WNIJ’s Sessions from Studio A recently asked The Vince Chiarelli Band to stop by and give us a taste of some traditional Italian-American styled music. This Rockford-based group is connected through their Sicilian ancestry and influences, while also finding themselves exploring and incorporating increasing amounts of Latin elements. The band includes Vince Chiarelli's vocal and guitar stylings, Frank Calvagna filling out melodies on lead guitar, Tony Chiarelli playing bass guitar and occasionally Tim Austin on the drums.

This band started as the Vince Chiarelli Combo back in the 1950s when the grandfather, Vince Chiarelli, Sr., came to Rockford from Sicily, Italy. In Italy, the elder Vince played with Franco Li Causi, who is known for music in the Godfather films. Now his grandson Vince is keeping the name alive with The Vince Chiarelli Band.