The Story Of Baldassarre
With nearly 50 years of experience in the music world, Carl Baldassarre (bal-dah-SAR) has established himself as an exceptional guitarist, innovative composer, music scholar, bandleader, and more.
Baldassarre’s musical journey began in childhood, with early memories of hearing The Beatles on The Ed Sullivan Show and the iconic orchestrations of Nelson Riddle and Quincy Jones on 1960s TV variety shows. “In 1970, when I was 11, my older sister came home from college, having discovered all this incredible rock music,” he recalls. “She brought back a stack of vinyl, sat me down with headphones, and played me ‘Heartbreaker’ by Led Zeppelin and ‘Child in Time’ by Deep Purple. That was the spark that ignited my musical journey.”
Born and raised in Cleveland, Baldassarre’s first band, Abraxas, landed a recording contract when he was just 19. His next success came with the progressive rock band Syzygy, whose albums earned critical acclaim and international chart success. After years of relentless touring, Baldassarre felt the pressures of supporting his young family. “Having been on my own since I was 17, I experienced a lot of instability growing up. We were poor, and I was determined to break that cycle for my family. I loved music, but I also realized I was good at navigating other areas of life, like business and finance.”
While deftly balancing furthering his education in music and business (Cleveland Institute of Music and John Carroll University), Baldassarre eventually went on to a highly successful 2nd career in finance. But in 2014, Baldassarre made a bold decision: he pulled back from business, relocated to a lakeside home in Ohio, and refocused entirely on his music.
Now a full-time composer, musician, and educator, Baldassarre’s diverse catalog spans progressive rock, classical compositions, and everything in between. Each new project defies easy classification, as he effortlessly navigates genres and styles. As Baldassarre humorously notes, “A Grammy-winning producer once described my music as ‘somewhere between Christmas and being burned alive.’”
His impressive catalog, consisting of over 130 pieces, weaves through classical music, guitar rock, funk, gentle ballads, R&B, reggae, and orchestral pop (paying homage to heroes like Burt Bacharach). “All of my music reflects my earliest inspirations,” says Baldassarre.
Currently, Baldassarre is putting the finishing touches on his album Deep Grooves, a project three years in the making. The album explores the irresistible pull of catchy grooves, lyrics, and melodies in a neo-R&B/Soul/Funk style. “I’m excited about this album because it taps into a basic, universal desire for sensuality, motion, and joy,” he says.
In 2023, Baldassarre returned to live performances with his latest venture, The Baldassarre Rock Orchestra. This innovative project merges a rock band with orchestral musicians, performing Baldassarre’s original compositions (both classical and rock) alongside classic rock covers—sometimes with a nod to Beethoven, Bach, and Paganini. “The Rock Orchestra gives me the flexibility to explore all the music I love in a powerful way,” says Baldassarre. The orchestra is gaining a reputation for its superb musicianship, showmanship, and surprising repertoire, delighting audiences who return time and again for the experience. “I have this crazy passion to inspire and entertain people,” Baldassarre admits. “I love bringing nostalgia and surprise to my audiences—and occasionally making their heads explode.”
In addition to his live performances, Baldassarre has become a YouTube sensation, where he’s affectionately known as the Professor of Classic Rock. What started as a spontaneous project during the early days of COVID-19 has evolved into a platform with over 5 million views. His channel focuses on great guitar riffs, techniques, song composition, and rock history, offering in-depth analysis of artists like Jethro Tull, Led Zeppelin, Alice Cooper, and Rush. “I bring my knowledge of composition and classical music to the world of classic rock analysis,” Baldassarre explains.
Despite all his diverse endeavors, Baldassarre is most proud of his own compositions. “That’s how I want to be remembered,” he says. “I want my tombstone to read, ‘Here lies a composer. The boy had range.’”
