The Other People was formed in the summer of 1995, when Americo answered an ad placed by Paul in the Fairfield County edition of The Weekly, the local alternative paper. They got together to jam, and found that they clicked musically. As The Other People, Americo and Paul worked together for 4 years, until Paul decided to take a break from performing. The drummer's seat was taken by Ed Lange for the next 5 years, but at the end of 2004 he decided to focus on other projects. Paul decided the time was right to step back in, and so the duo has returned to its roots.

Americo is a native of Hoboken, NJ. According to his mother, he started bopping along to the beat before he was born. He started playing piano as a child, and joined Pegasus, his first rock band, at age 11. Since then he has played in many bands, and played many other types of music: rock, metal, reggae, punk. Americo was a founder of the River Rats, and sat in many times with the Workdogs, an improvisational rock band, at various East Village bars. He was mostly self-taught, but in his mid-20s, he decided to learn the theory behind the music. Americo enrolled in the Mannes College of Music in New York, where he earned a diploma in Jazz Piano. He and his wife moved to Danbury in 1991, while he was still in school. Besides leading The Other People, Americo plays with the reggae band Respect Due. In addition, he is the subject of the short documentary film "always a pleasure", about his life in music, and a two-minute movie, "Requiem for Piano". Both can be found at www.kajacircle.com. In late October "always a pleasure" will be screened as part of the Bethel Film Festival. Americo lives in New Milford, Connecticut, with his wife and son.

The Other People - Americo & Paul Now

Paul was born and raised in the Bronx, and began playing the drums at the age of 10. Starting in his early teens, Paul began playing and recording with various bands like Midnight Sun, High Live & Dirty, Nemesis, Sintillion and Electric Church. In the early 1990s he began formal classical and jazz studies at Westchester Conservatory of Music. While at the Conservatory, Paul began doing session work for all types of bands: blues, country, alternative rock, and rock & roll. While at the Conservatory Paul began listening to jazz and discovered the music of Sun Ra. After that he began to grow weary of playing in contemporary bands and began playing in a more eclectic style. While most drummers play linear, Paul began to develop a more melodic style creating a tapestry of rhythmic colors. He soon began listening to "out" jazz drummers like Elvin Jones, Sunny Murray, Milford Graves, and became very influenced by Lou Grassi. Paul lives in Carmel, New York, with his wife and their three children.

In summer 2001, The Other People released their first CD From the Urban Zones of the Outer Galaxies. The CD contains their best-known original songs, plus their unique versions of the Beatles' "Blackbird" and the jazz standard "Little Sunflower." Click here for more information and song downloads. The CD is also  available for sale.

Americo and Paul cite Thelonious Monk, John Coltrane, Sun Ra, and Frank Zappa as major influences, along with many other musicians.

The Other People makes the rounds of the coffee houses and clubs in northern Fairfield County, southern Litchfield County, and occasional trips to Manhattan and Hoboken.