Rocky Votolato

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Rocky Votolato
Rocky Votolato.jpg
Background information
Born (1977-03-08) March 8, 1977 (age 48)
Dallas, Texas, United States
Origin Seattle, Washington, United States
Genres Folk, alt-country, indie rock, Alternative rock
OccupationSinger-songwriter
Instrument(s)Guitar, vocals
Years active1995–present
Labels No Sleep Records
Barsuk
Second Nature
Status Recordings
Member of Waxwing (band)
Lying on Loot
Suzzallo
Website http://www.rockyvotolato.com

Rocky Votolato (born March 8, 1977, in Dallas, Texas, United States) is an American indie and folk singer-songwriter. [1] He was also a member of the rock group Waxwing. [2] in 2025, he started a new band called Suzzallo with bandmate Rudy Gajadhar on drums and former Schoolyard Heroes guitarist Steve Bonnell playing bass. [3] Votolato currently lives in Seattle, Washington. [4]

Contents

Biography

Rocky Votolato was formerly the singer of a punk quartet Waxwing in the 90s before leaving in 1999 to pursue a solo career. [5] He released several albums between 1999 and 2008. In 2015, he released the record Hospital Handshakes with Death Cab For Cutie member Chris Walla. [6] [7] After 2015, he went on a hiatus until 2022 when he released the album Wild Roots. [8] Every song on Wild Roots is based on one of his family members. [9]

He has been married to his wife, April Votolato, for over 10 years, and they live in Seattle. Their child Kienan died at age 22 in a car accident in December 2021. [10]

In 2022, Rocky Votolato played two sold-out shows in Denver, Colorado. [11]

in 2025, his new band Suzzallo released a debut album “The Quiet Year” as a means of coping with the death of his son. [12]

Discography

Solo

Waxwing

Lying On Loot

Suzzallo

References

  1. ↑ "Seattle-Based Indie-Folk Hero Rocky Votolato Releases A Posthumous Love Letter To His Departed Child On Stunning New Track "Becoming Human"". NewJerseyStage.com. 2022-09-04. Retrieved 2024-03-15.
  2. ↑ Lopez, T (2004-01-21). "Rocky Votolato – Suicide Medicine and The Light and Sound | Glorious Noise". gloriousnoise.com. Retrieved 2024-03-15.
  3. ↑ Hay, Travis (2025-04-27). "Beauty in pain: Suzzallo's 'The Quiet Year'". Guerrilla Candy. Retrieved 2025-05-23.
  4. ↑ Pedro, Joseph (2021-06-28). "What musician Rocky Votolato wants to do this summer". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 2024-03-15.
  5. ↑ Baumgarten, Mark (2013-08-20). "A few years ago, Rocky Votolato found himself in a frustrating, and". Seattle Weekly. Retrieved 2024-03-15.
  6. ↑ Sommerfield, Seth (2015-04-21). "Rocky Votolato's Road to Redemption with 'Hospital Handshakes' | Seattle Music". Seattle Met. Retrieved 2024-03-15.
  7. ↑ Kane, James (2015-09-05). "Fifteen Years Into His Career, Rocky Votolato Refuses to be Knocked Down". Riverfront Times. Retrieved 2024-03-15.
  8. ↑ Sacher, Andrew (2022-06-29). "Rocky Votolato preps first album in 7 years (stream "Evergreen")". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved 2024-03-15.
  9. ↑ Martin, Erin Lyndal (2022-11-02). "Rocky Votolato's Roots Run Deep". The Stranger. Retrieved 2024-03-15.
  10. ↑ "Rocky Votolato on Crafting 'Wild Roots' After the Death of Child Kienan: 'For and About My Family'". Peoplemag. Retrieved 2022-11-07.
  11. ↑ Bear, John (2022-10-03). "Rocky Votolato Lost a Child. His Latest Record Helped Him Heal". Westword. Retrieved 2024-03-15.
  12. ↑ Hay, Travis (2025-04-27). "Beauty in pain: Suzzallo's 'The Quiet Year'". Guerrilla Candy. Retrieved 2025-05-23.
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