ken catalanotto

Ken Catalanotto plays guitar for the band, occasionally helps out with vocals, and has been with the band since its inception in 2000. He plays a variety of musical styles on the guitar including lead, rhythm, electric, acoustic, and slide. Ken insists that he didn't choose the guitar - the guitar chose him. "It's what I'm made to do," he says. His obsession started with his cousin, the Beatles, and air guitars turned into a serious study as an adolescent. His career in bands begins in high school and includes his fraternity's band, a hard rock band in the 80's, a bebop jazz group, a jazz jam band, a church band, and currently, a jazz trio that features his daughter Vanessa on vocals. Ken was actually playing a solo at a jazz gig when his wife went into labor with Vanessa, and had to cut the night short to go to the hospital. Anything his daughter sings is his favorite, but he particularly enjoys playing a jazz ballad called Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most. "I've been learning it for over 30 years - and Vanessa sings it beautifully." Ken's influences include the Beatles, Led Zeppelin, John Coltrane and Wes Montgomery, and his favorite young guitarist is Derek Trucks.

Ken works as a business analyst on the Mobility team, and has been with Daugherty for 16 years.

Ken's Message to the Fans: "Music is a gift from God that is meant to be shared. It is not a competitive sport. It doesn't matter who is better than whom: if you can sing in the shower, snap your fingers, play an instrument even a little, or just listen, enjoy it and share it with others."