Joe Cancellaro, a professor at Columbia College Chicago’s School of Audio and Music, has joined the Chicago rock band The Second Summer, which recently signed a record deal with independent label Hardstop Records after their single “Try” received radio airplay. Cancellaro, who plays bass in the group, said his lifelong passion for music began early thanks to his mother’s influence. “Once I heard Stravinsky and Bartók at a very early age, I knew what I was going to do for the rest of my life,” he said.
The news highlights how creative opportunities can extend beyond college and into professional careers. Cancellaro’s involvement in The Second Summer allows him to bring real-world experience back to his students at Columbia College Chicago.
Cancellaro has built a diverse career as a composer, performer, and educator. He has written classical compositions, scored films, played in bands, and taught music to college students. His influences include classical music, jazz, and progressive rock.
The Second Summer features guitarist and lead vocalist Steve Gatland, guitarist Matt Broder, drummer Tony Holmes, and Cancellaro on bass. Their debut album “undertow” introduced listeners to their guitar-driven sound. The band is currently recording a follow-up album with Hardstop Records this spring. The group takes its name from Chicago’s brief return of warm weather in early fall—a nod to both the city’s climate and the members’ stage of life. “We’re called The Second Summer because we’re older,” Cancellaro said. “We’re getting a second chance at this.”
The band has performed at venues across Chicago such as Gallery Cabaret, the Underground Lounge, Montrose Saloon, and the Pop Overthrow Festival while earning radio play on stations in the United States, Europe, and Australia.
Cancellaro said that performing with The Second Summer informs his teaching style: “To have the experience of gigging, whether it’s a rock band or writing film music, all of that informs what I bring back to the class,” he said. “Everything I do feeds into how I teach.”
For updates about The Second Summer and upcoming shows, followers are encouraged to check out their Instagram page.
