Meet the Band:
Joe Petrucelli - Banjo
Joe is a founding member of the Mustache Band and our fearless leader.
He started at the Your Father's Mustache nightclub in Denver playing tuba when he was a music student at the University of Colorado. However, he soon switched to playing banjo because it paid $1.00 more per hour than playing the tuba. With the extra cash, he graduated from CU with a degree in Music Education. Instead of becoming a music teacher, he went to work for the police department, and has been with them for almost 30 years.
Joe has kept the band together since the club closed in 1975 and has guided its evolution from a sing-along (party) band into a respected Dixieland jazz (party) band. He is definitely the driving force behind - and out in front of - Your Father's Mustache Band.
Joe is a founding member of the Mustache Band and our fearless leader.
He started at the Your Father's Mustache nightclub in Denver playing tuba when he was a music student at the University of Colorado. However, he soon switched to playing banjo because it paid $1.00 more per hour than playing the tuba. With the extra cash, he graduated from CU with a degree in Music Education. Instead of becoming a music teacher, he went to work for the police department, and has been with them for almost 30 years.
Joe has kept the band together since the club closed in 1975 and has guided its evolution from a sing-along (party) band into a respected Dixieland jazz (party) band. He is definitely the driving force behind - and out in front of - Your Father's Mustache Band.
Charlie Smith - Trumpet
Charlie is the heart and soul of our front line, and he continues to wow everyone...especially us! He started playing trumpet at the age of seven when his dad got him a trumpet for Christmas. Charlie has a degree in Music Performance and has played with the Glenn Miller Band, the Woody Herman Orchestra, Frank Sinatra Jr., and Bobby (Don’t Worry, Be Happy!) McFerrin. We don’t worry, cuz we’re happy Charlie is with us.
Charlie is the heart and soul of our front line, and he continues to wow everyone...especially us! He started playing trumpet at the age of seven when his dad got him a trumpet for Christmas. Charlie has a degree in Music Performance and has played with the Glenn Miller Band, the Woody Herman Orchestra, Frank Sinatra Jr., and Bobby (Don’t Worry, Be Happy!) McFerrin. We don’t worry, cuz we’re happy Charlie is with us.
Ray Leake - Piano
Ray began studying classical piano at age four and has been playing professionally for over 30 years. While studying music at CU (where he met Joe and Craig) he found himself playing “honky-tonk” at Shakey’s Pizza which fueled his interest in ragtime and jazz. Ray has performed with numerous Dixieland bands and with such Jazz luminaries as Joe Venuti and Joe Darensbourg, as well as being a featured performer on the Mississippi Queen and the Delta Queen Riverboats. Visit Ray at his website:
Ray began studying classical piano at age four and has been playing professionally for over 30 years. While studying music at CU (where he met Joe and Craig) he found himself playing “honky-tonk” at Shakey’s Pizza which fueled his interest in ragtime and jazz. Ray has performed with numerous Dixieland bands and with such Jazz luminaries as Joe Venuti and Joe Darensbourg, as well as being a featured performer on the Mississippi Queen and the Delta Queen Riverboats. Visit Ray at his website:
Roger Johns - Bass
Roger is an Illinois native who started playing with tenor bands at age 15. He received his BME degree from Illinois Wesleyan in 1974 and MME in 1977 from the Univ. of Northern Colo. Roger has been well known in the Denver area for years for his outstanding bass playing, and we’re happy he has joined the band. His ‘real job’ is with Ball Aerospace.
Roger is an Illinois native who started playing with tenor bands at age 15. He received his BME degree from Illinois Wesleyan in 1974 and MME in 1977 from the Univ. of Northern Colo. Roger has been well known in the Denver area for years for his outstanding bass playing, and we’re happy he has joined the band. His ‘real job’ is with Ball Aerospace.
Andrew Vogt - Reeds
Andrew Vogt started playing Saxophone in elementary school in Lincoln, Nebraska. Since then he has added clarinet and flute to his arsenal and has performed professionally at well over 5,000 events. He earned a degree in music from the University of Nebraska and is now a freelance musician/music in Fort Collins, Colorado. In the late 1990's Andrew was one of the top musicians competing for the Cognac Hennessy Jazz Challenge. He then spent three years sailing the seas on cruise ships performing every night for hundreds of guests. At the turn of the new millennium he moved his horns and himself to the beautiful land of Colorado. Andrew specializes in high energy,exciting jazz but also performs in a variety of different funk, soul and R &B bands..
Andrew Vogt started playing Saxophone in elementary school in Lincoln, Nebraska. Since then he has added clarinet and flute to his arsenal and has performed professionally at well over 5,000 events. He earned a degree in music from the University of Nebraska and is now a freelance musician/music in Fort Collins, Colorado. In the late 1990's Andrew was one of the top musicians competing for the Cognac Hennessy Jazz Challenge. He then spent three years sailing the seas on cruise ships performing every night for hundreds of guests. At the turn of the new millennium he moved his horns and himself to the beautiful land of Colorado. Andrew specializes in high energy,exciting jazz but also performs in a variety of different funk, soul and R &B bands..
Jim Moore - Drums
Jim started jazzin’ back in 1980 and traveled with the band to over 30 jazz festivals and events, including Sacramento, Victoria B.C., Monterey, San Diego, Oregon and the Bahamas! He has performed in warm-up bands for Bill Cosby and Rare Silk.
Jim’s in great demand as a drummer, and is a CPA with his own firm.
Jim started jazzin’ back in 1980 and traveled with the band to over 30 jazz festivals and events, including Sacramento, Victoria B.C., Monterey, San Diego, Oregon and the Bahamas! He has performed in warm-up bands for Bill Cosby and Rare Silk.
Jim’s in great demand as a drummer, and is a CPA with his own firm.
Mary Kelly - Vocals
Check back for Bio
Check back for Bio
Mike Johnson - Washboard
Mike, our good friend, helped form the fabulous Your Father's Mustache Band 30 years ago when he and Joe Petrucelli were both working at the YFM nightclub in Denver. Although he has not been an official member of the band for years, he still crawls out of the woodwork now and then to sit in with us at local venues and jazz festivals. He established Washboard International in 1983 and organizes washboard concerts and festivals (believe it or not!). Visit Mike at his website: www.washboards.com
Mike, our good friend, helped form the fabulous Your Father's Mustache Band 30 years ago when he and Joe Petrucelli were both working at the YFM nightclub in Denver. Although he has not been an official member of the band for years, he still crawls out of the woodwork now and then to sit in with us at local venues and jazz festivals. He established Washboard International in 1983 and organizes washboard concerts and festivals (believe it or not!). Visit Mike at his website: www.washboards.com
Nicholas Petrucelli - Drums
Nick has been sitting in with the band since he was 10 years old and playing drums professionally for over 20 years. He is a driving force behind the skins and enjoys playing traditional jazz the most.
Nick has been sitting in with the band since he was 10 years old and playing drums professionally for over 20 years. He is a driving force behind the skins and enjoys playing traditional jazz the most.