Rich Pagano - Hold Still Light Escapes (2025)

Rich Pagano is a New York City/Hudson Valley based drummer, singer-songwriter, music producer, mix engineer, touring musician, activist and educator. His recording, mixing, producing and stage credits include, Patti Smith, Rosanne Cash, Robbie Robertson, Ray Davies, Willie Nile, Elvis Costello, Joan Osborne, Levon Helm, Roger Waters, Ian Hunter, Marshall Crenshaw, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel soundtrack and premiere Beatles band, The Fab Faux. Rich creates colors out of his Hudson Valley recording studio, VlyLand Recordings.

As a Music Director and band leader, Rich has helmed the title for the Michael J Fox Parkinsons Benefit, The Robinhood Foundation and the long running John Lennon Tribute Event in New York City.

When not writing, performing or producing, Rich lectures at NYU's Clive Davis Institute of Recording on the Art of classic recording techniques plus is active in raising awareness for substance abuse treatment. Along with Caron Treatment, Release Recovery foundation and his wife, Karen Marks, Rich founded an annual benefit event for the Nic Pagano LGBTQIA+ Scholarship for Substance Use Disorder treatment created in his son Nic’s name. As of today, 20+ clients have benefitted from the scholarship program based in Wernersville, Pennsylvania at Caron Treatment Centers.

Rich Pagano + the sugarCane cups has recently released Hold Still Light Escapes, 10 songs based on the five year navigation of his son Nic Pagano’s (2000-2021) substance use disorder with songs inspired by texts, journals and experiences. Rich is a New York certified Sober Coach and family liaison. When not entrenched in music, he speaks to parents and siblings of loved ones afflicted by addiction, offering experiential guidance.