Spring 2025

58 C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • S P R I N G 2 0 2 5 T here are a rare few among the Monterey Peninsula musical com- munity whose first names are all that’s needed to identify them. Jesse has joined their ranks. Multi-instrumentalist, producer and recording engineer Jesse DeCarlo has been surrounded by top-flight musicians since birth.“Both my parents are music lovers,” he says, “and my dad was a booking agent with Monterey Peninsula Artists [now Wasserman].” As such, he was blessed with a front row seat to many of his father’s clients’ shows. “I saw a lot more live music than most kids.” DeCarlo started on guitar at 13. “I was into the rock of the day like Guns N’ Roses, then got into Led Zeppelin, a lot of blues and R&B.” His first serious project was the Dani Paige Band, and working in the studio with that outfit lit the flame of his love of the process of recording music. He’s since produced projects for a wide range of local artists. DeCarlo has found this aspect of his work to dovetail with family life. “It enables me to work full time in music while still being there for my family without gigging seven nights a week.” He does gig frequently though, with Al James, the Transducers, 5Star and his own eponymous band. For more information, visit www.jessedecarlo.com . MUS I C I AN PROF I L E Jesse DeCarlo Photo: Kelli Uldall