“My uncle was a professor of music in Italy. When he came over, he taught the family music instruments and singing....that's how I got started,” he says. Ferrari, who was born in 1920, worked for 30 years as a plant engineer at Grumman while pursuing his love of music. He played with big bands and swing bands in New Orleans and various clubs on long Island.

Ferrari also performed with big names, like Burt Bacharach. Ferrari started conducting the Golden Tone Orchestra in 2000 at 80 years old. Wednesday was the end of an era for the group as he stepped down from his role as band leader.