DON VENTRIGLIA
Keyboards, Vocals and FX
Don is a Jersey boy and has been singing since third grade, however It was after he sang back stage for the star in a Junior High Schools production of "Bye Bye Birdie" that got him started. The person that was supposed to sing came down with a bad cold, could act, but singing was out of the question.
His music teacher set him up with a mic back stage, forward into the time machine and here we are. At the age of 14 his parents purchased a double
tiered console organ and he began taking lessons.
He established Blue North in 2010, although they have experienced some transitions through the years they are stronger than ever, embarking on a
new path and new direction working closely with one another. Don wanted
Blue North to be a band where when a good musician joins, they would feel welcome, comfortable and not afraid to speak up on musical choices and preferences.
Don:
"Lets face it, we've all been the new boy on the block at one time or another"
"Its not easy sometimes with sky high ego"s, personal agendas, etc"
He believes music is the universal language, with that in mind, he feels that BN's interpretation of the songs they do allows the freedom to relate that right back to the listener in real time. He also believes that musical
intuitiveness and improvisation are a vital entity when playing in live venues.
Being 5 different musicians with different musical tastes and influences,
makes the band very unique as well as versatile. They continually challenge
themselves from a musical stand point which makes for a very tasty selection of songs.
His first love is classical music Mozart, Bach, Beethoven to mention a few. His musical influences include Trower, Yes, Genesis, Rush, Crimson, Floyd, ELP, Journey and the list goes on.
He also composes original music and the band infiltrates originals into their cover song list so their audience can get a glimpse of another side of them, a very creative side. His belief in what drives this band spirituality,
dedication, the love of music, mutual respect for one another as musicians, friendship and thrill of performing and sharing it with others. For without
GOD none of this would be possible!
RICH PERRY
Percussion
Rich Perry is an American drummer who has been playing in NJ pub rock band The Skels since 1996. With the Skels, Rich has played hundreds of gigs including B.B. Kings in Manhattan, recorded 4 studio albums, and made a St. Patrick's day appearance on Good Morning America in 1998. Prior to those years, his first gig was in 1989 at the legendary Pipeline in Newark with The Suspects, opening for Dr. Zeus, a band he later joined in 1990. Perry, under the alias of “Ritch Ritchell”, and other members of DZ eventually morphed into the fusion band "Chumpot" in 1994. After releasing their full length CD "Chumpot presents Sounds" a classic promotional appearance was made on the "Uncle Floyd Show". Most recently, Perry has played in the indie rock band, Hidden Cabins, from 2015 to 2018 recording a 5 song EP, "Hidden Cabins Band" that was released in 2018. Growing up on classic rock, teen angst and testosterone led to the discovery of thrash metal, punk, and hardcore in the late 80s. Wanting more, jazz bepop, funk and ska began to grow on the musical tentacles. "I started drumming at 15 because of John Bonham, continued at 18 due to Clive Burr and Topper Headon and kept on at 24 thanks to Art Blakey and Max Roach" says RP. After 32 years of playing in bands, Rich has gone full circle to this fab classic rock outfit and outlet known as Blue North. For more on Rich's favorite bands and other influences, ask him when you see him.
LOU CUOCO
Bass Guitar
Lou joined the
Lou joined Blue North in May 2019. Like many of his contemporaries, his interest in music began February 9, 1964, when the Beatles appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show. Lou received his first guitar for Christmas that year, and before long he was forming garage bands with friends in his neighborhood. Through his teens and twenties, he played with numerous bands throughout North Jersey and the Hudson valley.
After a long break from music to focus on career and family, Lou recently rejoined the music scene, participatiung in jams and open mics near his home in Orange County, NY.
Some of Lou's favorite bass players are Paul McCartney, James Jamerson (Motown), Carl Radle (Eric Clapton, Derek and the Dominoes),and Garry Tallent (Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band).
DEAN WHEELAN
Lead Guitar and FX
