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Chet Catallo

Guitarist - 6 Time Grammy Nominee Jazz-Fusion Pioneer

About Me

Rochester NY native, Internationally acclaimed guitarist-composer-producer and 6-time Grammy nominee Chet Catallo is a member of the Jazz Hall of Fame and an original member of the contemporary jazz innovating pioneers Spyro Gyra from 1978-1984. When only in his 20s, Catallo was responsible for writing some of the group’s gold and platinum popular hits like “Café Amore,” “Lovin’ You,” “It Doesn’t Matter” and many more. Chet headlined as a member of Spyro Gyra at jazz and music festivals all over the world, including Carnegie Hall, Radio City Music Hall, and Newport, playing on the same bill as legends George Benson, Miles Davis and Herbie Hancock. When Chet and Eli Konikoff left Spyro Gyra in 1984, they brought Ralph Ortiz here from Puerto Rico to join them in their new band, Chet Catallo & the Cats, along with the late Matt Greeley, Andy Calabrese and Jim Richmond. A short time later the band added Vince Ercolamento and Steve Curry (Eli Konikoff was recovering from near-fatal accident injuries). Adding percussionist Charlie Curran completed the sound Chet had envisioned from the start.