Rocco DeLuca (born December 27, 1975 in Torrance, California) is half Italian, half German. He grew up in Lake Elsinore, California and Long Beach, California. Like other Angelenos, he was surrounded by local literature, Latino art, motorcycles, film, and music. His early years were spent studying the likes of Billie Holiday, Nina Simone, and the darker and raw Delta Blues heroes of the 1920s. By the age of seven, he had taught himself to play listening to these records and, by the time he was a teenager, Rocco had developed his skills and confidence to perform for others. Initially only playing instrumentally, he later began singing as well. Since, he has performed around the world as his authentic and unusual lyric and voice have garnered him international attention and acclaim.
DeLuca is known for his use of the Dobro, a particular design of resonator guitar. DeLuca began his career as a solo artist opening for artists including Taj Mahal, John Mayer and John Lee Hooker, and has had the opportunity to play with Johnny Cash. From 2003 to 2006, he regularly played at Gypsy Lounge in Lake Forest, California. Starting in 2005, when DeLuca was signed by the independent record label Ironworks, he led the band Rocco DeLuca and the Burden until 2009. After the band's last performances in 2009, DeLuca continued as a solo artist as well as working on projects with Slash and Robbie Robertson. During his career, he has played with various legends such as John Lee Hooker, Johnny Cash, June Carter, and Daniel Lanois.
Upon meeting DeLuca, Lanois described him as follows: "My initial meeting with Rocco was pure and centered and seemed to have a sense of purpose, and I felt that there was something burning in his heart that I could be helpful to. It had that kind of truth in it that I decided to run with. I like the street corner aspect of working with Rocco, it woke up a certain part of my renegade ways I'm trying to keep alive these days. I fully believe in DeLuca. I think that he's got the power to be a contemporary troubadour, as I see it, and I hope I can be his friend for a long time, whether I am operating in the same limelight, ahead of him, behind him, in his shadow, whatever it takes, I'll be there. The one thing that I love about Rocco DeLuca is he is driven by his own heart."
The majority of the band's material is written by Rocco DeLuca himself. On top of his resonator guitar, he also played glockenspiel, piano, organ, and banjo in the studio recordings. Long-time friend, Ryan Carman played the drums, glockenspiel, cajón, and bells among other percussion instruments. Original percussionist Greg Velasquez has also been credited for keyboards, and original bassist David Beste has been credited for glockenspiel, piano and organ. Producer Daniel Lanois was credited for electric piano, electric guitar, strings, percussion, pedal steel, lowery, and piano in the album "Mercy". For live performances of 2007 tours, the band featured Brett Bixby and Patrick Terlizzi on keyboards, guitar, and backing vocals.
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