Rocki Rolletti (Peter Jordan) - Goof on the Roof b/w Sex Wars

Tracks

Side 1

		Track Name	Length
	1	Goof on the Roof

Side 2

		Track Name	Length
	1	Sex Wars	02:40

Photos

Videos

No Video

Information/Write-up

From my "Whatever Happened To...." series for Prime Times magazine about 12 years ago.

Whatever happened to Rocki Rolletti?
For a celebrity, recognition can occur in the most unlikely places. “I was riding my bicycle on this remote island off the coast of Ireland,” relates television personality Peter Jordan, whose alter ego, Rocki Rolletti, was a popular ‘80s local performer, “and a person sitting on a brick wall yells out to me, ‘Hey Rocki!’ I was stunned.”

Born and raised in St. James, Peter graduated from Silver Heights Collegiate. Earning an undergrad degree from the University of Winnipeg and a Masters degree in religious studies from the University of Manitoba, he was already a music journeyman. With folk group The Troubadours, Peter travelled across Canada performing at educational institutions.

The Troubadours became Wudzitooyuh as Peter moved to a 12-acre farm on the outskirts of Transcona. “We had taken the pink flamingos off peoples’ lawns and put them onstage so now Transcona is known as the home of the pink flamingo. I’m even in the Transcona museum,” he laughs from his Wildwood Park Fort Garry home.

In 1981, Peter wrote a rock musical entitled Enoch Horne that was staged at the Warehouse theatre. Spotted by the CBC as well as local impresario Gilles Paquin, Peter was on his way. Gilles hooked him up with veteran musicians Gord Osland and Bill Merritt. “The idea was to get together an all-star band of players,” Peter recalls, “and put a singer in front of it and have some fun. I based a lot of what I did on Fabulous George & the Zodiacs [including yours truly] and Junior Barnes.” That became Rocki Rolletti, the band. “The name was always just a joke that never went away.”

As for Rocki Rolletti the individual, CBC Winnipeg created a sitcom based on the Rocki character. “Rocki was the immigrant pizza delivery boy from Transcona who learned English from rock ‘n’ roll records.” The show offered a series of skits punctuated by live music. “Winnipeg Free Press writer Ted Allen did an interview with me and from that story emerged much of the Rocki persona,” Peter reveals. The attention the TV show garnered elevated the band’s profile. They even recorded several singles. “We won CHUM radio’s Trans-Canada Song Contest.” The prize was legendary rock god Bob Ezrin producing their single “Goof On The Roof.” “I think it went cardboard in Kenora,” Peter laughs.

CBC kept him busy through the 1980s with stints as entertainment reporter and sportscaster before It’s A Living came along in 1989. Initially a featured spot of Midday, the concept grew from a local series to a national one garnering two Gemini Awards. Each week found Peter attempting a different vocation.

The series’ schedule kept Peter from performing with the rock ‘n’ roll band. “Gord and Bill were involved in the Children’s Festival and asked me to perform with the band. They told me, ‘Just play the adult set for kids’ and it worked.” Thus Rocki Rolletti & the Junior Noodle Wave Band was born. “It was more civilized hours, better pay, and we were done in the afternoon. We told people we had to go to bed early because of our age.” The band toured Canada with Fred Penner and Al Simmons and released Do The Rolletti.

The one gig that solidified Peter’s celebrity was the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. “It was a great idea by CBC Sports,” he acknowledges. “They gave me free reign. I was driving this old beater on my way to Atlanta with no reverse and the heater wouldn’t turn off, reporting along the way.” One of the funniest bits occurred in Atlanta. “It was excruciatingly hot in the car. We went to this place and I asked the guy if he could get my air conditioner on and my heater off. He told us it was too corroded. Then he said, ‘But I can cut your roof off.’ So he did it for a case of Miller’s beer. It was hilarious. All the Canadian teams wanted to drive around Atlanta in this roofless car.”

More recently, Peter/Rocki has kept out of the public eye. “I’m on the other side of the camera writing and producing. I was such a public person that I’m enjoying a little more anonymity.” But he still enjoys performing. “I’ve been playing with the Retro Rhythm Revue who are my nephews, Paul’s kids.” The group will be appearing June 11 at Kidstock on The Forks’ Scotia Bank stage.

“Obviously the Rocki Rolletti thing had an impact that went way beyond just the music,” he reflects. “People sure seemed to embrace that personality.” As for being a Canadian celebrity, “it’s more of a polite celebrity. It’s not that they recognize you instantly but they kind of know you’re on television. ‘Hey, don’t I know you?’”
-John Einarson

Rocki Rolletti: lead vocals
Freda People and Rita Rigatoni: vocals, percussion
George Hopupontofus: guitars
Hugo Macmillon: guitars
Bill "Red River" Merritt: bass
Gord Osland "Beau Hunk De Phunk": drums
Anita Witness and Chester Fields: keyboards
Pat Carey "Tony Tone": saxophone

Written by Rocki Rolletti
Produced by Bob Ezrin at Finucan Studios, Winnipeg, Manitoba

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