Vic Di Cristo : A giant talent in a small package!

Vic was small in stature, but a bigger talent you will not find. Not only was Vic a musician but he also was a graphic artist, designing programs and yearbooks for The Green Bay Packers for decades.

Vic was old school. From an era that saw drafting tables, pens and pure ingenuity. He had so many ideas and he continued to share them for clients well into his 80s.

When computers forced many of his peers to call it quits, Vic went back to school to learn computer aided design and just kept on chugging. His birthday cards for friends were legendary.

For my 60th birthday, Vic produce a card that was ten feet long that we used as a backdrop that same night for our gig at Anthony’s. Amazing fonts, pictures and a “This Is Your Life” mural. It’s a cherished memento.

Vic was 91 years old and had been playing professionally since age fifteen. In fact, he met his fellow co-founder of Vic’s last band, The Generation Gap, Tom Anderson (who passed just last year) as kids and they formed a bond that lasted a lifetime.

Full disclosure, I was also a member of the Gen Gap, for short, and had the honor and pleasure of playing alongside other greats who were in their late 70s and 80s when I joined the group. I was a full generation younger, starting out as a conga player and then became a vocalist and frontman alongside the master, Wayne (Zim) Zimmermann (who passed in 2017).

Vic played the drums on what I used to call a micro-kit: a snare, hit-hat, crash cymbal and a triangle. He got more sound out of that than most drummers get with a huge rig. Both his timing and brush work were exquisite.

Vic also played the upright bass (which was taller than he was) performing in a duo with accordionist extraordinaire, the great Tony Gorenc. Tony is ninety-three and still playing gigs. I had the pleasure of playing at Vic’s memorial with Tony, Mike Britz and Mike Britz, Jr.

Vic was as nice as he was talented. Never without a smile on his face, never, and quick to share to share his infectious laugh.

The world could use more Vic DiCristos.