Meet the talented members of Rockin Daddios

LACONIA — When Jim Rogato walked through the wrong door on his way to audition for a spot with the orchestra of a musical review it changed his life.

Rogato, of Gilford, remembers, “The Rockstars (the band Rogato played with at the time) usually took a break midwinter, and my wife suggested I should do theatre. We saw a poster for auditions in Concord for a 1950s musical review and she talked me into going. I went to audition for the pit orchestra and ended up going through the wrong door to the stage where they were auditioning singers and dancers. Before I could explain what I was there for, the piano player pulled some sheet music I had brought and said, ‘OK, sing this!’ I was cast on stage and have never looked back. I have worked with many community and professional companies all over the state.”

These days, Rogato performs with the well-known Rockin Daddios, who play all over the area and beyond. On Friday, April 5, at 7 p.m., the Daddios will perform for a Laconia Putnam Fund concert at the Colonial Theatre, located at 609 Main St.

It was during a theatre performance that three of the current Rockin Daddios met, which led to the formation of the band many people know and love today. The band started after Rogato, Bo Guyer and Angelo Gentile were in a show called “Moments to Remember” at the Audi in Concord.

Rogato recalls, “We were part of an ensemble singing a ‘50s medley, and it was a hit. The medley was resurrected multiple times for other shows after that. A few years later, I invited Bo and Angelo to my house to reminisce and watch footage of our old show. We sang some of the songs from that Men’s Medley, which sounded pretty good. I suggested that we put an act together. We added a fourth member a few years later.”

The Rockin Daddios now consists of Rob Dionne, Angelo Gentile, Bo Guyer, and Jim Rogato.

“When we play larger venues, we add a bass (upright and electric) musician, Ray Cragie and a drummer Ed Razca to make us six pieces. Ray and Ed are well-known professional musicians in the industry and a pleasure to work with,” said Rogato.

Guyer has been involved in music his entire life.

“My father and his eight siblings put on shows at retirement homes and churches around the area. He sang and harmonized while playing guitar or piano. They would take turns singing lead in a song,” Guyer said. “Although I grew up surrounded by musical relatives, I started doing musical theater in the late 1970s when I met my wife, Becky.”

Those who attend local theatre will recognize Guyer from the Streetcar Company. He said, “Over the last 45 years, I have done over 100 different shows with about eight different groups.”

Gentile is originally from Brooklyn, New York, but moved to the Lakes Region in 1986 to “pursue a healthier style of living.”

“I grew up listening to music my entire life. My father was an opera buff, and my mother enjoyed the music of the 1940s and ‘50s. Music was always playing in our home,” he said. “I took accordion lessons as a child and dabbled in piano lessons as an adult.”

Like his fellow band members, Gentile is no stranger to the stage and theatre. He said, “I stepped onto the stage in 1995 at age 39 and I haven’t left the stage since.”

Gentile said the group chooses the songs they will perform by recommending tunes they like that might work for the group.

Once a song is chosen, the Daddios learn the lyrics and music. Rogato said, “Sometimes, pinning down the arrangement is challenging, but I am lucky to work with professionals with theatre backgrounds, and that makes it interesting and fun.”

With a bachelor’s in music education from the University of Maine, Daddios member Robert Dionne studied music education and vocal and instrumental performance. He said, “I have been playing and performing music since I was 9 years old, studying music privately and putting on musical shows at the libraries in Manchester, New Hampshire.

“In 1991, I founded the Majestic Theatre, New Hampshire’s largest producer of theatre and music for and by the community. In 2016, I purchased and became school administrator of the Ted Herbert Music School & Rentals. I started as a Ted’s student at age 9, taught at the school post-college for many years, and now own and run the school.”

Audiences are often on their feet, dancing and singing along during a concert. The group’s great sound requires practice.

“The hardest part about learning the oldies songs is listening to past recordings and figuring out the harmonies,” Dionne said. “The Rockin Daddios spend a lot of time refining our four-part harmonies and counterpoint to create the best sound and arrangements possible. Because we perform exclusively to piano and guitar (not a backing track), you hear genuine harmonies creating a full acoustic sound.”

Years ago, Rogato’s mistake of walking through the wrong door to audition for a show led to the formation of one of the most popular oldies bands in New Hampshire.

Rogato said, “We want to keep this music alive and continue to bring good memories to all that come to see us. At our shows, we encourage everyone to participate by clapping along, singing, dancing, and just having a good time.”

The April 5 concert at the Colonial Theatre has free admission and is presented by the Laconia Putnam Fund. The show runs from 7 to 9 p.m. Tickets are available at the Colonial Theatre by calling 800-657-8774 or visiting coloniallaconia.com.