ABOUT VINNIE
Hey there,
I’m Vinnie.
A singer, guitarist, songwriter and live-looping performer. Central Illinois roots, with a lot of road in between.
The story behind the Rock & Soul.
I sing, play guitar and use a loop pedal to turn a solo set into something with a little more groove. I’ve also been a cruise-ship entertainer, an American Idol contestant, a booking agent, a music-business coach and a podcast host. It’s been a pretty wild career.
The thread through all of it is live music and connecting with people. Give me a six-string, a sincere song and a room full of people, and we’ve got a good starting point. I want the music to feel personal, whether you’re hearing me at a local spot or bringing me in for something you’ve spent months planning.
From St. Louis street corners to life at sea.
I grew up in Central Illinois and was studying architecture before music became my full-time work. Busking in St. Louis was part of the beginning. Then came nearly four years performing with Carnival Cruise Line, taking the guitar and the show to a very different kind of audience.
My career has taken me through more than 2,000 live performances across over a dozen countries. St. Louis, Chicago, Memphis and Florida have all been part of the journey. These days, I’m based between Florida and the Midwest, and I’m still interested in seeing where the right show takes me.
A Golden Ticket, Memphis, and HQ.
In 2016, I earned a Golden Ticket on American Idol XV. If that’s where you first heard my name, there’s been plenty of music before and since.
By 2017, I was performing around Memphis, including at Elvis Presley’s Memphis, where Graceland featured me among its musicians. I’d also released my debut album, HQ. Writing original music has always given me another way to tell the stories I pick up along the way.
The covers are a big part of what I do, but the originals are worth a listen, too. Same voice, different stories.
Soulful vocals. Familiar songs with some personality.
Bill Withers, Marvin Gaye, Foreigner, Justin Timberlake, Maroon 5. That should give you an idea of where my ears go. I call it Rock & Soul: classic influences, a lot of groove and room to put my own spin on a song.
I build layers of guitar and acoustic percussion with my loop pedal, right there as I play. That lets one performer bring a bigger sound without losing the feel of an acoustic set. I can sit comfortably under dinner conversation, then bring the energy up when your people are ready for it.
For two voices, there’s Golden Hour, my acoustic duo with Christin Michael, known as Chrystalline Gold. We lean into country, classic rock, yacht rock and the songs people already know by heart.
I’ve worked on both sides of the booking.
I’ve booked other artists, coached creatives on the business of music and helped build Artist Collective as a co-founder. That work was about giving musicians practical ways to build careers around what they do.
I also hosted The Music Industry Chat Podcast and The MICPodcast. We got into booking, songwriting, branding, fan relationships and the realities of working independently. House-concert touring, artist management, finding your own voice: there was a lot to talk about, and a lot to learn from the people doing the work.
That background comes with me when we plan an event. Tell me about your crowd, your venue and the moments that matter. I’ll help you think through the music and the setup instead of making you figure it all out first.
Explore The Music Industry Chat archive
Music, hospitality, and creative community.
Christin and I co-founded Grand Central Music Rentals in St. Petersburg to give creatives space and tools for their work. Rehearsal, content creation, workshops and equipment rental are all part of the picture.
In Collinsville, my business life also includes Spirito’s Italian Grocery and Casa Di Spirito, an Italian-inspired mercantile. Music, food, local makers and hospitality keep finding their way into the same conversation.
Explore Grand Central Music Rentals
Where the story goes next.
Bring me to your event.
A wedding, a private celebration or a room full of colleagues. Start with your date, city and the moments you’re planning.
Two voices, together.
Meet Golden Hour, my acoustic duo with Christin Michael, and hear a few songs before we make plans.
Build a show around it.
A listening room, a house concert or a local venue. Take a look at the places and dates I’d like to pursue.
A few public profiles & conversations
Graceland: The Musicians of Elvis Presley’s Memphis · 2017
The Hype Magazine: Artist Collective · 2020
The Music Industry Chat Podcast archive
These are chapters in my career, not claims of current affiliation or endorsement.