Sandy Gennaro grew up on the outskirts of New York City and today lives in Nashville, TN. In 1965 he purchased his first drum set for $383. As the saying goes, the rest is history.

In a career that has spanned over 50 years, Gennaro has toured with some of the biggest names in music such as Cyndi Lauper, Joan Jett, Bo Diddley, The Monkees, The Mamas and the Papas, Michael Bolton, and others. His ability to play all styles has helped him tremendously, both on and off the musical stage. In the 1960s, he was attending performances at the Fillmore East in NYC. When most 16-year-olds are playing high school sports and chasing girls, this talented musician was touring the New York and Jersey circuit.

Sandy Gennaro has been a pro rock drummer for decades and still performs today (Sandy Gennaro)

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But it was a random act of kindness and taking a few moments to speak with a fan that opened a massive door in Sandy’s life. Leaving a venue one evening, Sandy stopped to talk to a fan by the name of David Wolfe. Most nights, he probably would have walked right past this gentleman, preferring to jump on the bus for a long overnight ride. For those of us that are fortunate to know Sandy, it surprises no one that he gave this fan a few minutes.

When Wolfe asked Sandy to recommend him for future gigs, Sandy gave him his home phone number and requested that he forward a cassette tape for him to evaluate. Nothing came of the brief encounter until a couple of years later, when Wolfe contacted Sandy again, saying he was now managing a young female artist who needed a drummer. That artist was Cyndi Lauper.

Professional rock-n-roll drummer Sandy Gennaro purchased his first drum kit in 1965 for $383 (Sandy Gennaro)

Today Sandy is in his seventh decade and still plays with Rock United, an 80s cover band. Yet this hard-charging, rock-n-roll drummer is also a highly coveted motivational speaker. Companies such as FedEx, Belmont University, Keller Williams, and The School of Rock have retained Sandy to provide the recipe for inspiration and success, whether the platform is business, music, or life.

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In this episode, Sandy shares his life journey, which will inspire everyone to give their best every day. “When you think outside yourself and focus on others wants and needs, isn’t it funny how you end up giving yourself a chance,” Gennaro says on his website’s introductory video.