Future was Gallipani’s first rock band led by his neighborhood friend and mentor, Fred Ferrara. They continued for three years while Gallipani studied music at The High School of the Performing Arts in Manhattan. Gallipani credits his classical training to refining his technique and soloing ability. And next, he would join up with fellow Brooklyn rockers to form Xdavis.
Al Gallipani, Bruce’s father, played accordion while his older brother Frank studied guitar. The three Gallipani guys suited up in frilly tuxedos and played standards all over town. Bruce graduated to a champagne Slingerland kit and studied with Norman Wayne, his first teacher. And it was with The Purple Reflections, a Top Forty band, that he enthusiastically recounts playing The Ventures’ “Wipe Out” with delight.
The band recorded and toured successfully throughout the eighties. They also played live with Squeeze and Blue Oyster Cult. Mick Ronson produced a bunch of demos. Billboard Magazine described Gallipani’s drumming as “driving drumming with a sensitive urgency.”
During the nineties, Gallipani played with local summer acts including the Mamas and The Papas, and gospel artist Patricia Costa. He got his first taste of delivering music instruction rock-style via a weekly program on Time Warner cable called Ten to Rock. Appearing with Mike DoCampo and Kenny English, the rock professors broke down classics so that any young musician could follow along and learn.
And now, since 2004, that dream is in the making. In 2007, the Count Basie Theater in Red Bank, NJ, invited Rockit For Kids to join and support their mission in offering quality music education to the community. After 11 years of growth at the Count Basie Theater, Rockit Live Foundation partnered with Brookdale Community College, bringing their broad range of live music education programs and performances to the Lincroft campus where they now reside. Together, Rockit Live Foundation and Brookdale Community College collaborate in music and arts education, fundraising events and music scholarships in the performing arts.
Gallipani and his staff, which includes instructors Andy Greatorex, Zac Silva, Dan Ricker, Corey Markowitz, Justin Gallo, and Chris Russo, are producing incredible rock concerts that are getting a lot of attention.