There were quite a few. Organists like Jimmy Smith, "Groove" Holmes, Jack McDuff, even Lional Hampton liked to play the B-3. And they were all great in their own way! They're bands were "Smokin'"! But they either had Bass Players, or used their Left hand on the lower keyboard for "Basslines". Dad used his 10-1/2D FOOT to play the bass... and the lines were "PERFECT!"

My Dad caught a "break" in the early 60's (From none other than "Count" Basie!), and was signed with Capitol Records in '61-'62. Capitol released "Wild About Basie!" Introducing the Joe Bucci DUO! The album did very well. Joe Bucci sounded like no other organist. His "Big Band" approach, and flawless Basslines (Using the Hammond's Bass Pedals) could not be matched. The DUO sounded like the whole Basie Band!

I was 9 or 10 when the album came out, and I wore out TWO of them!! Even if he wasn't my Dad, I would have thought he was the greatest!!

Dad liked to tell the story of how he noticed I was keeping "perfect" time to the radio on top of the Fridge, (From the HIGH-CHAIR!) and soon got me a set of "Slingerland" drums and hooked me up with Berkley Music Professor "Alan Dawson" for some "private" lessons.

I WANTED to be in Dad's band! I had listened to him (and the album) for about 10 years, and at age 19, he gave me the "shot". We worked together for about 8 years, and in that time he "groomed" me for the real world. These were the best years of my life. We recorded 2 Record Albums together, appeared in only the Best of nightclubs, appeared on VARIOUS Television shows, including "Good Morning America". We'd let Musicians "Sit-in" occasionally.. But, they were ONLY "The best of the best". Guys like Dick Johnson, Grey Sergent, Stan Getz etc. It was the BEST!

I was a young, handsome Drummer/Singer playing in this GREAT band! Man! The CHICKS were "Hanging from the ceiling!" (Ahh, the GOOD old days!!) I met the "Girl of my Dreams", got Married, and had a WONDERFUL Son!! Joe Bucci, 3rd!

Towards the mid 80's Dad had decided he wanted to semi-retire from the Music Business. I got an offer from a singer that had "subbed" for Martha Maxwell, who was the lead singer in the "Joe Bucci Trio".

Sharon Jones (AKA Brown Sugar!) brought me into her band. Sharon is a "Top Notch" Jazz/Soul singer out of Portsmouth, NH. But, she could also "cook" with all the "Mowtown" and "Disco" (Now I'm revealing my age!) tunes that performers like Donna Summer, Whitney Houston, Tina Turner and many others were doing.

While in this band, things really heated up (so to speak) in the Persion Gulf, and the US deployed Troups to go over there and "Get things done!". Then Hudson, NH Town Official and Vietnam War Veteran "Mike Keenan" wrote a "poem" wishing them a safe return, and hoping they would get the respect they deserved for serving their Country. Keenan felt the Vietnam Vet did NOT get the respect they deserved, (I agree) and called on our Pianist/Songwriter "Rich Margolis" to put the "Poem" to Music!

We (and a few other Musicians) went into the Studio and recorded "Before The Color Fades" in support of our Troups in the Persian Gulf War. I sang the LEAD vocal, and the song did VERY well! It was played on EVERY station in NH, most other stations accross the Country and even was heard 'round the world on Armed Forces Radio! We Toured and did Concerts at Airforce Bases, Officers Clubs, even the "John Handcock Auditorium" in Downtown Boston, MA!

So, that was MY little "Taste" of "Fame" (Besides being Joe Bucci's drummer that is.) Then, a couple months later.. the war was over.. so we thought anyway. I then got an offer from Joe Villanucci (Leader of the trio "Expressions"). I had known Joe since I was a "Kid" working with "Dad". And he was offering a considerable increase in pay per night than I was making!! (Hey, by this time, I was "Married With 3 Children!" haha! Joey, Tony, and Rick! Yep! 3 Boys!) So, I said "Sure Thing!"

Joe Villa was very dedicated to staying "current". I don't think there was much on the radio that we WEREN'T doing. It was a lot of fun. The Female Vocalist was "Julie Branco".

I started keeping my own "Book", and jumped in and out of a few bands.. "Wine, Women, and Song" was one. Another was "Goodtime Express" led by Marcie Downie. It was while in THIS band, Marcie got a call from Russ McQueen, another organist from this area. It seemed his 'regular drummer' couldn't make some gig, and Russ asked Marcie if he could "borrow" me for the gig. She said "Sure, but DON'T steal him!" (I ended up staying!)

About this time, I met Charlie Pouliot (Guitar Player Extraodinaire) More about him later! Russ and I hit it off pretty good and the gigs went very well. I thought Russ did a GREAT job, he had excellent communication skills with his audience. And I had SO much FUN!! I NEVER laughed so hard in my LIFE! What an entertainer!

Now, Russ is basically a "Rock & Roll" player. And I credit HIM for helping me to "Get it right". With the R&R 'feel' the "beat" HAS to be simple but SOLID!! Charlie P. was around 23-24 years old, and used to come "Sit-in" with Russ and I at the Tic-Toc-Club, Salisbury Beach Mass. I met a lot of other musicians working with Russ. Another guitar player (Chuckie Jambusso) liked my playing/singing, and put a band together called "The Bottom Line". This band featured myself, Chuckie, Billy Denunzio (Sax/Vocals), AND my cousin Tom Piscioni on Bass Guitar!

We got off the ground fairly quickly and had a pretty good following for a while. Chuckie was "Moonlighting" with 'Smokin Joe Shefro's BIG-BAND', (A 10-pc band that did Chicago, Blood, Sweat, & Tears, Tower of Power, Earth Wind and Fire etc.) and Joe was looking for a drummer. (A lot of "Joe's" in my life isn't there?) Anyway, I heard he had been through about 10 drummers, and was NOT finding what he wanted. Chuckie brought me down to try out for the band... Joe LOVED me!! I was "In like Flynn"!! At the SAME time, I got an offer to be the FRONT singer for another 10-pc Band "Overdrive" which was also a tight and funky Big-band, that included Charlie P., Carl Heinz, and 7 other guys.

I couldn't resist the chance to "Front" a Big-Band, and decided to join Overdrive! We did ok (As far as recognition goes). We made it to "The Yard" which is a Big-Time "Show Band" type club in Manchester, NH. We PACKED the room, and if you were there, you would have thought you were listening to Tower of Power! After 8 months, with personality conflicts and the like, the band collapsed from within.

Another Trio, "BackTrack" led by Jill Anthony was a "Top-40/Techno/oldies" band. We had a lot of stuff "programmed", and some on CD's. Jill played a Keyboard, Rich Dorato was the Guitar player, and myself. We kept busy for a quite a few years! With all the "gagets", we sounded like a much bigger band, and we were only 3 so... we made some pretty good dough!

I'm currently performing with "The Jimmy Mack Band". Jimmy is an excellent Blues, Funk, and oldies guitar player. After touring with "The Roy Buchanen" Band, Jimmy decided to get back to his own roots and form his own band (Again). Jimmy was also the leader of a band called "Dr. Graybow" back in the 70's, and signed with a major record label in New York. A very unique player, you can recognize Jimmy Mack's playing anywhere!

I still take an "outside" gig here and there with Russ, and Charlie. I also "Sub" from time to time in a 12-pc band called "Smoke 'N Mirrors Show Band". Which includes Charlie P., AND Joe Villanucci so I have some fun with those guys! The main thing is.. I enjoy it. It keeps me in shape, and I stay in touch with a LOT of old friends. Ahh. There's one more "Big Band" I play with now and then. They would be called "Manchuka!" Another "Tower of Power" type band... there's NO money involved in playing out anymore.. But, these guys are REALLY tight! Jimmy Mack plays in this band as well!

They are all a great bunch of guys, and I have an "open" Invitation to "Sit-in", but I don't participate as much as I should. They already have a great drummer, so I get to "Front" the band! It's always an honor guys!

My most current endeavor:

The Alumni Band

This Band consists of Myself (Drums/Vocals), Charlie Pouliout (Lead Guitar/Vocals), Carl Hynes Bass/Vocals, and Larry Novak (Keyboards/Vocal). We haven't really gotten this "out of the Barn" yet, but we were coming along nicely. We did do a couple of Gigs. Places like 'The Corner Pocket' in Plaistow, NH (Exactly what it sounds like, a Pool Room with a Bar! But, it was fun and it got us OUT!) Another place was "The Dolphin Grille" in Beautiful Salisbury Beach, Mass. We got a LOT of positive response there. But, scheduling and weather kind of 'messed is up' there this past Summer. Maybe next year.

We're going to start up again with some more 'Rehearsing' so that NEXT Summer.. We'll be out there BLOWING MINDS!! For a 4-pc Band, we do a LOT of tunes that you just don't hear Bands do anymore. I'll try to keep yhis section of my site more "up to date" than I have been. Oh! We came up with the "Name" because we ALL have (or are still) working in a "Big Band" called 'Overdrive'! An excellent tight & funky Band. They sould like Tower of Power!.. No Shit! So, if you ever see our name in the window of your favorite club, STOP IN! Say ;Hello' Let us know you're there! We'd love to talk with you, get your opinions/suggestion and whatever. And, so we can THANK you for your Support! :)

The Alumni "Team"

JB