The versatile Lew Del Gatto to has been a dynamic figure In the New York music scene for the past twenty five years. He has been a saxophonist with the Saturday Night Live Band for over 20 years. In addition to his playing, Lew is also involved as an arranger and contractor on this illustrious show.

A native of New York, Lew's musical abilities were obvious at an early age. Lew's father played the saxophone and the music of Artie Shaw and Benny Goodman was forever in the Del Gatto home. Lew quickly gravitated towards the music of Bird, Prez, Getz and Rollins. During his training at Manhattan School of Music, Lew went on the road with the Les Elgart Band, Sal Salvador and appeared with the world famous Johnny Carson Tonight Show Band. Since then, Lew has been busy in the New York studio world with such clients as Coke, Pepsi, Folgers Coffee, Ford and Burger King. He Is not only a player in these jingles -he also arranges and composes them as well.

Lew has also been busy in the film industry with credits including The Blues Brothers, My Blue Heauen, Naked Gun 2 1/2 and others. T.U. show credits include the Grammy Awards, the Emmy Awards, the New Show and Steve Martin's Best Show Ever. He is on numerous recordings for such artists as Gladys Knight, Aretha Franklin, John Lennon, Bette Midler, Cal Tjader, the Breckler Brothers, Quincy Jones, Stanley Turrentine, Harry Connick Jr, Buddy Guy, Mariah Carey...the list goes on and on. He is a featured performer on on the "G.E. smith and the Saturday Night Live Band album.

Lew's live appearance are too numerous to name, but, to mention a few, he has appeared with Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles, Liza Minelli, Buddy Ritch, Tony Bennett, Quincy Jones, Chuck Israel and The National Jazz Ensemble, Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Band, Henry Mancini, Herblie Hancock, Phil Woods, Buddy Guy and Eric Clapton. Lew has played jazz festivals in europe as well as locally. He appeared at the Cancun Jazz festival with his own trio as well as with George Young and friends. He performs annually at the Delaware Water Gap Festival of the Arts. In the summer of 1998, Lew toured Europe with Phil Woods and the Festival Orchestra.

Lew can be heard on his own CD entitled "KATEWALK" featuring Victor Lewis, Steve Turre, Randy Brecker, Chip Jackson, Joe Cohn and Ron Feuer available on the Naxos Jazz label. Lew is intricately entwined in the music world in various mediums but his first love is Jazz... that is what he plays at every possible moment.