Meet Jerry Velona | Drummer, Singer, Songwriter

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jerry Velona and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jerry, can you tell us more about your background and the role it’s played in shaping who you are today?
I was born in Jersey City, NJ. My grandparents were all first generation Italian immigrants who settled in NJ along with many others from that era. When I was two, we moved north to Maywood, a small suburban town in Bergen County about 20 minutes from New York City.

My grandfather was a professional violinist. Two of my uncles were professional musicians; one was Tony Velona who composed the song Lollipops and Roses along with many others. My mother was an excellent pianist as well as my grandmother. I grew up marinating in music and from a very early age was listening to the radio and along with my sister, memorizing and reciting songs and dialogue from the popular musicals of the day.

I began taking violin lessons from my grandfather, Michael Santeramo at age 7. I remember the extra small violin they purchased for me and how I learned to resin the bow. I became quite good and my uncle Eddie, who was an accomplished pianist and taught music at a local public middle school was able to allow me to participate in his school band even though I was much younger than the other kids. Soon thereafter, I also started studying piano, first with my grandmother and eventually with my uncle when my skills improved.

However, the rock n roll bug bit me and, at around age 9 or so, I decided I wanted to play drums. My parents were initially skeptical but they eventually relented and I started taking drum lessons at age 10. They bought me my first set of blue sparkle Ludwig drums at age 12 (I wish I had kept them!) and soon I was jamming with some classmates and we formed a band, The Drainage System (my name – lol) which played at school basement parties (an early lesson in the fact that girls like rock drummers). I continued to play (and sing) in bands throughout highschool including studying with my uncle Ted Sommer who was a top tier drummer in the NY area and a major influence in my life.. My family didn’t have much money after my parents’ divorce so after high school, I took a year and a half off to make some money and eventually attended Berklee College of Music in Boston for three semesters.

The ubiquity of music in all aspects of my upbringing and family was undoubtedly a major factor in my desire to be a musician. Although, I also think it was embedded in my genes somehow.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I got married when I was 21 years old and had my first child at age 23. In spite of my deep love and commitment to a musical life, I was forced to switch gears and get a “day job” in order to support my growing family. I landed a job in the printing industry and was able to move upward through a few positions eventually getting a sales job and subsequently starting an envelope and printing company with a friend and colleague.

My business, Elite Envelope & Graphics, grew to employ 25 people and generate $6 million in annual sales. Along the way I developed a great deal of expertise and experience in manufacturing, purchasing, sales, marketing, management and many other general business skills that I would also apply to my musicial life. During this time, I was still very much involved musically, playing gigs, studying, writing, recording and releasing several albums of original material under my name.

In 2022, I sold my shares of the company to my partner and began working as a full time musician for the first time in my life. I married an amazing singer/performer Debo Ray and we are now collaborating artistically as well as pursuing our separate musical lives In addition to managing my own music career, I am part of Debo’s team, as her personal manager, and using my business skills to help launch her to greater success which she so richly deserves.

I am as happy and fulfilled as I’ve ever been in my life and ultimately grateful for all the twists and turns my life has taken that have led to me to this wonderful space that I occupy at the moment,

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’ve lived in the Boston area for most of my life and it’s a great city. I’m a huge sports fan so, of course, I would take someone to a Red Sox game at Fenway Park or a Celtics game at the Garden. When I first came to Boston, it was quite provincial but over the years it’s become much more of an international city; probably the large influx of college students from all over the world who stay after graduation has something to do with that.

I’ve never done any of the typical tourist stuff like walking he Freedom Trail but Boston has a tremendous amount of history going back to the Revolutionary War and before which is always fun to explore. The old library and Trinity Church in Copley Square are two of my favorite places and ones that drew me here when I first arrived.

As a musician, I appreciate the live music venues in town and there are many.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
At the top of the list is my mother, Loretta who worked and sacrificed for me and who loved me deeply and supported and encouraged me at every step in my life, even when things looked most bleak. I also want to acknowledge my sister Paula Duffy who was my best friend from birth and helped encourage and inspire me to better things Lastly my uncle Ted Sommer, an incredible, accomplished musician as well as a loving, devoted family man who, in spite of his busy schedule and family of his own, helped mentor me in my later teen years when I had fallen to a low pooint in my life.

There were also so many friends and colleagues who encouraged and supported me along the way.

In the present, my children, Chris, Robin and Nina, my cousins Terry and Kathy Sommer and my beautiful, talented wife Debo Ray continue to support and inspire me to greater achievement.

Website: http://www.jerryvelona.com

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/jerryvelonamusic

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jerryvelonamusic

Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/jerryvelonamusic

Image Credits
Holy Smoke Phtography