Location: Ilion, NY
Challenge: Polio
Website: facebook.com/papaJoe.rossi
PapaJoe Rossi is a singer, songwriter and drummer from New York who contracted polio in 1950 when he was about 10 months old. He started playing drums as a 13 year old in 1963. He adds "It affected mostly my legs and my Right leg had a drop foot. I wore braces until I was 15, after I spent 8 months in Shriners Hospital in Philadelphia". During this time, PapaJoe had 7 operations and they fued his Right ankle so he no longer had to wear the brace to lift my Foot up, but he can't move my ankle anymore.
PapaJoe has to play my Bass Drum from his Knee and Hip. He adds "I've been playing for 55 years, it's the only job I've ever had. I'm 68 now and still play, although not as much as I'd like. I spent 16 of the 55 years on the road".
When PapaJoe got polio, it destroyed the muscles that lifted his foot and his toes upward, and his ankle. He adds "They fused my ankle but I can only move my toes down a little. I've always been able to walk, but with a noticeable limp". It's getting more difficult for PapaJoe to walk as he is getting older, He adds "I'm using a Cane more, these days".
PapaJoe's left leg was affected, but he can move that ankle a little. He can play hi hat, and my other bass pedal. He adds "Now days if I'm playing a fast straight 4 pattern on the bass drum, if my Right leg gets tired, I can alternate with my Double Bass Pedal"
There are a lot more ways to compensate for handicapped players these days, like remote Hats and double pedals. PapaJoe adds "There wasn't much in 1963. Lol"
When asked about musical and drumming heros, PapaJoe says "I loved Gene Krupa, and Shelly Mann as a kid but when I started playing, the early Rock n Roll Guys, Earl Palmer, D.J. Fontana, Jerry Allison, but my 4 main Rock guys are Ringo, Dino Danelli, Carmine Appice, and Dave Garibaldi for Funk. There are so many greats, I stole from all of them!!"
PapaJoe is dealing with what they call Post Polio Syndrome, and some weakening muscles. He adds "My singing voice left me a while ago due to weakness in my diaphragm muscles. I can still play the drums pretty well, just not moving around that easily".
PapaJoe would like to be playing more, he adds "but there isn't a lot of work in this area. My career is winding down, now but I've had a great 50 plus year run, so I'm cool with that". He is also a Songwriter and wrote some cool Christmas songs for a Charities over the last 5 years, he adds "so I'm keeping my hand in".
PapaJoe Rossi Presents The Yardcats playing Shake Rattle and Roll