Guy Nirelli
Organ, Piano and Vocals
Guy Nirelli on Organ
“I love playing with the band. The musicianship is unsurpassed. It is unbelievable. When we are playing we get such a groove on that it takes me to another place. I love the music we play a wide variety funk, blues, swing, even some jazz. If you hear our band you will hear something you like. I am a Hammond organ lover , both blues and jazz so this allows me to stretch.”
Background
Guy started playing Hammond organ at 10 years old and formed his first band in 8 th grade. In High School, he played with The Good Life on the Ground Round circuit and met Patti Parks who became part of his band. He played in an 8 piece band from age 19- 25 with Sam Gambino. He stopped playing for 10 years but continued his love of music through his stereo. His friend Joel Thomas pulled him out of retirement to play with Big Wheelie and the Hubcaps where he played for about 5 years. Guy met Patti again at the 100 the Anniversary of Harley Davidson event in Buffalo in 2003 and together they formed the Patti Parks Band. In addition to many years of performing experience, Guy has studied organ with several private instructors.
Guy has always sang in addition to playing organ and he is has composed several original blues songs that will soon be on a CD that is currently being finished in the studio. An example you might have heard the band perform is the song “Baby Don’t You Know.” He has played with various bands in the Buffalo region such as Rabbit Foot Blues Band and in the Native American band called Tonemah where he had the opportunity to perform at the Smithsonian, Kennedy Center and at the Native American Music Awards (NAMA). Some festivals that he has performed in include the Kalamazoo Music Festival with Tas Cru and the Niagara Thunder. See Patti Parks bio for the full list.
He won the Memphis Bound Competition in 2006 with the Patti Parks Band and they went on to compete in Memphis in the International Blues Competition on Beale Street. He is active in the WNY Blues Society.
Guy plays a Nord C1, and Nord Electo 3. His influences are Jimmy Smith,Jack McDuff, Jimmy McGriff, Joey DeFrancesco and Gerry Youngman.
Guy Nirelli on vocals