Santisi (Ray) is born in Jamaica Plain.

The son of Italian immigrants, Ray Santisi begins piano lessons during the Depression, and attends Berklee College of Music on scholarship. He plays jazz piano at Boston clubs, with artists that included Charlie Parker, and goes on to teach at Berklee, where his students include Keith Jarrett, Diana Krall, and Joe Zawinul. A lifelong Boston resident, Santisi continues teaching until two weeks before his death on October 28, 2014.