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"Hey, Ya Gotta Play"
Viera, Florida (518) 573-5745 |
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There is almost no time in his life that Carl Todora can remember not wanting to play the guitar. After pleading with his parents for a guitar and lessons, he began studying the instrument at the age of nine. His lessons continued for nine years with the same instructor, the accomplished Frank Vaccaro of Rome, New York where Carl was born and raised. His studies included everything from beginning guitar to chord-melody Jazz and Jazz improvisation, through three years of classical guitar lessons. 
All during these years Carl formed and performed in many bands. The Pacers were the first group he played in that actually performed in public. This was in the era of instrumental rock so covers of artists like The Ventures, Dwayne Eddy and The Rockin' Rebels (Wild Weekend) made up the bulk of the repertoire. 
During high school, The Null Set was formed to play dances at area schools. This is when Carl discovered the Who, Buffalo Springfield and of course Jimmy Hendrix. Convincing his band mates to play this material along side the top 40 and soul music of the era was a constant battle. It was also during this period that he formed a side project with his best friend and Null Set Bassist Steve Coccia to sing & perform the folk music of Simon & Garfunkel. Carl moved to New York's Capital District to attend college. While attending the State University of New York at Albany, he played the usual fraternity and sorority parties with a group known initially as The Null Set (since it consisted of some of the original members of the high school band) and then later as Herald Square.
In the late '80s and early '90s he worked with an original group known as The Disctractions. He even did a four year gig with a wedding band called A Change of Heart whose song list included a large portion of country songs by Garth Brooks, Willie Nelson and Brooks & Dunn. 
Starting in 1994, Carl worked as the lead guitarist for the Albany, New York based band The Heaters. He left the group in January of 1998.
Through the years of formal training and work as a club musician, Carl has developed a distinctive guitar voice shaped by an uncommon hybrid fingerstyle and pick
combination technique. He is capable of playing a wide range of electric and acoustic guitar styles and always comes ready to work.
His ability to play what "fits" the song, and his keen sense for choosing what to "put in" and what to "leave out", without disturbing
the emotional setting of the material is a welcome change from the super-star guitar egos more commonly found on the scene today.
Carl is available for, recording projects, as a substitute guitarist, song writing/arranging collaboration and offers guitar instruction at all levels and styles from finger picking, chord melody jazz, to rock/blues lead.
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About
After college, when country/Southern rock was hot, Carl formed the popular club band White Water.
He was the principal singer as well as lead guitarist in
this group which performed the music of the Allman Brothers Band, The Marshall Tucker Band, The Eagles and the Outlaws. With the addition of Carl's ex-wife, Joan, the band
became known as one of the first local groups to cover the hits of Fleetwood Mac.
Later groups included Previous Release specializing in such artists as Eric Clapton, Jackson Browne and Dire Straits
and included some of Carl's original songs.
Carl formed the classic rock cover group RoadTrip Band in May of 2001 where he played lead acoustic and electric guitars and split lead singing duties until April of 2007. For more information, visit:
His most recent project was the
cover group known as 5-Zero. Carl left the group in September of 2014 in preparation for his relocation to Florida. For more information, visit: