Joseph Baglio Vellucci died peacefully in the company of his loving family at the Kaplan Family Hospice. He was 51. Joey was born in Cambridge and lived most of his early years in Medford. He graduated from Cambridge, Rindge and Latin High School and studied to be a goldsmith at the North Bennett Street School. He worked as a jeweler and also as a software engineer. However, music was his passion.
A guitarist and vocalist, Joey started his performance career in 1982, about 1 month after starting out on a Fender electric guitar. Joey jumped right in and started writing songs and put a band together with his first live performance at the infamous Channel Club in South Boston, in March of 1982. With a career spanning over 30 years, Joey was both a live performer and studio artist. His music career led him from clubs to concerts, from radio to film scoring, from HBO and Showtime to soap operas and the Movie of the Week and ultimately to a major film by Stephen King. He played venues from Boston to San Antonio, from the smallest little bar to a top Las Vegas casino, The Mandolay Bay. A performer who knew no musical limits, Joey played it all from reggae to jazz, country to funk to soul, rock, latin, folk and flamenco.
The beloved husband of Judith (Brogan) Vellucci, Joey was the devoted step-father of Rachael Rennie and William Rennie IV. He was a cherished son of Carmella “Ella” Vellucci-Paula and her husband George Paula and the late Pasquale Vellucci. The dear brother of Gina Vellucci of Rowley, he also leaves many aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.
His funeral will be from the Dello Russo Funeral Home, 306 Main St., Medford, Friday March 27th at 10 AM followed by a funeral mass celebrated in St. Clement Church, 71 Warner Street, Medford at 11 AM. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend and may visit at the funeral home Thursday 4 – 8.
In lieu of flowers contributions may be made in Joey’s name to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, for Gastro Intestinal Group, PO Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284-9168.