Alfred Van Rensselaer Crain (Rennie) passed away Friday, December 3, 2021, in Deerfield Beach, FL at the age of 97. Rennie was born in Rochester, NY April 29, 1924, the son of Alfred and Marion Crain. He leaves his beloved wife Roberta (Bobbie) Crain, who lived with him for 36 years in Niskayuna NY and Deerfield Beach Fl, his three children Marion Crain, Laura Nardelli, Philip Crain, three stepchildren Robert Scotto, Sharon Scotto and Kristine Scotto. He has five grandchildren and three step grandchildren and one great grandchild. Rennie loved his music and his family. He was a sweet, funny, and thoughtful man and will be missed so much by many.
Rennie lived his early life in Delmar, NY and went to Bethlehem High School, graduating in the Class of ‘42. He attended RPI college for a couple of semesters before joining the Army during WWII. He spent the early part of the war at an Army base in Texas, but then was on the front in France and Germany, where as a medic his memories of those times were of the young men that didn’t make it back. After the shooting stopped, he arranged music for the Army Band in Europe.
When he was discharged, he and his good friend Al Quaglieri left upstate New York to join Bob Chester band.
After several years on the road playing and arranging, Rennie settled again in New York. He worked with notables Rosemary Clooney, Sal Salvadore, Eydie Gorme, Vincent Lopez and many more, in those years. He also appeared at the famous Roseland Ballroom. While in New York he traveled with dance bands, Bob Chester, Glen Gray, Tex Beneke, and Glen Miller. He appeared on the TV show called “Cavalcade of Bands”. While there he went to Julliard School of Music which honed his skills as a world class arranger and pianist. In the early 50’s, he attended Brooklyn Polytechnic and got his BS degree in chemistry while working at Pfizer Chemical. After graduating he left New York City to come back to the Capital District and worked during the day at Sterling Winthrop as a chemist and performing locally at night. His musical chemistry never vanished as he proceeded to other musical encores. He became an integral part of the Albany Jazz Workshop.
Rennie shared the stage with many of our local greats both in and out of town, including the Colonie Coliseum band, Mike Flanagan, Buddy Bedell, Mike Canonico and Tim Coakley, too many to mention them all. Over the years he appeared with Red Norvo, Bob Wilber, Flip Phillips, Doc Cheatham, and many other. He did the arrangements for Ron Partch little big Band with Colleen Pratt as lead singer. In those years he played mostly Jazz and Dixieland with Skip Parsons working with Peewee Russell, George Masso, Ken Peplowski, Alan Vache, Tom Saunders and many more. Rennie became somewhat of a regular with Skip Parsons “Exjazzaganza”.
Rennie had a great quiet sense of humor, at one time while playing he was asked if it was a Steinway and he replied, no its “I Remember You”. When not working he would go see other great talents. Every time he’d see the Peg Delaney group, he’d give her the OK sign and say, with a twinkle in his eye, “getting good”. Rennie continued to display his marvelous talents as well as ever playing and arranging for many years in and out of town. He was playing gigs right up to age 95. On top of all that he was a great husband, father and athlete playing Squash, Tennis, Golf and Pickleball. That was our Rennie.
A celebration of Rennie’s life will be held in the Spring of 2022, at the Italian American Club, 257 Washington Ave. Ext, Albany, NY, 12205. For more information on the celebration of life go to www.RennieCrain.com.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations in Rennie’s name to SwingtimeJazz.org.