Rocco Deluca

Rocco DeLuca

Rocco DeLuca at the Commodore Ballroom, February 2011
Background information
Origin Long Beach, California
Genres Indie rock, Alternative Rock, Blues rock
Years active 2005–2009
Labels 429 Records (USA)
Associated acts Slash, Tom Chaplin, Daniel Lanois, Black Dub
Website http://www.roccodeluca.com
Members Rocco DeLuca
Past members Dave Beste
Brett Bixby (live only)
Ryan Carman

Greg Velasquez

Rocco DeLuca is a California-based indie rock solo artist that previously played in the band Rocco DeLuca and The Burden, that originally formed as a four-piece band in late 2005. The band no longer plays together, though DeLuca remains a solo artist and sometimes plays with close friends in concert.

Rocco DeLuca

Rocco DeLuca (born December 27, 1975 in Torrance, California) is half Italian, half German. He grew up in Lake Elsinore, California and Long Beach, California.[1] Like other Angelenos, he was surrounded by local literature, Latino art, motorcycles, film, and music. His early years were spent studying the likes of Billie Holiday, Nina Simone, and the darker and raw Delta Blues heroes of the 1920s. By the age of seven, he had taught himself to play listening to these records and, by the time he was a teenager, Rocco had developed his skills and confidence to perform for others. Initially only playing instrumentally, he later began singing as well. Since, he has performed around the world as his authentic and unusual lyric and voice have garnered him international attention and acclaim.

DeLuca is known for his use of the Dobro, a particular design of resonator guitar. DeLuca began his career as a solo artist opening for artists including Taj Mahal, John Mayer and John Lee Hooker, and has had the opportunity to play with Johnny Cash.[2] From 2003 to 2006, he regularly played at Gypsy Lounge in Lake Forest, California. Starting in 2005, when DeLuca was signed by the independent record label Ironworks, he led the band Rocco DeLuca and the Burden until 2009. After the band's last performances in 2009, DeLuca continued as a solo artist as well as working on projects with Slash and Robbie Robertson. During his career, he has played with various legends such as John Lee Hooker, Johnny Cash, June Carter, and Daniel Lanois.

Upon meeting DeLuca, Lanois described him as follows: "My initial meeting with Rocco [...] was pure and centered and seemed to have a sense of purpose, and I felt that there was something burning in his heart that I could be helpful to. It had that kind of truth in it that I decided to run with. I like the street corner aspect of working with Rocco, it woke up a certain part of my renegade ways I'm trying to keep alive these days. I fully believe in DeLuca. I think that he's got the power to be a contemporary troubadour, as I see it, and I hope I can be his friend for a long time, whether I am operating in the same limelight, ahead of him, behind him, in his shadow, whatever it takes, I'll be there. The one thing that I love about Rocco DeLuca is he is driven by his own heart."

The majority of the band's material is written by Rocco DeLuca himself. On top of his resonator guitar, he also played glockenspiel, piano, organ, and banjo in the studio recordings. Long-time friend, Ryan Carman played the drums, glockenspiel, cajón, and bells among other percussion instruments. Original percussionist Greg Velasquez has also been credited for keyboards, and original bassist David Beste has been credited for glockenspiel, piano and organ. Producer Daniel Lanois was credited for electric piano, electric guitar, strings, percussion, pedal steel, lowery, and piano in the album "Mercy". For live performances of 2007 tours, the band featured Brett Bixby on keyboards, guitar, and backing vocals.

I Trust You to Kill Me album and documentary

Rocco DeLuca and the Burden's debut album, I Trust You to Kill Me was released on CD on March 21, 2006 on the Ironworks label. The album was produced by Jude Cole, mixed by Florian Ammon (except for tracks 2, 7 and 10 which were mixed by Dave Reed), and engineered by Florian Ammon and Dave Reed. Coinciding with the release of the album, the band released a behind-the-scenes documentary titled I Trust You to Kill Me.[3] Public screenings of the film were held in New York City, West Hollywood, and San Francisco in September 2006.

Kiefer Sutherland, along with Ironworks co-owner Jude Cole, offered such support as being the band's tour promoter and manager and helping produce the documentary, and general promotion of the band in 2005. In May 2006, the band and Sutherland traveled to the United Kingdom to promote their new release by playing some live shows. In the summer of 2007, the band also opened for English band Keane's Under the Iron Sea Tour in North America.

The band appeared on several TV shows, such as Jimmy Kimmel Live!, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, the Late Show with David Letterman, The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, Friday Night with Jonathan Ross, Kastljós in Iceland,[4] and Top of the Pops in the UK on May 22, 2006.[5]

Mercy

On March 10, 2009, Deluca released his second full-length album, entitled Mercy. This time, working with U2 producer Daniel Lanois on the album.[6] For Mercy, Deluca decided to strip down the setup to make the live experience "more personal." Shortly thereafter, Deluca and drummer Ryan Carman toured as a duo without bassist Dave Beste and percussionist Greg Velasquez who were both featured in the studio recordings for the album. Kiefer Sutherland directed the music video for the album's most-promoted single, "Save Yourself", which was used as the promo for the television movie 24: Redemption. Deluca has cited Lanois as a hero of his and Lanois has many times made guest appearances with him on stage.

Rocco Deluca (Self-Titled)

On August 19, 2014, Deluca released his self titled fourth album, his second for 429 Records. Once again produced by Daniel Lanois the album also found Deluca returning to the more stripped down sound of his 2011 album Drugs 'N Hymns. He toured the United States until November of that year culminating in a series of "Living Room" residency shows.

Other works and appearances

After Mercy, DeLuca appeared on Slash's self-titled solo album singing on "Saint is a Sinner Too".

Popular culture

The song "Swing Low" featured in episode 9 of season 4 of Rescue Me.

The song "When You Learn To Sing" featured in episode 4 of season 1 of Parenthood.

The song "Congregate" featured in episode 3 of season 10 of Criminal Minds.

Discography

Albums

Singles

DVD

Chart information

Year Album / Single Peak Chart Position
Billboard 200 Top Heatseekers Independent Albums
2006 I Trust You to Kill Me 177 [7] 5 [7] 12 [7]

References

  1. ↑ Beers, Joel (2006). "Dream On". http://www.ocweekly.com/. Retrieved 2006-05-16.
  2. ↑ I Trust You To Kill Me official site (2006). "about the band- Rocco Deluca". MRB Productions. Retrieved 2010-02-27.
  3. ↑ unknown (2006). "Jack Bauer Says "I Trust You To Kill Me!"". http://www.aintitcool.com. Retrieved 2006-05-15.
  4. ↑ Kastljos (2006). "Iceland’s Kastljos interviews Kiefer and DeLuca". http://www.megaupload.com. Retrieved 2006-05-15.
  5. ↑ BBC (2006). "BBC’s Top of the Pops "coming soon"". http://www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2006-05-15.
  6. ↑ Mercy (CD liner). Rocco DeLuca and the Burden. CA: Ironworks Music. 2009. p. 10.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 "Billboard Chart Listing". Retrieved 2009-03-11.

External links