Roy Spagnolo is well known around Griffith as a successful accountant, dedicated community advocate and businessman.
And if you put a guitar in his hands, you will get an insight into how his musical talent has for many years made a generous contribution to life in this close-knit town.
Music has been part of Roy’s identity since he was a schoolboy when he began performing at dances, weddings and local functions.
Decades later he is still happy to come out of “retirement” when Griffith needs him.
“I have been playing on and off for years,” Roy says.
“It all started with my uncle Bill Calabria. We lived at the winery in those days and Bill was in a band so he taught me to play guitar when I was still at school.
“From there I started playing in school bands and then other bands around Griffith.
“In those days there was live music everywhere.”
And Roy is spot on for that nostalgic period of the 1970s and 1980s.
“There were bands at weddings, clubs, school dances and functions,” he says.
“It was the era when people learned instruments and you would get together and play.
“It was just what everyone did.”
Roy went to Catholic High and later Griffith High, where he remembers playing at school dances and functions while already performing at weddings on weekends.
“We used to play all the school dances,” he says.
“Back then you did not have a DJ – you had a live band.
“We mainly played commercial music which was the songs everyone knew and wanted to dance to.
“They were good times.”
The guitar was Roy’s mainstay, although he also played bass and before long the weekends became pretty busy.
“You would play at least one wedding every week and then there would be other gigs as well,” he says.
“You just fitted it in.”
One of Roy’s early bands was Vegas with Robert La Rivera, Gary Pandolfo, Frank Franco.
Later came Fusion, with fellow Griffith musicians including Joe Musitano, Jenna Woodland and Nicole Colan.
There were weddings and parties, trips to Sydney to play at Teachers Federation conferences and plenty of memorable gigs closer to home.
“We were a support act for Mental As Anything when they played at Piccolo’s farm at Lake Wyangan,” Roy says.
“Over the years we have played with lots of different people. “That has always been part of the fun.”
Life and work eventually intervened.
Roy moved to Sydney and took a long break from performing but, after returning to Griffith, it was not too long before the guitar came out again.
Much of Roy’s music now revolves around giving something back to the community he will always call home.
His current group, Memory Lane, is a gathering of Griffith musicians spanning generations.
“It is a real mixture,” Roy says.
“Bill used to play with Joe Casella way back in the old days. Then I played with Joe Musitano and Jenna for many years and now we have some of the younger guys coming through such brothers Sam and Tennyson Davey.
“You have four generations coming together.
“We get together for charity gigs and community events. That is really what we do now.”
Those gigs have included the annual Italian Festival, hospital fundraisers like the 10th anniversary of St Vincent’s Private Community Hospital and other cancer fundraisers.
On Friday October 23, Roy will be back on stage for another celebration of Griffith’s Italian heritage when Kooyoo Plaza hosts CIAO an Italian night under the stars.
The goal is to raise vital funds for the McGrath Foundation and supporting care for all cancers.
The night will celebrate la dolce vita and il dolce far niente – the simple joy of taking a pause – with fine wine, pasta, singing and dancing in the heart of Griffith.
With more of an urban feel, the night will feature a Spaghetti Cowboys China Tour reunion, a Zecca long-table pasta and wine experience and three bands, including Memory Lane.
There will also be an Italian choir, piano accordion, dancers, a DJ and light show.
For Roy, it is another chance to bring together two things that have been constants throughout his life – music and community.
“When there is something coming up, we get everyone together, have a rehearsal and away we go go,” Roy says.
And you never quite know who might end up on stage.
Karl Stefanovic has grabbed the microphone on more than one occasion, including an impromptu performance in August this year of Johnny Cash’s Folsom Prison Blues.
“That one was completely impromptu,” Roy laughs. “There was no rehearsal.
“Karl has got up other times and sang Van Morrison’s Brown Eyed Girl. Someone gets up, we start playing and off you go. That is exactly what happens!”
Channel Nine’s Today show has supported Griffith, including when TV legend Richard Wilkins, a regular visitor, got behind the drums and the program broadcast from Griffith a decade ago.
“There have always been different people getting up to perform with us,” Roy says. “It makes it fun.”
But for Roy, the best part is much simpler.
It is looking out from the stage and seeing an audience full of familiar Griffith faces.
“It is just so good to see everyone get involved and have fun,” he says.
“You see people you have known for years, families together and different generations all enjoying themselves.
“That is what I like about it.”
His Italian heritage has become a bigger part of the music too.
“When we were younger, we mainly played commercial music,” Roy says.
“The Italian side has probably come back more now.
“People really enjoy celebrating the culture and the old songs, particularly at these community events. Songs like Luna Mezzo Mare and Eh Cumpre
“Everyone knows them and everyone joins in.”
After all these years, Roy still does not make too much fuss about his musical life.
He is an accountant and businessman who happens to play guitar.
“I do not reckon I will ever completely retire from music,” Roy says.
“I will always do the odd thing when something comes up.
“And why not especially if it is for the community, everyone is together and everyone is having a good time.”
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