Joe Cucuzzo

b. Joseph G. Cocuzzo, 17 September 1937, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. Raised in a family of enthusiastic amateur musicians, Cocuzzo began playing drums as a small child. He later studied extensively, and played in many bands in and around his home town. In the late 50s, now residing in Chicago, he joined the big band led by Ralph Marterie before moving on to the Woody Herman band. In the early 60s he worked with Don Ellis, Les and Larry Elgart, Gary McFarland and Tony Bennett. In the mid-70s he returned to Bennett for a five-year engagement, then he was with Harry James before beginning a de...