Ben Aronov

Benjamin James Aronov, known as Ben or Benny (October 16, 1932 in Gary, Indiana – May 3, 2015 in Aix-en-Provence) was an American jazz pianist. Aronov played in local jazz and dance ensembles as a teenager in Tulsa. He was a student at the University of Tulsa in 1951-1952, then was conscripted into the U.S. Army and was stationed in Texas, where he played in a military band. In 1954 he moved to Los Angeles and began playing at The Lighthouse and with Terry Gibbs, June Christy, and Lena Horne. In 1961 he moved to New York City and enrolled at the Manhattan School of Music, graduating with a degree in music in 1966. Following this, he worked with Al Cohn, Benny Goodman, Jim Hall, Morgana King, Lee Konitz, Peggy Lee, Liza Minnelli, George Mraz, Mark Murphy, the National Jazz Ensemble, Ken Peplowski, Tom Pierson, Zoot Sims, Carol Sloane, and Warren Vaché Jr. He played piano in the Broadway production of Cats from 1982 to 2000. After this he moved to France, where he remained until his death in 2015.