Joe Long
Encyclopedia
Joe Long is best known as the bass guitar
ist for The Four Seasons.
Joe LaBracio (Joe Long) is a classically trained musician and studied with Alfonse Strazza, the principal bassist for the New York Philharmonic
. However, a severe hand injury forced Joe to give up the rigors of playing classical bass and switch to the Fender bass-guitar. He then began listening more to rock and roll
and became a rock 'n roll player for several local New Jersey bands before joining The Four Seasons in 1965 as a replacement for Charles Calello, who temporarily replaced Nick Massi
. Joe Long continued to record, perform and tour with The Four Seasons through the mid-1970s. After leaving the group, Long formed the rock 'n roll group LaBracio and later the jazz
band Jersey Bounce. In a recent interview Long stated that, "I still play an occasional gig. And, I have done a few recording sessions with Tommy (DeVito). For the most part, though, I am retired."
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
ist for The Four Seasons.
Joe LaBracio (Joe Long) is a classically trained musician and studied with Alfonse Strazza, the principal bassist for the New York Philharmonic
New York Philharmonic
The New York Philharmonic is a symphony orchestra based in New York City in the United States. It is one of the American orchestras commonly referred to as the "Big Five"...
. However, a severe hand injury forced Joe to give up the rigors of playing classical bass and switch to the Fender bass-guitar. He then began listening more to rock and roll
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
and became a rock 'n roll player for several local New Jersey bands before joining The Four Seasons in 1965 as a replacement for Charles Calello, who temporarily replaced Nick Massi
Nick Massi
Nick Massi was the bass singer and bass guitarist for the Four Seasons. He was born in Newark, New Jersey...
. Joe Long continued to record, perform and tour with The Four Seasons through the mid-1970s. After leaving the group, Long formed the rock 'n roll group LaBracio and later the jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
band Jersey Bounce. In a recent interview Long stated that, "I still play an occasional gig. And, I have done a few recording sessions with Tommy (DeVito). For the most part, though, I am retired."