Dan DeLuca
coach
What is your favorite part of coaching at ROC Star Academy?
Having the opportunity to work with and assist all the enthusiastic and creative students, as well as hearing their musical growth over time.
Hometown: Batavia, NY
Your musical focus/instruments you play: Guitar & Bass on gigs. I also have been working on learning other instruments, for my own growth.
When did you start pursuing music? Age 13
What is your musical background? I started playing the guitar at age 13, after years of listening, and enjoying music. I taught myself with the assistance of the record player, cassettes, and 8 tracks, trying to figure out songs and riffs that the guitarists were playing on the classic rock recordings from the 70's. I played my first concert at age 14, for a local school dance with my middle school rock band. At the end of the gig, audience members asked us for autographs, (a wow moment). I began taking lessons in high school, and went on to study music, and education in college. I consider myself very fortunate to have made a living with music and education for over 30 years and counting.
What are your musical influences/favorite bands? My musical influences range from; Rock, Blues, Jazz, Folk, Latin, and Classical. As a kid, I remember my parents playing such a diverse record collection.
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What is your “deserted island” album?
This is a great question, that I'm going to continue to think about, because there are so many influential and iconic recordings that I appreciate.
What is your favorite venue or event that you’ve performed?
I, along with the other teachers at Roxy's music Store, played for a sold out, jam packed community concert at the store, alongside international guitar great Gene Bertoncini.
What’s the craziest thing that ever happened to you on-stage?
The strangest gig I have ever played was playing solo guitar (with a life jacket on, in a 2 man canoe) with about 10 other canoes paddling alongside on a 3 hour trip. The canoe group stopped at different points along the journey, where I also played for their cook outs, while getting bit by bugs.
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What’s the best piece of musical advice you’ve received in your career thus far?
My Guitar teacher at Berklee said “If you wait until you're totally ready to go out and play, you will never play a gig!” …....Now, I understand what he meant.