SYDNEY, N.S. — Rudy Pacè is a real-life example of someone who has music in their DNA.
The Halifax-based bandleader is the great-grandson of Emilio Pacè who migrated from Italy to Cape Breton in the 1920s. The elder Pacè became well-known throughout the Maritimes for his band, Emilio Pacè and his Family Orchestra and Emilio’s son, Rudy, was well-known as a jazz sax player in the local area. Both men were awarded Stompin’ Tom Awards from the East Coast Music Association for their contributions to Cape Breton’s musical history.
Now, in this century, Emilio’s great-grandson and Rudy’s grandson Rudy is determined to keep making music, albeit in the more modern musical genre, urban folk.
“The name is more of a tribute towards him (Emilio) and my grandfather — it’s a tribute to my family’s musical history.”
Rudy & the Pacè Family Orchestra hit the East Coast’s urban folk scene in 2018. Rudy, 24, was born and raised in Sydney but now calls Halifax home after working in the Canadian military.
“I discovered when I was a member of the military police that it really wasn’t what I wanted to do,” says Pace. “I’d played since I was 12 but I had never seriously considered a career in music before.”
Pace took the music business program at the Nova Scotia Community College and hasn’t looked back since. He’s played in a variety of bands including the Electric Spoonful and as a solo act but now his focus is on the group.
“This is the kind of music that I have been wanting to play since the beginning,” says Rudy. “I got a couple of friends together and just figured I would see what would happen. It’s doing extremely well for a new band. It’s turning into more of a serious commitment for all of us.”
Rudy & the Pacè Family Orchestra is made up of members Christiana Armstrong on keyboards and vocals, Will Robbins on guitar, Ivan Annandale on bass, Jesse MacLeod on drums and Rudy Pacè on vocals and guitar. Their first EP, “Greyhound,” will come out Nov. 1 on all streaming platforms. And the single, “Greyhound,” was released Oct. 4, and, according to Pace, is a “bittersweet reflection of home and the things you’ve left behind.”
Rudy & the Pacè Family Orchestra will perform Nov. 16 at Governor’s in Sydney. They will return next summer for the Main’ Waves Festival.
