Whether playing side by side, or in a singular mode, East Bay area rock and roll musicians/singers Joe Caron and Freddy “Kag” Komiega have made beautiful music together these past 50-plus years. The proof is in the pudding.

Recently, these two rock and rollers performed at old friend Sebastian “Sabby” Wordell’s Wood Street Café as part of his annual Christmas party, and as one might expect, the place was filled to capacity to hear this duo work their musical magic.

“I can’t say enough about these two,” said Sabby. “They’re two of the best musicians to ever come out of this area.”

It’s hard to realize the number of miles these two have traveled throughout their musical careers, but no matter which venue they’ve appeared in, the results were the same; good old rock and roll in the true meaning of the genre.

Although both of these gentlemen have a sense of humor, which has been quite evident over the years, when it comes to music, both are pretty serious. And, how this all happened is even more fascinating.

“I first started played with Fred at the age of 13,” said Caron, who is just as well-respected as the co-owner of Caron’s Jewelry Store (with his wife, Diane), on Hope Street in Bristol. “Fred was 15 at the time and we shared the same music and wrote our first song together after meeting. I was a drummer at the time and played in several local bands with him over the next few years with other musicians in the area. We played a few Fourth of July Concerts, clam jams, and high school ‘sock hops’, too.”

In addition, Fred and Joe also performed as a duo at local establishments, including the Wood Street Café, Eliza’s, and so forth. After leaving Rhode Island in 1977 to tour the country and Canada, with the Jimmy Carter Show/run21, Joe returned in 1982 to join Rhode Island bands, “Touch” and then “F Sharp.”

Joe added, “Upon returning to Rhode Island, I reunited with Freddy on an available occasion to hang out and play. In 1994, Fred asked me to fill in with his band.”

Then, in the early 2000s, Fred and Joe got together with Fred’s brother, Eric, to sing, and soon thereafter, Band of Brothers was formed, a group which built a great following by offering time-honored tunes with equally great harmonies.

“Fred is a world class vocal arranger (none better),” said Joe. “The next project after Band of Brothers was Trinity, which began with Fred, Eric, and I again. We added Eric Leffingwell and then Mike Crabtree, and soon we were playing and selling out larger venues in the northeast.”

Joe left that band in 2020 and was replaced by Dean DePalma. Trinity continues to sellout larger venues in New England.

“Fred and I have had lots of ups and downs,” Joe admitted, “just like brothers, but we have always come back to singing together. He has introduced me to some great music over the years and we have attended and played some amazing shows together.”

For Freddy Komiega, the memories are just as vivid.

“I guess it all starts just being friends around town and just hanging out,” he said. “Joe was actually playing drums then and we formed a garage band called the Blue Mist, which probably lasted as long as most did back then and we went our separate ways.”

Fred continued, “Hanging out at school later on, Joe had developed into quite a good guitar player and I was playing rhythm guitar and we began playing acoustically together, writing songs and playing local gigs and street corners.”

Before long the duo put together a band called Serpent and started playing hard rock.

“Once again going separate ways,” said Fred, “I became an acoustic solo artist songwriter and recorded the ‘Ayatollah’ record at Normandy Sound Studio in Warren, which was played in juke boxes all over New England, as well as steady airplay on WBRU radio and onboard Navy ships in the Persian Gulf while the Iranian hostage situation was going on.”

The beat continued for Freddy when he helped form Neon Jungle that played locally for some time and then put together Deja’vu with his younger brother Eric Komiega, where they both started working on songs with big harmony vocals.

There were other musical roads that Joe Caron and Fred Komiega traveled, and again, success followed.

“All in all, Joe Caron and I have been playing music together for over half a century,” said Fred. “It’s been quite a ride.”

Originally from Warren, the Komiega family moved to Bristol in 1963, where shortly thereafter Fred hooked up with Joe Caron and as they say, the rest is history.

“To say I would be involved playing music with Joe until my late 60’s is pretty remarkable indeed.”

Sabby Wordell summed it up nicely.

“Joe and Freddy are not only talented, but two of the nicest guys you’ll find anywhere,” he said. ”No matter where they perform, a large crowd usually follows. They’re that well-known and respected.”

Although their music is probably more identifiable in their hometowns of Bristol and Warren, you better believe that the rock legend that is Joe Caron and Freddy Komiega, even at their advanced age, continues to amaze all those who appreciate their unique talent.