Tarrytown’s Melody Maker: Rock Island Sound

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July 2, 2015

| by W.B. King | Two hundred miles North West of Buenos Aires, Argentina, on the western shore of the Paraná River, sits the city of Rosario. It was there that Paul Bessolo, owner of Rock Island Sound, first became enchanted with music.

“My father played piano all his life. He could read music so he was always playing something new,” Bessolo said about his father who passed away 11 years ago. As a toddler, he recalled sitting on his father’s lap as the classically trained musician turned insurance agent filled the air with melodies. “I would fall asleep to what he played; mostly classical, but sometimes he would play a tango,” Bessolo said.

A rock, blues, classical guitarist, pianist, bassist, composer and arranger, Bessolo, 41, picked up the guitar at age seven. Three years later he formally followed in his father’s footsteps learning classical piano. He later earned an undergraduate and Master’s degree in music composition from the Universidad Nacional de Musica in Buenos Aires. In 1992, he moved to the states to attend SUNY Purchase where he received his Master’s degree in musical composition.

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“Beethoven and Mozart are among my favorite composers, but Chopin’s piano concerto no.1—wow—everyone should listen to it,” said Bessolo. His classical leanings are balanced with other musical tastes. “I love the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. Queen is one of my favorite bands,” he noted.

Not Your Average Music Store

After graduation, Bessolo enjoyed piano and guitar composing. He released an album under his name, which can be found on iTunes and CDBaby. To make ends meet, he also gave music lessons to all age groups and performed with bands in the tri-state area. However, Bessolo had a greater vision that eventually resulted in an all-purpose music store, Rock Island Sound.

Paul Bessolo, owner of Rock Island Sound. — Photo Credit: W.B. King — Paul Bessolo, owner of Rock Island Sound.
— Photo Credit: W.B. King

The flagship store, which opened 10 years ago, is located in Rye, New York. Tarrytown plays host to the other two locations, both on Main Street. “Our first store, across from the Music Hall, opened about six years ago. Here we concentrate on retail sales and repairs,” Bessolo explained. “You can find anything and everything here that you would find in a big music store; and if we don’t have it, we can order it at a better price.”

Music enthusiasts can purchase acoustic, electric and bass guitars, mandolins, amplifiers, pedals, picks, strings, and the list goes on. “We make good use of the space,” Bessolo said, alluding to the store’s small, but welcoming atmosphere.

When it comes to instrument maintenance, customers are in good hands as expert luthier Vincent Saccoccio handles all repairs, tune-ups, and even builds custom guitars. “He worked for Rudy’s in New York City and worked on customer guitars for Mark Knopfler from Dire Straits,” said Bessolo. “He has worked on guitars for Eric Clapton, The Edge [U2] and Keith Richards—and now he is here in Tarrytown.”

Rock Island Sound has also had its share of famous visiting musicians—from Merle Haggard to David Hidalgo of Los Lobos. Often they pop in before performing at The Tarrytown Music Hall. The bevy of beautiful instruments adoring the walls—floor to ceiling—usually piques the interest of these bards and pickers.

“Jimmy Vaughn was in here recently—a nice guy who took the time to show a kid who was looking at a ukulele how to play a few chords,” recalled Bessolo of the blues singer and guitar player best known for his band, The Fabulous Thunderbirds as well as big brother to the late guitar legend, Stevie Ray Vaughn. “Sometimes amps break down and these [touring] musicians need a rental or sometimes they will buy a guitar—like Ziggy Marley’s guitarist who bought a beautiful Les Paul here.”

This summer Rock Island Sound will help auction off frequent customer and famed bass player Nathan East’s Alembic bass. Founder of the contemporary jazz quartet Fourplay, East has recorded, performed and co-written songs with Eric Clapton, Michael Jackson, Joe Satriani, George Harrison, Phil Collins, Stevie Wonder, Toto, Daft Punk and Herbie Hancock.

“It’s a beautiful instrument that was played on Eric Clapton’s ‘Behind the Sun’ album,” said Bessolo. “It will be up for sale soon and we will be letting people know in the store, on television, radio and Facebook.”

A Community That Rocks Together, Stays Together

Locals will often see Bessolo bopping up and down Main Street heading from one store to the other. The second, opened almost three years ago, is located at 54 Main Street adjacent to the YMCA. “This space is primarily for lessons and equipment rentals, which we do a lot of these days—from amps to keyboards to drums to PA systems,” he said.

At any given time Rock Island Sound has upwards of 40 students receiving lessons from expert instructors, including Bessolo, in varied musical disciplines. He noted that individual half-hour rates run between $45 to $100 per hour depending on the level of the instructor and the proficiency of the student.

Rock Island Sound also offers Jam Clubs, a collective teaching experience for kids, teens and adults. Groups can consist of three or more members. Lessons take place over a 10-week period. The “band” decides what songs they want to play and the teacher serves as an arranger, helping each student. The fee for the 10-week class is $25 per hour/week, per student.

“At the end of the class, the band performs usually five or six songs,” said Bessolo adding that Little Bs, which now features live music every Saturday night, and the Tarrytown Street Fair, have played host to these gigs in the past. “You need a basic command of the instrument and the teacher then arranges the songs to the level of the players.”

Bessolo believes in giving back to the community he said has supported him so greatly. Last year, Rock Island Sound donated a sound system and engineers for a benefit at J.P Doyle’s, which featured local musical acts. The event raised $700 for the Tarrytown YMCA.

While Bessolo used to travel back to Argentina often to visit family, business has been so busy he now he invites family to visit with him at his home in Bronxville. “I haven’t been back in about three years. All my family is there. At times it’s tough, but also good,” he said with a laugh. “My mom comes here [to the store] sometimes and helps me out, which is great.”

Hours: Monday – Saturday: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.(Sunday: Closed) For more information, visit www.rockislandsound.com.

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