Every dream starts with a moment, an instant that lives in one’s memory.
For Verona’s Frank Piombo, that moment harks back to the age of three in his native Tripoli, Libya, waddling into his grandfather’s closet, closing the door behind him and running his fingers over the strings of a guitar.
That memory has only been fortified in Piombo’s mind over years, beckoning him to be a musician. His grandfather’s guitar turned into his father’s accordion which turned into the British Invasion of The Beatles which turned into to his own guitar and music. Piombo was always destined for a solo career in music, it just happened to take him a little while.
That time is now for the recently retired Piombo. Last March, the long-time musician released his first solo album “Smooth Reminiscence.” Next month, he will host a release party for his second CD, “Sleepwalk,” which is already available through several online outlets.
After spending the first six-and-a-half years of his life in Libya, he moved with his family to Rome while his father found work in America. A year later, his family united in Newark where he lived until he was 24.
Piombo credits the arrival of The Beatles in 1963, when he was just 13, for pushing him to pick up his first instrument, the drums. After nights of thrashing, it was Piombo’s father who suggested a quieter instrument: a guitar. Piombo played by ear throughout his teenage years, even ascending to a level in which he began playing in clubs.
“I remember going to sleep with the guitar and my mom would have to take it out of the bed,” recalls Piombo of his early commitment.
He had the opportunity to study music at Kean University, but did not want to make the transition to standup bass, as there was no guitar major at the time. Instead, he majored in education at William Patterson University and spent three decades in the field in Newark, but music remained with him.
During his time as an educator, he performed commercial music, playing at weddings and backing up other artists. The routine got old, however. While performing songs of artists ranging from Led Zeppelin to Bachman-Turner Overdrive, Piombo was neglecting his talents as a jazz musician.
There was seldom any money to be made in jazz, however, Piombo explains, saying that if he were to go to a club and perform a song by one of his role models, Web Montgomery, he’d likely be laughed at. Instead, he bid his time until about seven years ago when he began studying jazz harmony, theory and structure more closely.
He started writing his own music.
Last June, upon retirement, he promised himself music would be his new full-time occupation. Aside from the release of “Smooth Reminiscence” last year, he has gotten exposure on internet and FM radio stations across the world. For a year, “Smooth Groove Phoenix” would open its Saturday show with his cover of Carlos Santana’s “Europa.” His work has also had significant play overseas with eight stations in the United Kingdom, four in Australia, three in Italy and a host of other stations across Europe and Africa playing his music.
“Nobody did that for me,” said Piombo of his international presence. “I’m very persistent. I don’t take ‘no’ for an answer. If somebody listens to my stuff, somebody’s going to find something on they like.”
Piombo does his own public relations, saying that only he knows exactly how he wants things to be. He also calls Facebook the best network in the world, crediting the site for helping him network with radio stations across the globe as well as fellow musicians.
Currently, he’s looking to take his career to the next level and tour with his music. He’s been in contact with relatives in Italy about engagements there, calling the opportunity to return to his roots “a dream.”
Upcoming, he will be hosting the CD release party for “Sleepwalk,” at Trumpets in Montclair on April 1. The event, which is $15 a head with the first 25 guests receiving a free copy of the CD, promises to be a bit of a reunion with friends that he’s made over the years, some of which he only knows through online networking, slated to be on hand and perform. Piombo himself will perform six songs.
In addition to his release party, Piombo will also be hosting “The Color of Jazz” in Colorado via webcam on April 15. With his constant writing, networking and engagements, retirement hasn’t been as peaceful for Piombo as for others, but he’s not complaining – insisting that the extra work he puts in pays off.
“If you like what I do, meet me half way and I’ll meet you the other half,” says Piombo of his approach when networking. “God helps those who help themselves.”
“Smooth Reminiscence” is available for purchase at cdbaby.com, last.fm.com, Amazonmp3.com, reverbnation.com and iTunes.com.
His new album, “Sleepwalk” is available at cdbaby.com, iTunes.com and Amazonmp3.com
Source: http://www.northjersey.com/community/140993073_Never_too_late__Verona_guitarist_chases_dream.html
