Damian Bacci
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Damian Bacci | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Sayville, Long Island, New York, U.S. |
| Genres | Rockabilly, blues, jump blues, western swing, roots rock, punk-rockabilly, alternative rock |
| Occupations | Guitarist, educator, singer, content creator, competitive BMX rider |
| Instruments | Guitar, vocals, piano, mandolin |
| Years active | 1990s-present |
| Associated acts | Rocket 88, Blue Flame Combo, My Own Hero, Skinny D and the Hi-Tones, Hair Dresser on Fire, D.D. Verni & The Cadillac Band |
| Website | damianbacci |
Damian Bacci is an American roots rock, rockabilly, and blues guitarist, singer, music educator, and online content creator. He has a performance history across the mid-century swing, alternative rock, and rockabilly revival scenes, notably performing in underground circuits like CBGB and international venues. Bacci has served as a session guitarist for major genre crossovers, including working with Overkill frontman D.D. Verni. He operates a digital guitar instructional platform and was a competitively placed BMX flatland rider.
Early life and education
Bacci was raised in Sayville, Long Island, New York, where he began playing the guitar at age 12. His early interest in traditional American roots music and 1950s rock and roll was influenced by television broadcasts of The Buddy Holly Story, Happy Days, and the 1985 film Back to the Future. He cited George Harrison and Mike Nesmith as early influences on his lifelong preference for Gretsch guitars.
Bacci pursued higher education at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh and later at the State University of New York at Oneonta (SUNY Oneonta), where he was a member of a campus fraternity. Following his college years, Bacci relocated from Long Island to Florida in the 1990s.
Musical career
Early bands and regional touring
Throughout his career, Bacci performed in several regional and national musical acts across a variety of genres. He served as the guitarist for the alternative rock and post-grunge band My Own Hero and performed in the regional live circuit with the rockabilly act Skinny D and the Hi-Tones. He also performed with the Specialized cover group Hair Dresser on Fire, showcasing versatility across rock and indie arrangements.
During the late 1990s swing revival, Bacci joined Rocket 88, an established national swing act, replacing their original guitarist. With Rocket 88, he toured North America extensively, performed at major commercial venues including the House of Blues and Hard Rock Live, and held unique performances at high-profile venues such as the "Windows on the World" restaurant located inside the North Tower of the original World Trade Center. They also recorded music utilized in a promotional commercial for Fox Television.
Blue Flame Combo and solo performances
In 1998, while concurrently playing in Rocket 88, Bacci formed the traditional rockabilly trio Blue Flame Combo, serving as lead guitarist and vocalist alongside bassist Chuck Zayas and drummer Steve Plotnick. The group became a staple of the underground rockabilly circuit, touring the East Coast and the American Midwest. The trio performed at historic venues, including the legendary New York City punk club CBGB.
The Blue Flame Combo's 1998 debut album, Blue Flame Rock, was pressed and distributed internationally by the British rockabilly specialty label Nervous Records. The band's contributions to the genre's resurgence were historically documented in the survey book, Rockabilly: The Twang Heard 'Round the World: The Illustrated History. As a solo artist, Bacci expanded his touring reach internationally, performing acoustic and solo sets in European countries, including Belgium. Throughout his touring career, he has opened for notable roots and rock icons including Jerry Lee Lewis, Link Wray, Ronnie Dawson, Lee Rocker, and The Reverend Horton Heat.
Session work and D.D. Verni
In 2021, Bacci was recruited as the session lead guitarist for D.D. Verni & The Cadillac Band, a big-band swing passion project created by D.D. Verni (the songwriter, bassist, and founding member of the heavy metal band Overkill). Bacci tracked guitars for the group's debut studio album, Let's Rattle, released via MVD Audio. He recorded alongside a star-studded line-up that included the horn section from Phat Cat Swinger, jazz pianist Dave Moscoe, and former Brian Setzer Orchestra drummer Tony Pia.
Online music education and YouTube
On January 1, 2007, Bacci launched his self-titled YouTube instructional channel, shifting his primary focus to digital music education. The channel developed a global following by offering specialized video lessons focusing on the preservation of traditional rockabilly, jump blues, western swing, and Chicago blues guitar methodologies from the 1940s and 1950s.
Bacci's videos became widely recognized for their distinct structure. He routinely closes his educational content by sharing insightful, philosophical, and positive life lessons with his audience. Furthermore, as an avid hiker, camper, and traveler, Bacci frequently appends footage of his outdoor excursions, jaunts, and travels to the end of his guitar tutorials.
In addition to his free video content, Bacci has independently published comprehensive physical and digital instructional courses distributed globally, including Hot Rod Rockabilly Guitar and The Swinging Essentials to Electric Blues.
Other ventures and personal life
Outside of music, Bacci is an accomplished and acclaimed BMX flatland rider. He began riding during his youth and has earned multiple accolades and competitive recognitions within the BMX flatlander hobbyist community over several decades. Notably, he placed 11th in the Veteran Class at the national 2012 Voodoo Jam competition and placed 8th at the 2014 Voodoo Jam event.
He currently resides in St. Petersburg, Florida, where he remains an active member of the Tampa Bay roots music scene, occasionally sitting in with legacy acts like Bill Haley Jr. and The Comets. He is also a collector of vintage guitars and musical equipment.
References
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References
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