I started giving guitar lessons in 1974.

As a performer, I've been fortunate to have settled in the Bay Area and gotten the chance to play with great musicians from all over the place! Some of them are fairly well known. Most of those players have performed at what was known as the Bay Area Music Awards, or the "Bammies" - which is now known as the "California Music Awards".It's been my honor to help with the Bammies as Assistant Music Director in addition to playing guitar in the show's house band.

Here's a bio I use for gigs . . .

JOCK ROCKENBACH plays it all: Blues, Rock, Soul, and R&B! Over the past twenty years, the performer BAM Magazine called, "the guitar ace of the San Francisco Bay Area music scene", has been counted on to supply his skills to a wide variety of projects - from musical theater to raunchy blues. Since moving from Chicago to San Francisco in 1976, he has performed up and down the West Coast - Seattle to Tijuana - drawing on his appetite for different musical styles and spicy food. Although he holds a BA degree with Honors in Classical Guitar, Jock is best known for his blues/roots "guitar pyrotechnics"(Sacramento Bee), and is a popular fixture in Bay Area clubs.

He tours Europe annually and has played with a long list of stellar artists in concert, nightclub, television, and radio appearances including Roger Daltry, John Lee Hooker, Chris Isaak, and Nick Lowe. As Assistant Musical Director for the annual BAMMIES award show, he has had the good fortune to perform with many of his heroes including Bonnie Raitt, Buck Owens, and Greg Allman. Jock appeared in the role of Lead Guitarist in the theater production of DYLAN: WORDS AND MUSIC at San Francisco's Zephyr Theatre, as well as the central character, vocalist, guitarist, and composer in "FAB! a 60'S HIT MUSICAL" at San Francisco's Alcazar Theatre.

Jock recently released his self-produced CD, "Can't Kick The Habit", on Wellington Records, which received a prestigious nomination from the Bay Area Music Awards. He balances his performance career with a thriving practice as a guitar instructor and music coach, thrilled to pass on to eager students his passion for music along with his bemused and skeptical view of Rock 'n' Roll mythology. Like many bandleaders, Mr. Rockenbach doesn't do requests. As such, he has repeatedly refused to leave town.

Some quotes from the press:

"San Francisco's stalwart guitarslinger Jock Rockenbach, a cornerstone of the scene, bends those notes to death . . ." Joel Selvin, San Francisco Chronicle

"Jock Rockenbach is a devilish musician, very precise, alive, with rare charisma. . . listen to this record" Peter Norregaard, Ekstra Bladet

"Jock Rockenbach had Friday night's crowd whooping at his guitar pyrotechnics" Sacramento Bee

". . .fine guitarist" Steve Winn, San Francisco Chronicle

"sings like Springsteen . . .he handles his roles very well" Philip Elwood,San Francisco Examiner

"strong vocal. . .always stinging guitar. . ." San Francisco Weekly

"outstanding on the guitar" Pat Craig, Contra Costa Times

"Jock Rockenbach's searing solos. . .and blazing guitar . . . .sent the crowd into ecstasy" Napa Register

"Having taught many other guitar players who have gone on to fame over the years, it's now his turn to shine. A fluid and solid player" Bonnie Simmons, KPFA FM

As a sideman, I've had the opportunity to play/jam with a variety of artists including : Bonnie Raitt, Huey Lewis, John Lee Hooker, Chris Isaak, Kim Wilson (Fabulous Thunderbirds), Boz Scaggs, Norton Buffalo (Steve Miller Band), Roger Daltry, Johnny Johnson (Chuck Berry), Sammy Hagar, Charlie Musselwhite, Elvis Costello, Commander Cody, Clarence Clemons, Billy Cobham,Taj Mahal, Austin de Lone(Fab. Thunderbirds), J J Cale, The Gospel Hummingbirds, Nick Lowe, Robert Ward, Narada Michael Walden, Maria Muldaur, Bob Weir(Grateful Dead), Lee Allen(Little Richard, Blasters), Buck Owens, Angela Strehli, Greg Allman, and serve as Asst. Music Director for The Bay Area Music Awards. . .

Bammies House Band
I'm honored to have had the opportunity to perform with these great musicians, my fellow Bammie House Band players (past and present) - Brain w/ Primus, Ernst Carter w/ Bruce Springsteen, Tony Johnson w/Jr. Walker & the All Stars, Ross Valory w/Journey, Tim Gorman w/The Who, Kieth Crossan w/ Tommy Castro Band, Mark Karan w/ the Other Ones, and Eric McCann w/ Freaky Executives.

As well as other great players around town:

Glenn Walters, Pam Rose, Tim Wagar, Maurice Cridlin, Gene Reffkin, Tony Lufrano, Kathy Kennedy, John Mader, Steve Bowman, Steve Evans and "and and. . ."