I’ve had the chance to talk to Jimmy Cavallo for a quarter century now. Back when I worked for the big daily, he and his bud Stan Colella even allowed myself and a photographer colleague to tail them around a downtown Syracuse joint called Styleen’s Rhythm Palace as they posed for the cover of their first collaborative album of their music, ever.
Their pride was obvious.
Jimmy’s coming back to his hometown this weekend to play music, on his sax, and sing with his band, the House Rockers, on the outdoor stage of downtown’s Festa Italiana and in a club, too.
(Older photo courtesy of Guy Capone; Newer photo from jimmycavallo.com.)
When I interviewed him on the phone from his home in Pommpano Beach, Fla., he sounded as vibrant at age 88 as he did those two-plus decades ago when that CD was being released.
He misses his friend Colella, who passed away in 2002, yes.
But he says music keeps him on his toes.
Cavallo still plays out down in Florida, two shows a week now. About to become four, he was quick to add. Not bad. Not bad at all.
I wrote about the guy who appeared in the classic Alan Freed movie Rock, Rock, Rock for my weekly Mark It Up community column for Syracuse Public Media site waer.org.
If you’d like to read my column, click the link below.
Here’s a YouTube clip of the scene of Cavallo and the House Rockers performing the title cut in Rock, Rock, Rock
Do you know anybody who continues at their main pursuit in life long past what is considered retirement age, and could you please share? Do you check out the pioneering rock ‘n’ roll sound of the B&W age, and if so, what are your favorite acts and songs and why? What’s your favorite style of music for dancing, and why?
Mark Bialczak 
Thank you Mr. Cavallo! You inspire me to continue, and start, some of my dream pursuits!!!!
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Keep up with that guitar, MBC. ❤
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Thank you MBM, I’m enjoying it immensely. And, it’s opening my ears to music I never would have paid attention to. 🙂
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Maybe I should take up the ukulele? Seriously.
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I tinker with that as well. Do it MBM!!!! You will love it! I’m not good at all, but I’m better than I was 2 years ago. 🙂
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I think uke music is really expanding, MBC. I’m thinking about it. If you like it, that’s a good endorsement.
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Oh MBM, I would love to encourage you to do this!!!!! As much as music means to you, you will be blown away by the additional power of learning to play…. I promise!
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I have to overcome my lifelong fear of the fallure of not being able to read music when I tried to learn as an elementary school kid, MBC. It just didn’t translate to my language-centric mind.
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To tell you the truth MBM, I did NOT intend to learn how to read music when I started lessons. I know many musicians who can’t read music!!!! ANd like you, I could NOT grasp it in school when it was demanded we get it. I could not. Now? I am thrilled that I am getting it. I think you’ll be surprised. 😉
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Way to go with the reading part, MBC. You are inspiring. Very.
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He’s gotten older but man besides that his face hasn’t changed much Mark! One of my colleagues from the organization I work at now is 81 years old. He golfs with 90 year olds, is quite mobile, still drives and still has perfect eyesight! ❤
Diana xo
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Bless your colleague. May there be more like he and Jimmy, Diana. ❤
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We are having our annual Lawn Fest today,but with the reconstruction still unfinished most people are staying away from it. Something about 150 people trying to use one elevator tends to keep us at home.
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Oh, Angie. So sad.
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Nothing is finished here Mark. I’ve crashed now, just sitting here crying now. Can’t function.
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Oh, sis Angie. Get your rest.
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He still has that radiant smile…sign of a happy human. Musicians never really retire. They may not get paid forever, but they never stop playing. ☺
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Good eyes, good call, Van. So true.
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i picture myself always doing something, retired or not. perhaps i’ll become a famous horsewoman or a carny. all possibilities are on the table.
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The whole world is your oyster, Beth. Aw, shucks.
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Retirement can be the kiss of death. If you love what you do , do it til you die.
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There are plenty of people who would agree with you if they could, Jay.
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Disco 😛
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Do the Hustle, Joey! Anybody else want to cut the rug to some Van McCoy?
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Oh gosh, don’t think any of my friends are that old yet although some have continued rocking well into middle age. A lot of them have mellowed in the style of music they play though. I guess that makes sense.
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Middle-aged? That line is very flexible, Marissa. Says me!
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That’s true. In fact, my husband just did a survey post on what would be considered middle aged and it seems most would think 30-59 but I think a lot of rockers don’t think of themselves as doing much rocking past the 30s…until it actually happens!
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Of course, Marissa. Old is always the guy down the block.
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It seems rare to see musicians retire. For that matter, I guess it’s rare for any artist. Probably the art is more a part of who they are than a job to them. I suppose I’ll never stop writing, and with lots of college tuition charges looming in the future, I guess I’ll never retire from my day job either. So it looks like I’ll still be plugging away at 88, though probably not having as much fun as your friend, Jimmy.
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I think you have fun writing. A lot, Scott. It shows in the results, my friend.
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Thanks, Mark. I do sometimes have fun writing, but I was thinking more about working the day job into the grave. That thought sucked all the fun right out of me.
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Yes, that I can see as well, sir.
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Hey Mark!!!! Jimmy sounds like a really fascinating guy. I very much enjoyed the video and your column. That era of music and dance just seems so full of life and fun. I wish people still dressed that way, with the big poofy skirts, the gloves and the men in suits and hats. I think my favorite type of dance is swing. I would like to take dance lessons, learn how to do all those groovy moves. My dad used to play jazz and ragtime on the piano when I was a kid – love those sounds.
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It would be much fun to learn how to dance — really dance — that way, SD. Swing!
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It’s not the same as rocking it out on a stage, but there’s my mom. She never made a living with her art, but she’s exhibited her works and began selling her paintings when she was in her 80s. At 93, and with limited eye sight, she still attends a weekly art class.
Good luck to Jimmy Cavallo. I think doing something you love helps to keep you going.
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That’s a fine angle, too, Merril, your mom beginning to sell her art in her 80s and attendng a weekly art class in her 90s. I’m so happy for her loving pursuit of creativity!
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Thanks, Mark!
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I have too many favorite styles of dancing to list them here, Mark. I assume I’ll be dancing to some oldies but goodies at my high school reunion this weekend. As usual, your questions distracted me from what I wanted to tell you: thanks for this great tribute to Jimmy Cavallo. Now I have to dance over to that other site and read your column.
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I’m amazed that we’ve arrived to your reunion weekend, Ann! It seems just weeks ago we were dancing around Ellie B at the Happy Cottage in Cape Cod. Wow. Time for a good round of catch-up at your great, round reunion year.
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