It was sad to learn today that one of my good friends, Chuck Brucato, died. Chuck was a well-known musician/singer in the Rochester, NY area and beyond. He achieved prominence in the 1960's with his popular group, The Rustix. They recorded albums on the Rare Earth label, which was part of Motown. Following the breakup of the Rustix, Chuck went on to a lucrative career as a producer, writer, and singer for TV and radio commercials. Much of his work was in collaboration with Jay, Inc. In recent years, he often sang with his well-known musician son, Joe Brucato. Chuck and I stayed in touch over the years. It was a delight for me to attend the Rochester Music Hall of Fame presentations a few years ago, during which The Rustix was one of the inductees. It was also a pleasure for me to attend a reunion for members of the Rustix and friends at the home of one of the musicians.
