Lucien Nocelli (born April 21, 1965 in Belleville, New Jersey USA)is an American singer, guitarist, and songwriter. He released his first major album December 11, 1986 Open Sky with his jazz fusion trio Lucien Nocelli and the Jazz Experience. The release was highly acclaimed and widely played on the college radio circuit across the East Coast.
Nocelli released self titled Lucien Nocelli and the Jazz Experience, a three song jazz fusion compilation on April 22, 1993 which landed him a contract with Woodrich Records and extensive air play nationwide. He continued to have such success with future releases. Most recently he has written and recorded a CD Single Message For Peace / Electric Train (2005) and released his newest album Deal With It (2008). The style of music blends rock, jazz, pop, and jazz fusion with a glam rock attitude.
FULL BIOGRAPHY
Early years Born in Bellview, New Jersey, Nocelli was raised in Clifton, New Jersey by his father, Lucien Nocelli Sr and his mother, Maryann Nocelli who purchased Nocelli's first instrument, a half-sized red acoustic guitar. Once the initial cosmetic infatuation with the instrument itself, he began to actually listen to music which inspired him to pick it up and learn to play.
After hearing The Beatles Come Together on the radio, he was hooked, as it was John Lennon that inspired him to pick up the instrument mainly, as well as Glen Campbell's Southern Nights, and a song called Ride Captain Ride. Soon after hearing Come Together however, it was his Beatles album collection that began to take over.
Nocelli's first real guitar knowledge was received by his Grandfather Tony Francischetti, a musician himself who played banjo, guitar and violin. At this point his desire began for an electric guitar. After persuading his Mother to take him the local Sam Ash music store, he acquired a Lyle electric guitar which was a Gibson SG knockoff. Soon after the package was complete when he received his first amplifier, a Kustom Guitar Amplifier. Soon after he began studying music lessons with his first instructor Fred Barnett with whom he stayed studying with for many years as he grew into a diligent student, often locking himself in his bedroom for hours to study his playing. Eventually the Lyle Guitar and Kustom Amplifier could only take him so far so he traded them in at a New Jersey store, Mascara Music in Belleville, for a Burgundy ES335 Gibson Guitar and Yamaha Amplifier.
Read more
Musical career At the age of 16, Nocelli formed his first band, Destiny with his cousin Steve Francischetti, the drummer while Nocelli was lead vocalist and lead guitarist. Destiny toured all over the Tri-State area playing at colleges, high schools, dances, churches and private events performing rock covers from Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Doobie Brothers, The Beatles, The Stones, Thin Lizzy, Eric Clapton, Dire Straits, and Grateful Dead.
By the age of 17, Nocelli's musical interest shifted to Fusion, an instrumental mix of rock and jazz featuring rock rhythms and melodic jazz melody. His began to listen more to Fusion artists Chick Corea Al Di Meola and Larry Carlton. He began studying with a Jazz teacher, Tony Scally who taught him that he needed to learn straight Jazz first before beginning to understand Fusion. Nocelli co-formed a new group at this time for his new musical tastes. World of Difference featuring a diverse sound of Rock, Jazz, Pop and Funk music styles combined.
Continuing his Jazz education, Nocelli studied with Tal Farlow, a renowned Jazz guitarist. Advancing rapidly in his playing his new style, he focused solely on Jazz fusion for the next 12 years. He purchased a Heritage Jazz guitar and toured the New York City Jazz circuit with his trio Lucien Nocelli and The Jazz Experience.
Nocelli at this time wrote an advanced guitar method book, Modes In Motion: The Nocelli Guitar Method, and began to teach advanced guitar students at a prestigious music school Von Bartheld School for Music in Ridgewood, New Jersey. Soon after he opened his own music school in Forked River, New Jersey, The School for Musical Instruction which remained in business for 6 years.
Eager to create music equal in lyrical content and guitar, Nocelli formed Bebop Gypsies, who released one album before the group disbanded due to internal politics. He briefly joined his cousin's group at the time, Test Infection, an industrial metal band who released a few songs and toured live.
Throughout the years Nocelli toured off and on portraying John Lennon in the off Broadway production, Beatlemania. He is still currently touring internationally with Beatlemania.
In 2005,. Nocelli signed with Infinite Trend Productions, and released Message For Peace / Electric Train (CD Single), and a limited edition acoustic album which sold out immdiately, Acoustic Lullabys (2006). His latest major release was his rock album Deal With It (2008).
2006-Present In April 2007, Nocelli's advanced guitar method book, Modes In Motion: The Nocelli Guitar Method was re-released with Infinite Trend Productions publishing division. His latest release, Deal With It was released in February 2008 to rave reviews. The Deal With It World Tour is currently on hold due to conflicts in Nocelli's personal life. The Tour is rescheduled to begin in the summer of 2009.
Personal life Family Nocelli has two sons from his first marriage. Nocelli married Sheri Nocelli on October 25, 2003. In March 2008 Sheri Nocelli was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia and was treated with Chemotherapy and a Bone Marrow Transplant. Their son Adrian Robert Nocelli was born August 18, 2003, and their daughter Luciana Virginia Nocelli was born May 1, 2007. They reside in Lincroft, New Jersey.
Gear
Lucien Nocelli uses Gibson Les Paul Custom Guitars, Guild and Fatovich Acoustic Guitars, Gibson Brite Wire Strings, Extra Heavy Custom Guitar Picks manufactured by InTune Guitar Picks, Marshall Amplifiers, JJ Electronics Tubes, Pedals by Boss, Dunlop and BBE.
Show less