Four Years Later: Remembering Scott Ricciuti

Scott Ricciuti and Paul Dagnello: Photo by Duncan Arsenault

WORCESTER, MA — "For me, I still feel it every day," said Paul Dagnello. "In music I miss my partner; in life I miss my friend, my brother."

Dagnello was one of the many who was shattered when he woke up to the news four years ago, along with the rest of the Central Massachusetts music scene. Dagnello had lost a good friend, as well a bandmate.

Guitarist, singer and frontman James S. “Scott” Ricciuti, 48, a Marlborough resident, was killed in an early morning crash on I-290 eastbound on April 5, 2012.

This week, many are sharing shots, videos and messages of love and admiration for Ricciuti on social media. Many changed their profile pic of the musician on Facebook.

Ricciuti was an important cog in the Worcester music wheel, carving his name initially in the 1980s with his original band Childhood. He formed the pop trio Huck with great success in the late ‘90s, and continued to play with the band in recent years. He also assembled and recorded with a roots, country-tinged act called Pistol Whipped, and backed Shana Morrison (Van Morrison’s daughter) in her touring band. Not long before his death, Ricciuti had decided to make the leap to full-time musician - quitting his job as a sign-maker and taking on many solo shows in the area.

"I think his absence in the scene, and with anyone that came across Scott, is not only his 30-plus years as a major player and prolific songwriter," said Dagnello, who played bass in the band Huck, "but his just overall presence, his passion, his kindness rolled up in the incredibly talented man."

The remaining members of both Huck and Childhood have been doing a few shows a year, playing through the catalogue. The members always play a show on Marborough Common every summer, and will once again lead an acoustic night at Vincent's, on May 14. Dagnello said friends and bandmates hope to also do another performance around Christmas time.

"[His death] has affected so much in my life, from my passion to play or create music, to a more personal edge," said Dagnello. "It is hard to nail down just one thing."