Bio
My love of music kicked in pretty early. Here's a little music history (by the numbers):
1. My parents had me perform Al Jolson's "Mammy" (not in "blackface", thank God) in the backyard for the neighbors. I must have been around 3 or 4 years old.
2. My brother George and sister Alice shared their collection of 45's with me...starting with Bobby Vinton...but thankfully, it quickly changed to the Beatles, Beach Boys, and the Rascals. George and Alice also became my first singing group with 3-part harmonies on "Tonight You Belong To Me", and of course George's big hit "Sharin' Kind of Love" (better known as the "wee-ooh" song).
3. I joined the elementary school band (I played trumpet and learned to read music), and then a couple of talent shows followed (I played guitar and sang Monkees' songs). I think we were around 11 years old when my cousin Tommy (who to this day is still a top-flight professional drummer) and I formed our first band (I can't, for the life of me, remember what we called ourselves). We played some parties, and it became very clear to both us that GIRLS LIKE MUSICIANS. That's when I decided I was "all in."
4. When I met John Ballow and Willie Maiorello at Valley Stream North High (Go Spartans!), everything changed for me. We formed a "power trio" called "Hat Trick", and played school dances and events. This was a time when both our minds and musical tastes were expanding exponentially, and I'll never forget the times when Willie, and his two beautiful sisters, "Vic" and "MB", turned me on to so much great music...and "Hat Trick" morphed into more of an acoustic group.
5. In college at Brockport (Go Golden Eagles!), I met some great people, and we formed a rock-pop band named "Rosewood" with 'Doc' Varno, Eddie Ketchner (RIP), Mitch Diamond...and others. We played the bars in town, an occasional coffee house, etc. Then I met some music majors who were forming a jazz-funk-fusion band, and we became "Scratch Daddy". Tim Olphie (guitar) and Dave O'Malley (keys) were scary-good players, and there was this little guy named "Rit", whose voice could shake the window in our rehearsal room. We played some gigs that led to our playing a huge outdoor concert at "Spring In" in 1977. I loved both bands...we had so much fun...I'm sorry we haven't kept in touch.
6. During the college years, when I came home for holidays and the summer, Willie was playing with a singer-guitarist named Bobby Pellegrino, and they were gracious enough to invite me to join them. So two guitars and voices became three...we sang every 3-part harmony song we could think of (lots of CSNY, etc.)...and we became the new "Hat Trick". We gigged around West Hempstead, and even did an FM radio show, hosted by VSN alumni, Jim DelBalzo.
7. This was the time I was introduced to the West Hempstead music scene. There was so much talent everywhere I turned. I even discovered that famous keyboardist, "Roast Beef Joe", was actually my childhood neighbor, Joey Samuels. I got to do a few gigs with a tasty guitar player (and overall great guy) Steve Martin, but "Hat Trick" was my home. And I will always remember the times that Donny Celenza would sit in with us. Don was (and is) a guitar virtuoso, but he could master just about any instrument he touched. In fact, he is one of the best bass players I have ever heard. We played a number of gigs together, and though I was clearly nowhere near their playing level, Don and Will never made me feel that way...their hearts were (and are) as big as their talent.
8. Jump several years ahead, and my attention turned to multi-track recording. We had so much fun with family recordings of songs like "We Are the World," featuring vocals by my young nieces and nephews (Paul, Dennis, Kristin, Danny, and Stacy...Amy and my sons Bryan & Brett weren't quite old enough at the time), my wife, my sister, and my brother's great Bob Dylan impersonation. I even got my dad to sing a verse on "Blue Shadows" (from the movie "The Three Amigos").
9. As Bryan got a little older, being a "natural ham" like his old man, he became a young vocal star at a church talent show, as well as on many recordings (some of which can be found on the "Music Archives" page on this website). His vocal star status has remained in full force through present day (his vocals are featured on our album, "Undercover"...also on this website). Younger brother Brett (the "stealth one"), was spared the "ham gene". So, as he got older, he would quietly sneak into the music room, pick up the Strat or the Les Paul, and basically taught himself to play. It was not unusual for me to walk by the music room door, and hear some great playing going on. We started having some real fun when the three of us jammed together (a father's dream come true). I only wish we did more of it. There are no words to describe my love for these boys, and the great joy of knowing they share their old man's love of music.
10. Around 2005, I discovered the StudioTrax website, where I found a group of amazing people who nurtured me into the world of digital recording. And years later, as the website became a Facebook group, many of the same knowledgeable friends have helped me immensely in "creating my sound", including the new album, "Imusial Kiaffa SINGS!", which was mastered by StudioTrax member, Mike Ellison. I truly appreciate all of these wonderful collaborators. And while on the subject of collaborators, I need to acknowledge Peter Randazzo, who is a true master musician, and an incredibly gifted and caring educator. Over the years, I have somehow convinced Pete to come over to the house to add his amazing sax playing to several recordings (I think the promise of Barbara's cooking may have been a factor). Thank you, my friend.
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I am so very thankful to have such a deeply satisfying relationship with music, which is in my head and my heart almost all the time. When I'm with friends and family, whether it's at someone's home or at a restaurant or bar, and there's some remote source of music playing in the background, it's not unusual for me to temporarily lose track of the conversation because my attention is being drawn towards the music. I promise I'm not trying to be rude or distant. It's an involuntary thing...it just sort of seeps in and grabs me.
Music has enriched my life, and it is one of the gifts for which I thank God daily. No, I am not a "gifted' musician by any stretch of the imagination. The gift I'm thankful for is how I "hear and feel" music...how it runs through my veins...how it envelops me...how sometimes it can make me well up with a joy so intense that it feels like my heart will beat out of my chest. I received this from my parents, and I believe I have passed it on to both my sons. Bryan and Brett get it, and it makes me truly happy to know that they will continue to pass it on down the line.
Peace and Love,
Bob, Bobby C., Poppa Bear, Uncle Bobby, Pendejo, and...Imusial Kiaffa
1. My parents had me perform Al Jolson's "Mammy" (not in "blackface", thank God) in the backyard for the neighbors. I must have been around 3 or 4 years old.
2. My brother George and sister Alice shared their collection of 45's with me...starting with Bobby Vinton...but thankfully, it quickly changed to the Beatles, Beach Boys, and the Rascals. George and Alice also became my first singing group with 3-part harmonies on "Tonight You Belong To Me", and of course George's big hit "Sharin' Kind of Love" (better known as the "wee-ooh" song).
3. I joined the elementary school band (I played trumpet and learned to read music), and then a couple of talent shows followed (I played guitar and sang Monkees' songs). I think we were around 11 years old when my cousin Tommy (who to this day is still a top-flight professional drummer) and I formed our first band (I can't, for the life of me, remember what we called ourselves). We played some parties, and it became very clear to both us that GIRLS LIKE MUSICIANS. That's when I decided I was "all in."
4. When I met John Ballow and Willie Maiorello at Valley Stream North High (Go Spartans!), everything changed for me. We formed a "power trio" called "Hat Trick", and played school dances and events. This was a time when both our minds and musical tastes were expanding exponentially, and I'll never forget the times when Willie, and his two beautiful sisters, "Vic" and "MB", turned me on to so much great music...and "Hat Trick" morphed into more of an acoustic group.
5. In college at Brockport (Go Golden Eagles!), I met some great people, and we formed a rock-pop band named "Rosewood" with 'Doc' Varno, Eddie Ketchner (RIP), Mitch Diamond...and others. We played the bars in town, an occasional coffee house, etc. Then I met some music majors who were forming a jazz-funk-fusion band, and we became "Scratch Daddy". Tim Olphie (guitar) and Dave O'Malley (keys) were scary-good players, and there was this little guy named "Rit", whose voice could shake the window in our rehearsal room. We played some gigs that led to our playing a huge outdoor concert at "Spring In" in 1977. I loved both bands...we had so much fun...I'm sorry we haven't kept in touch.
6. During the college years, when I came home for holidays and the summer, Willie was playing with a singer-guitarist named Bobby Pellegrino, and they were gracious enough to invite me to join them. So two guitars and voices became three...we sang every 3-part harmony song we could think of (lots of CSNY, etc.)...and we became the new "Hat Trick". We gigged around West Hempstead, and even did an FM radio show, hosted by VSN alumni, Jim DelBalzo.
7. This was the time I was introduced to the West Hempstead music scene. There was so much talent everywhere I turned. I even discovered that famous keyboardist, "Roast Beef Joe", was actually my childhood neighbor, Joey Samuels. I got to do a few gigs with a tasty guitar player (and overall great guy) Steve Martin, but "Hat Trick" was my home. And I will always remember the times that Donny Celenza would sit in with us. Don was (and is) a guitar virtuoso, but he could master just about any instrument he touched. In fact, he is one of the best bass players I have ever heard. We played a number of gigs together, and though I was clearly nowhere near their playing level, Don and Will never made me feel that way...their hearts were (and are) as big as their talent.
8. Jump several years ahead, and my attention turned to multi-track recording. We had so much fun with family recordings of songs like "We Are the World," featuring vocals by my young nieces and nephews (Paul, Dennis, Kristin, Danny, and Stacy...Amy and my sons Bryan & Brett weren't quite old enough at the time), my wife, my sister, and my brother's great Bob Dylan impersonation. I even got my dad to sing a verse on "Blue Shadows" (from the movie "The Three Amigos").
9. As Bryan got a little older, being a "natural ham" like his old man, he became a young vocal star at a church talent show, as well as on many recordings (some of which can be found on the "Music Archives" page on this website). His vocal star status has remained in full force through present day (his vocals are featured on our album, "Undercover"...also on this website). Younger brother Brett (the "stealth one"), was spared the "ham gene". So, as he got older, he would quietly sneak into the music room, pick up the Strat or the Les Paul, and basically taught himself to play. It was not unusual for me to walk by the music room door, and hear some great playing going on. We started having some real fun when the three of us jammed together (a father's dream come true). I only wish we did more of it. There are no words to describe my love for these boys, and the great joy of knowing they share their old man's love of music.
10. Around 2005, I discovered the StudioTrax website, where I found a group of amazing people who nurtured me into the world of digital recording. And years later, as the website became a Facebook group, many of the same knowledgeable friends have helped me immensely in "creating my sound", including the new album, "Imusial Kiaffa SINGS!", which was mastered by StudioTrax member, Mike Ellison. I truly appreciate all of these wonderful collaborators. And while on the subject of collaborators, I need to acknowledge Peter Randazzo, who is a true master musician, and an incredibly gifted and caring educator. Over the years, I have somehow convinced Pete to come over to the house to add his amazing sax playing to several recordings (I think the promise of Barbara's cooking may have been a factor). Thank you, my friend.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
I am so very thankful to have such a deeply satisfying relationship with music, which is in my head and my heart almost all the time. When I'm with friends and family, whether it's at someone's home or at a restaurant or bar, and there's some remote source of music playing in the background, it's not unusual for me to temporarily lose track of the conversation because my attention is being drawn towards the music. I promise I'm not trying to be rude or distant. It's an involuntary thing...it just sort of seeps in and grabs me.
Music has enriched my life, and it is one of the gifts for which I thank God daily. No, I am not a "gifted' musician by any stretch of the imagination. The gift I'm thankful for is how I "hear and feel" music...how it runs through my veins...how it envelops me...how sometimes it can make me well up with a joy so intense that it feels like my heart will beat out of my chest. I received this from my parents, and I believe I have passed it on to both my sons. Bryan and Brett get it, and it makes me truly happy to know that they will continue to pass it on down the line.
Peace and Love,
Bob, Bobby C., Poppa Bear, Uncle Bobby, Pendejo, and...Imusial Kiaffa
