Hamilton born, Frank Rocchi, learned to play piano from his church organist Mother who taught him the Beatles, “Let It Be” and from that point on there was no stopping him. He played piano and achieved his Grade 9 level at the Royal Conservatory. He started playing in bands where he picked up the guitar and sax along the way. 

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Frank Rocchi also became a schoolteacher at St. Thomas More where he was known for using music to teach lessons and took on the musicals that were an important part of school life.  Frank continued playing in bands along the way including Retro Party Groove who he still plays with to this day with a few fellow former teachers. He has performed in hundreds of bars and gigs from concerts, festivals and private functions.  

 

Frank’s musical influences include everyone from Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, The Beatles, the Rolling Stones to Thelonius Monk, Bach and Tony Bennett.  As a songwriter of many styles you will always find positivity in the lyrics as Frank finds negative songs “boring and whiny.”

 

The first two CDs that Frank Rocchi was involved in were cover CD’s with Retro Party Groove.  In 2015, Frank released his first solo CD, ‘Meh’, a collection of classical cover songs. Coming in September is the release of his first collection of all original material, “Meraki”, recorded at Grant Avenue Studio in Hamilton and Produced by Amy King.

 

There are some big players on ‘”Meraki” including Danny Lockwood (drums), Frank Koren (guitar), Vince Rinaldo (keys) Bob Doidge (Bass & Trumpet), Amy King (Everything), Ron Palangio (Guitar), Antoinette Krusto (Guitar and vocals), Sue Leonard (Vocals), Brent Malseed (Bass), Harold Lee (Drums), Chris White (Guitar and Harmonica), Scott Neilson (Sax, Flute, Clarinet) Andrew McPhail (Bagpipes and Pan Flute) and of course Frank Rocchi. 

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Watch for more shows and exciting news to come from Frank Rocchi!