, and the Standards that incorporate the music of Berlin, Gershwin, Kern, Mercer, and Ellington. Sal enjoys the musical styles of Louie Prima, Tony Bennett, and Frank Sinatra. Continuing the music spectrum, Sal also plays, Blues, Rock and Roll, and Country.
Depending on the function for which he is hired, Sal includes ethnic music for various cultural affairs. Sal is an extremely versatile entertainer spanning 4 decades of experience. Sal’s traveled extensively throughout the United States, and Canada and he continues to perform with the best musicians providing musical combinations inning with a duo, to an orchestra.
Sal will be the first to admit that life certainly has treated him well with his music. For the past 8 years, he has had the distinct pleasure of playing for the Buckhead Life Restaurant Group in 3 of their restaurants, Pricci, Veni Vidi Vici, and Bistro Niko, and many private and corporate parties.