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Bio
Anthony Ascolese (pronounced As-co-LEASE) writes the kind of songs you carry with you—tender, tuneful snapshots that turn everyday life into melody. A native of Pearl River, NY, now rooted in Gilbert, SC, Anthony’s folk-pop blends the mellow warmth of James Taylor and Gordon Lightfoot with the narrative spark of Jim Croce, Tom Petty, and Bruce Springsteen. His sound—soft, sweet, and lyrical—rides on articulate fingerpicking across six- and twelve-string acoustics, with rhythms that begin on the guitar and bloom into stories about the people he loves most.
While fronting the Charlotte-area Aerial View Band was still very present, Anthony decided to begin doing solo shows in the Midlands of South Carolina. He turned inward and began writing the songs that meant everything to him. What emerged was a catalog of living, breathing family lore: “Maureen My Queen,” “My Irish Blue-Eyed Lady,” “Moments Become Memories,” and “You Talk and I’ll Listen.” The titles read like letters home because that’s what they are—heart-forward reflections shaped by a life spent across Germany, the Northeast, and now the Southeast, and by a 40-year love story with his wife, Maureen.
Onstage, Anthony favors intimacy over spectacle. Think low-key lighting, mellow vibes, and a genuine rapport that makes rooms feel smaller and kinder—he loves when children dance near the stage and when listeners lean in. After a recent show, a fan told him, “You smile with your eyes,” a small line that captures his presence perfectly. It’s no surprise his music resonates at listening rooms, community events, and family-friendly festivals where connection matters.
A U.S. Air Force veteran and New Yorker who lived through 9/11, Anthony actively supports Tunnel to Towers (T2T), aligning his platform with service to veterans, first responders, and their families. Now signed to Mandalyn Music Group, he’s crafting a debut LP that extends his mission: songs from the heart, built to last. Over the next year he’ll bring these stories to stages across the region, while continuing to write new material—music that thanks the past, honors the present, and invites audiences to make a memory with him in real time.
For fans of: James Taylor, Gordon Lightfoot, Jim Croce, Tom Petty, Bruce Springsteen
Current focus: Debut LP in progress (MMG) • Select regional dates • Community partnerships
