Roccisano received his bachelor's degree in
music education from
SUNY-Potsdam in 1963. In 1964 he played in the
Tommy Dorsey orchestra under
Sam Donahue, then moved to Los Angeles, where he played with
Don Ellis (1966–68),
Ray Charles (1967-68),
Louie Bellson,
Lew Tabackin,
Toshiko Akiyoshi,
Terry Gibbs,
Don Menza,
Bill Holman, and
Don Rader. He assembled the 15-piece ensemble Rocbop in 1976 and played in
the Capp-Pierce Juggernaut in 1981. He later formed his own big band, the Joe Roccisano Orchestra, which released two albums during the 1990s. The musicians joining him in this band included
Bill Charlap, Bud Burridge, Jack Stuckey,
Franck Amsallem,
James E. Pugh, John Basile, Ken Hitchcock,
Lou Marini,
Matt Finders, Robert Millikan, Scott Lee, Terry Clarke,
Tim Ries,
Tom Harrell,
Scott Robinson, and
Greg Gisbert. Roccisano was an arranger for with Ellis, Bellson,
Doc Severinsen, and
Woody Herman. He scored the tune "Green Earrings" on the 1978 Herman album
Chick, Donald, Walter, and Woodrow and was nominated for a
Grammy Award for the arrangement. He composed "Tenors of the Time", a tune recorded by
Pete Christlieb and
Warne Marsh. ==Discography==