Lou is a Baltimore native. He took an interest as child and began guitar lessons, and sang in a local school choir. He began formal piano lessons at the age of 7 and continued through high school. At age 23, Lou graduated from Towson State University in Maryland and began playing gigs in the Baltimore/ Washington D.C. area. After college, Lou studied music theory and composition with music scholar Asher Zlotnik. During 1982-1990 Lou published piano arrangements written for 5 pianos and had compositions performed at the "Res Musica" concert series at the Baltimore Museum of Art. The Lou Rainone Trio played at many venues including the Kool Jazz Festival and Eubie Blake Jazz Festival. As a sideman in Baltimore, he performed with many jazz musicians including Jimmy Heath, Jim Snidero, Eric Alexander, Vincent Herring, Jim Rotundi. He released 2 CD's as a leader during this period.

In 2000 Lou moved to New York City and began playing in jazz clubs. He has appeared at many venues including Smalls, Mezzrow, The Blue Note, Birdland, Django, and Mintons . He has recorded on over 40 CD's as a sideman, several as leader. He did tours in North America, Europe, Asia, Haiti, and Bahamas. Lou performed with musicians such as George Braith, Ritchie Vitale, Jerry Weldon, Bobby Porcelli, Randy Johnston, Ted Curson, Pete LaRoca, Ira Sullivan, Grant Stewart, Dick Oats, Ralph Lalama, Joe Ford, Rudy Walker, Buyu Ambroise, and Joe Magnarelli. He appeared in many festivals including the Port-au-Prince Jazz Festival under the U.S. State Department, the Montreal International Nuits D'Afrique Festival, the Taichung Jazz Festival, the Cape May Jazz Festival, and the Nassau Jazz Fest in the Bahamas.

As an educator of over 40 years, Lou has been a dedicated teacher of traditional piano technique, music theory, ear training, and improvisation. He was a staff member at Penn State University for Summer Music Camp in 2005. During 2003-2018 he conducted masterclasses in Taiwan and the Bahamas. He has arranged numerous solo piano pieces and published arrangements of jazz classics. Lou is currently teaching private lessons in NC and virtual lessons on Zoom .

About