Cecilia (band)
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1998 in Vienna, Virginia, United States |
| Founder | Kenneth Veltz, Jeannie Veltz, Allison Veltz, Drew Veltz, Laura Veltz |
| Defunct | 2006 |
| Headquarters | New York City , United States |
| Products | Music albums, live performances |
Cecilia was a pop-rock ensemble based in New York, established by members of the Veltz family. Originally hailing from the Washington, D.C. region before moving to Astoria, Queens, their name was inspired by Saint Cecilia, the patron saint of music. Prior to adopting the name Cecilia, they released an album as The Veltz Family.
History
The band originated in 1998 in Vienna, Virginia as an acoustic trio consisting of siblings Allison, Drew, and Laura, performing compositions penned by their father Kenneth Veltz. Facing increasing financial challenges, Kenneth and their mother Jeannie joined the group on drums and vocals, transforming it into a family-operated venture. In 2000, they relocated to New York and issued Live at Zig's in 2001, a live recording capturing their performances.
After several changes in bass players, Kevin Jacoby became a member toward the end of 2000. Cecilia sought to sign with Blackbird Records, affiliated with Atlantic Records; however, the AOL-Time Warner merger ended that agreement. Subsequently, they secured a direct deal with Atlantic Records in early 2001.
In response to the events of September 11, the group produced the EP September as a tribute honoring fallen firefighters, directing all proceeds to relevant charitable organizations. Conflicts with Atlantic Records led to their departure from the label by late 2002 without a full album release. The EP Off The Record features demo tracks from their unreleased album project. That autumn, they performed acoustic sets at Manhattan Theatre Source and later released a live album documenting those sessions.
Utilizing fan contributions in 2004, they finalized their first complete studio album titled This. Kevin Jacoby exited the band in January 2006. Later that year, This was launched under the moniker The Veltz Family rather than Cecilia.
Cecilia conducted extensive tours along the East Coast of the United States, frequently playing shows in New York and Washington, DC. They shared stages with Virginia-based groups such as Virginia Coalition, Pat McGee Band, and Tim Reynolds, including performances at Wetlands Preserve before its closure in 2001.
Music
Their pop-oriented sound is characterized by three-part vocal harmonies led by Laura and Allison, supported by backing vocals from Jeannie Veltz—drawing stylistic parallels to the Indigo Girls and Mariah Carey. Drew’s lead guitar work has been likened to that of Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds, while Kevin Jacoby’s melodic bass lines evoke comparisons to Fleetwood Mac’s John McVie. Kenneth Veltz contributes on drums, vocals, and guitar, often employing a minimalist "street kit" setup that includes a Djembe.
Final lineup:
- Allison Veltz – lead vocals, percussion
- Drew Veltz – lead guitar
- Jeannie Veltz – vocals, percussion
- Ken Veltz – songwriter, drums, guitar, vocals
- Laura Veltz – songwriter, lead vocals, rhythm guitar, accordion, percussion
- Kevin Jacoby – bass
Discography
- 1999 - It Just Doesn't Matter
- 1999 - Kitchen Mix
- 2001 - Live @ Zig's
- 2002 - September
- 2002 - Off The Record
- 2003 - Live @ The Source
- 2006 - This (as The Veltz Family)
Follow-up
By 2012, Ken and Jeannie had transitioned into an acoustic duo, performing in Nashville's smaller venues. Following the sale of their home in 2011, they adopted a nomadic lifestyle as touring musicians. Meanwhile, Kevin Jacoby stayed based in New York City, pursuing freelance bass work with acts such as La Mecanica Popular and Rocky Bryant from Average White Band. In 2017, he partnered with DJ Johnny Juice from Public Enemy to establish The Oddysy.