Written by: Cait Elizabeth - April 2020
Edited by: Travis Ryan

Introduction

Music was John Tocco’s solace from a young age, when he found it could be a healthy escape from the cruelty of fellow kids. Drawn to the fun, flashy, and widely-adored musicians popping up on his television screen, John dreamed of taking his guitar to the stage. He started lessons at nine and slowly started adding genres to his repertoire, starting with hard-rock and metal before opening up to the sounds of jazz, folk, and musical theater. A multi-instrumentalist, John plays strings, keys, and percussion in addition to singing.

The SUNY Fredonia graduate released his debut album Almost On The Bright Side in April of 2020. This seven-tracker is the culmination of a dedicated love of music and an ever-expanding exploration of genres. The album showcases his instrumental range, as he wrote and performed nearly everything on the record.

There’s no set order for John Tocco’s creative process; the music composition comes together alongside the lyrics. “If I'm working on a melody with chords but I have no lyrics, I probably at least have an idea of what the song will be about. If I have words, I probably have some rhythmic ideas for those words.”

John is a lifelong student of music. He finds success in constantly expanding his knowledge on both the creative and business sides of music. He stresses the importance of having a working knowledge of the less-shiny side of the music industry, like navigating marketing principles and the ins and outs of Performance Rights Organization (PROs). The better you know the game, the better you can organize your strategy.

Shows & Tours

Aside from Almost On The Bright Side, John has written two musicals—both while attending college. He’s shared the stage with many talented musicians over the years and recalls, “One of my favorite opportunities specifically was being able to perform with the New York Voices, a Grammy-winning vocal jazz quartet.” He can even boast of playing near, far, land, and sea! Pre-quarantine John was serenading the passengers upon the high seas while working for the Holland American Cruise Line.