Elderly Brothers: Spreading Joy One Song at a Time
Musical duo brings old-school rock and country to area seniors, veterans
By Melody Burri
Harmony can be a powerful force. When two voices join together and instantly blend like butter, it often turns two strangers into musical best friends.
That’s how Gabe Cinquegrana and Charlie Lane became Canandaigua’s own Elderly Brothers — named tongue-in-cheek for their Everly Brothers-style vocal blend.
A tenor from Lodi, New Jersey, Lane is the elder of the Elderly Brothers and a relatively recent transplant to the Finger Lakes.
A man of many talents, Cinquegrana is all in when it comes to investing those talents and himself for the betterment of those around him.
Together they make beautiful old-school rock and country music — always to the delight of fans in senior living communities, restaurants and other venues throughout the region.
Music in their blood
Lane’s been singing since he was 7 years old and later performed with various 1950s groups, in Germany, at USO and army bases in New Jersey and at local clubs and schools. He also sang with The Harmony Singers of New Jersey where he was the group’s president.
While Lane’s tenor voice has always been “his ticket to ride,” these days he’s also taking private lessons to up his guitar game. Taylor and Martin are his go-to axes.
Cinquegrana’s love affair with music was kindled in high school and continued to grow over a span of six decades. He’s since traded in his first Montgomery Ward Airline guitar and now wields either a Gibson electric or Martin acoustic. Through it all, two things never changed: there’s been a guitar strap over his shoulder and a song in his heart.
“I always loved listening and playing,” he said. “I grew up with the Beatles and Elvis and love music from that era.”
Since the ‘60s, Gabe said he’s played rock and country music “everywhere around the Finger Lakes Region and statewide.”
“Now I play mostly for parties, nursing homes and senior communities,” he said. “I also play solo acoustic every Friday night at Ferris Hills (my home) and at Clark Meadows (enriched living).”
As the Elderly Brothers, Cinquegrana and Lane serve up ballads and love songs right alongside ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s rock and country. They cover hits from superstars like the Beatles, the Everly Brothers, the Drifters, Bee Gees, David Gates and Bread, Elvis, Dion, Ricky Nelson, Barry Manilow, John Denver, George Strait and Frank Sinatra.
They perform most often at VA Nursing Home units, M.M. Ewing Continuing Care Center, Ferris Hills Senior Living Community, 80 Parrish Street Apartments, the American Legion and Brew and Brats at Arbor Hill in Naples.
“We’ll play anywhere where people will listen,” he said.
Dream venues on Lane’s wish list: CMAC (Constellation Brands-Marvin Sands Performing Arts Center, in Hopewell), MetLife Stadium in New Jersey and Radio City Music Hall in New York City.
Cinquegrana’s content to bask in the moment.
“I am living my dream,” he said. “I’m playing when people want to hear it and entertaining any chance I get.”
It’s a lifestyle he hopes to continue indefinitely.
“The greatest reward is playing a song for a handicapped veteran or an elderly individual who may rarely utter a word, but suddenly breaks into a smile and sings along with a tune they remember,” he said. “As long as that keeps happening, I’ll continue doing it!”
A rich retirement
Cinquegrana admits he’s not what most people would call a “wild and crazy guy.” But he says he wholeheartedly enjoys “having fun, entertaining people, helping those in need and being a positive influence in the community.”
“Retirement allows me the time to do all those things,” he said. “I am also happy to be providing a happy and healthy atmosphere for my disabled wife and providing for her needs the best I can.”
Lane said he’s looking forward to more music making with Cinquegrana and more travel with his son and his family. He’s also happy to be performing and promoting his newest CD, “Out of Focus,” now available for download on YouTube, Boomplay Music, Anghami and KKBOX.
Driving force
Music offers its own creative rewards, but deeply held core values often push musicians to reach greater heights and do more impactful good.
In 2022, Cinquegrana was grateful to receive the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs National Volunteer of the Year Award. He was asked at that time what drove him to serve with a signature dedication and energy.
It was advice he received from a former employer early in his career that stuck with him through the years.
“Find a need and fill it,” he said.
It’s the key to making the most difference, to doing the most good in so many situations, he said.
“I have always carried that forward in work, in play and in all of my volunteering through the years,” he said.
It’s what propels him to lift people’s spirits through music.
Lane credits his parents and late wife for instilling in him strong family values and is grateful to have grown up in a proud community with lifelong friends. His work with the USO Holiday Tour, volunteer work and honorable service in the US Army instilled positive values that have served him well through the years.
Just do it
Both know well the joys of taking a deep dive into a longtime passion and they urge others to do the same.
“Whatever that passion is, do it for the right reasons and do it not only to make yourself happy, but to have a positive impact on others,” said Cinquegrana. “Find that need, and fill it!”
“And don’t just do it,” said Lane. “Stick to it with dedication.”
About Gabe Cinquegrana
He has a background in business administration and worked as budget director at Sarah Coventry in Newark, director of administration and finance at FLACRA in Clifton Springs, and owned and operated his own business, Lone Wolf Computers in Canandaigua.
On the volunteer side, he served the Sons of The American Legion for nearly two decades at the local, state and national levels. He was executive committee Chair of the Canandaigua VA Voluntary Service and was an active office volunteer at the Canandaigua VA Medical Center.
He has been task force coordinator for the Canandaigua branch of the MS Society MS Walk for 12 years.
He was Canandaigua Kiwanis’ club secretary, veterans committee chair and website developer and past mentor for the Chamber of Commerce Young Entrepreneurs’ Academy.
His hobbies are music and computer graphic design.
Born and raised in Newark, New York, he moved to Canandaigua 17 years ago where he lives with his wife, Debbie, and cat, Miso.
About Charles Lane
He is a retired vice president of sales and marketing for Quebecor World printing. He’s a printing business entrepreneur who has helped with fundraisers for college scholarships in Oakland and Franklin Lakes, New Jersey, for 10 years.
His hobbies include traveling, singing, live theater and reading.
Originally from Lodi, New Jersey, he now lives in Canandaigua with his partner, Cheryl.