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,
producer, 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 turned his attention to 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, including business and finance.”
While deftly balancing furthering his education in music and business (Cleveland Institute of
Music and John Carroll University), Baldassarre added a 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 once again.
Now back to being a full-time composer, musician, producer, 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 and passions,” says Baldassarre.
Currently, Baldassarre is putting the finishing touches on his new 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
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 without limits,” says Baldassarre. The Baldassarre
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
novelty to my audiences.”
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, Gentle Giant, Deep Purple
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 the breadth 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.’”
You can discover Carl by visiting
carlbaldassarremusic.com;
@CarlBaldassarreMusic (YouTube)
@carlbaldassarre (IG);
facebook.com/CarlBaldassarreMusic
https://www.linkedin.com/in/carl-baldassarre-16943a343/
