The Story

The Finest In Music For All Occasions

 

"Jeff Carmella" draws his musical influences and inspiration from all the very best music.  Including: roots rock, surf instrumentals, rockabilly, rock and roll, country, Latin, Brazilian, jazz, swing, blues and r&b.  It's hard to categorize his sound but the sole purpose of his musical expression is to create a unique sound that people will love to hear. 


Jeff Carmella started out playing guitar in southwestern Pennsylvania at the age of 17 as a self-taught ear player.  He received his first guitar, a Montgomery Wards acoustic guitar, as a present from his older brother Ron. Then cousin Floyd Dorazio (aka Tyk) showed him his first few chords on that acoustic guitar, and he hasn’t stopped since.

His first band, in 1979, was a country rock/southern rock band called “The Good Neighbors Band.”  They started out jamming in his mother’s garage, just for the fun of it.  After encouragement from their friends, they transitioned into a working band and gained local-area recognition by winning a music contest sponsored by a local Pittsburgh radio station. The GNB original composition, the one that won the contest, was called “Kentucky Whiskey and Pennsylvania Women.,” written by a fellow band mate, Keith Wilson, a Kentucky native.

Since living in Maryland he has been a member of several different bands, “J.C and the HepCats” being the most long-lasting—over 20 years. He also started his own band, ”The Jeff Carmella Band” playing for swing dances in the Washington metropolitan area and for other community events.  He enjoys playing a variety of genres: jazz, swing, blues, country and rockabilly as well as his original music.

He has shared the stage with and/or opened for such names as Leon Russell, Link Wray, Bill Kirchen, Johnny Castle (The Nighthawks/The Thrillbilly’s), Seth Justman (The J. Geils Band), Dave Elliott (Danny Gatton/Redneck Jazz) and Mark Noone (The Slickee Boys).

More recently he has been playing guitar for the “Batuque Band”, a Brazilian music band. The word “batuque” means a gathering of dancers and musicians where singing and percussion are the essence of the occasion.


In addition to the "Batuque Band", he has been teaching guitar lessons at Bones Jones Music in Rockville Maryland.