Jerry Rabago: A Life Lived in Music
Jerry Rabago, a true California native, was born and raised in the Bay Area. His musical journey officially began at 21 when he took his guitar to Las Vegas, landed a gig, and never looked back. For the majority of his life, Jerry has dedicated himself to performing, playing, and singing as a full-time musician, and his passion for what he does shines through in every performance.
Upcoming Dates: 2025
For Booking: Jerry Rabago
2025 Show Dates
May 10th Private Party, RescueÂ
3:00pm-6:00pm
May 24th Sierra Vista Winery, PlacervilleÂ
4:00pm-7:00pm
June 6th D'Agostini Wines, Plymouth
 6:00pm-8:00pm
June 7th Rancho Murieta Country ClubÂ
7:00pm-10:00pm
June 13th Placerville Fair
8:30PM-11:15pm
June 14th Mellowood Winery, SomersetÂ
3:00pm-6:00pm
June 20th The Prospector, PlacervilleÂ
6:00pm-9:00pm
June 29th Rancho Victoria, PlymouthÂ
7:00pm-9:00pm
July 11th Prospector, PlacervilleÂ
7:00pm-10:00pm
July 12th Placerville Moose Lodge
TBA
August 1st Rancho Victoria, PlymouthÂ
5:30PM-8:30PM
August 22nd The Prospector, PlacervilleÂ
7:00pm-10:00pm
August 28th Full Band @ Fair Oaks Concert SeriesÂ
7:00pm-9:00pm
September 5th D'Agostini Wines, PlymouthÂ
6:00pm-8:00pm
Sept 21st Rancho Victoria, PlymouthÂ
11:00am-2:00pm
October 25th HWY 50 Brewery, CaminoÂ
4:00pm-7:00pm
November 1st Medeiros Winery, Harvest Festival, SomersetÂ
1:00pm-4:00pm
From Vegas Stages to Island Breezes
Jerry's career as a guitarist and singer truly kicked off in Las Vegas in 1980. Initially, he was hired to play with local bands in bars and nightclubs. By 1983, opportunity called him to Hawaii, where he joined and managed a local band, performing 5-6 nights a week and traveling to outer islands, playing in hotels, resorts, military bases, and popular hotspots.
National Tours and Hollywood Dreams
In 1985, Jerry returned to Las Vegas, hired by a popular local band sponsored by "The Boyd Group." He played up to 6 nights a week in almost every hotel casino and many popular venues. His pursuit of musical excellence led him to Los Angeles in 1987, where he attended and graduated from the prestigious Guitar Institute of Technology in Hollywood. While in L.A., Jerry continued playing full-time with another popular local band, leveraging new opportunities through the L.A. musicians' contact service.
By 1988, Jerry was hired to join a circuit band based out of Denver, sponsored by a national talent agency. This took him through resorts and venues in Denver, Aspen, and Vail, as well as traveling through the western states into Canada. During this time, Jerry also began studying to become a sound engineer, adding another valuable skill to his repertoire.
Leading in Waikiki and Beyond
From 1990 to 1998, Jerry moved back to Hawaii, joining a top-billed show band in Waikiki called "Bernadette & the Sunshine Company." He performed 5 nights a week at the Sheraton Waikiki's Esprit nightclub, where a young 5-year-old Bruno Mars and his family were the opening act. Hotel management eventually gave Jerry the responsibility of band leader, a challenging yet invaluable experience that involved negotiating with agencies, venues, and handling bookings for weddings and travel. He also took on the difficult task of hiring, replacing, and sometimes firing musicians, an experience that proved educational. During this period, Jerry also became the dedicated sound engineer for the band.
California Roots and Continuous Growth
From 1998 to 2019, Jerry continued to play on and off while embarking on a successful business venture that eventually became a household name in Hawaii. He became a member of the "Honolulu Executives Association," networking with some of Hawaii's largest companies. He was featured in articles and even wrote, recorded, directed, and produced his own radio commercials.
Currently, Jerry has returned to his California roots, settling in Lotus, El Dorado County. He actively hosts Open Mic nights in Placerville, CA, performs his own solo acts, and is a part of the band "Shauna Lea & the Hired Guns." Jerry boasts a repertoire of over 100 songs off the top of his head and is always willing to take requests, even open to the challenge of learning new songs.
Your Professional Choice for Engaging Entertainment
Jerry's focus is on delivering a low volume, high-quality sound coupled with a professional, experienced performance that engages, encourages, and inspires his audience. He specializes in the most popular covers of Country, Classic Rock, Folk, and Americana music. With his willingness to travel, excellent equipment for indoor or outdoor venues, and experience playing for crowds of all sizes, Jerry Rabago is an experienced professional and a wise choice for your next event. He continuously strives to better himself, his knowledge, and his talent, always considering other musicians his mentors.