Jocko Marcellino
| Jocko Marcellino | |
|---|---|
 Jocko Marcellino's headshot | |
| Born |
John Marcellino May 12, 1950 Quincy, Massachusetts |
| Occupation | Musician, actor, singer, writer |
| Years active | 1969–present |
Jocko Marcellino (born 1950) is an American singer, musician, songwriter, producer and actor best known as one of the founders of the American rock and roll group Sha Na Na. He performed with Sha Na Na at the original Woodstock Festival, in the movie Grease and in The Sha Na Na Show, their worldwide syndicated TV show.[1]
Early life
He was born on May 12, 1950 in Quincy, Massachusetts, the fifth of six children. His younger sister is the renowned "Cheese Nun" Noella Marcellino. He began drumming at age 7 and formed his first band, The Miltones from Milton, Massachusetts at age 13. At 17, he joined The Pilgrims with saxophonist Lennie Baker, whom he later recruited for Sha Na Na. He was also an all conference and all state football player at Archbishop Williams High School in Braintree, Massachusetts.
College years
He attended Columbia University as member of the class of 1972.[1] During his freshman year at the age of 19, a group of students and Marcellino formed Sha Na Na. In the summer of 1969, Marcellino performed with Sha Na Na at Woodstock, only the group's eighth performance. In between performances around the world, Marcellino earned a B.A. from Columbia University and later a Masters degree in Drama from New York University.
Later years
Marcellino has continued to tour approximately fifty shows a year for the last forty-five years with Sha Na Na joined by co-founders Donny York and Screamin' Scott Simon,[2] occasionally performing with his nephew-in-law Dave Grohl. Marcellino's acting credits include television's Veronica Mars, NYPD Blue, Ally McBeal, The Tiger Woods Story, Herman's Head, Good Advice, 18 Wheels of Justice, The Invisible Man, Amazing Stories, and It's Garry Shandling's Show. He also acted in the films Rainman, National Security and Hot to Trot. Marcellino has also written and performed songs for the films Rainman, That's Life and Night Of The Comet; and television shows Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, The Office, Terriers, Castle, Kath & Kim, Parks and Recreation, Golden Boy, Once Upon a Time and ESPN's Monday Countdown. He also tours with his side rhythm and blues band "Jocko and the Rockets".
Personal life
He lives with his wife in La Jolla, California.[1] His son, Chris Marcellino, was a software developer at Apple Inc., where he worked on the original iPhone and iPad software engineering team, and is now in medical school in Cleveland, Ohio.