Performance Times
| Venue | Day | Start |
|---|---|---|
| Zoetropolis | Fri | 7:00 PM |
| Imperial Blue Ballroom @ Holiday Inn Lancaster | Sat | 3:00 PM |
Former Sax player from Room Full of Blues
“Piccolo wails with wild abandon… resurrecting the sound and spirit of the legendary R&B sax heroes of the 50s.”
- Michael Point
“…the best songwriter in the jump blues style since the genres heyday in the 30s and 40s”
- Geoffrey Himes
“…Piccolo has a passel of original music that molds modern funk,
rock, soul, and rhythm and blues into a sizzling contemporary blend.”
- Jay N. Miller
“From the opening notes, the band burns with a subtle intensity that
showcases Piccolo’s strengths.”
- Charlie Lange
At age nineteen, Duke Robillard recruited Greg as one of the earliest members of what became the Rhode Island based powerhouse, Roomful of Blues. The unifying magnet within the group in its early years, 1969 -1971, was focus on the rootsy, retro, danceable, swing sound of the ‘40’s and ‘50’s. This “new” sound to teenage ears and the recall of this music to the older folks, filled dance floors all over the band’s New England home-base and eventually on the global stage.
For the next twenty-four years, Greg Piccolo had amazing experiences playing with and/or recording with such music legends as Big Joe Turner, Earl King, Eddie “Cleanhead” Vinson”, Pat Benetar, Red Prysock, Stevie Ray Vaughan, to mention only a few.
As Roomful players would come and go, Greg’s twenty-five year contribution evolved to lead singer and bandleader, all the while being noticed world-wide for his signature “fat” tenor sound, unique sax style, and distinguishable vocals. After nearly twenty-five years with Roomful of Blues, Greg sensed a calling to go back to his roots and further develop his “heavy juice” sound. His “less is more” approach gave him the freedom to cover the gamut of his musical longings, which include traditional jazz, blues, r&b, and rock’n roll. He had compiled a well of songs which demanded their own arrangements and band configurations outside of the classic “Roomful sound.” In 1994 he stepped away and officially formed his own band, Heavy Juice, which led to his first solo release, self-titled, “Greg Piccolo Heavy Juice,” on the legendary Louisiana-based Black Top label.
Following were two releases, Red Lights and Acid Blue, on the famous California-based Fantasy Label (now Concord), and his first all instrumental tenor sax release titled “Homage” on the Pennsylvania-based Emit Doog label. His most recent release, “Who Did This?” is a tribute to his favorite sax recordings and includes an original recorded tenor instrumental.
Greg is a multi-nominated Blues Music Award nominee by the Memphis based Blues Foundation, and an inductee into the New England Music Hall of Fame.
Now at seventy-three years of age, Greg Piccolo is still practicing his horn every day, writing his own material, and traveling the world with Heavy Juice.
Piccolo is an example of someone who never looks back and always plays from his heart.
This is a return gig for at Lancaster Roots and Blues. Greg Piccolo is a real crowd pleaser.
Connect with Greg Piccolo
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