Alessio Cupo

Alessio Marcus Cupo passed away on Tuesday, May 27th 2025 at the age of 67 surrounded by his loving and caring family.
Born and raised in Paterson, NJ on Dec 28th 1957 to the late Alex M. Cupo & Ann Marie (nee Clark) & Predeceased by his youngest Brother, Paterson Det. Forrest P. Cupo & longtime Girlfriend Suzanne Lipari of Cliffside Park. At a very early age he displayed an amazing ear for music and love for playing the drums. Family members would recount that his first Drum Set was a couple of Pots & two Wooden Spoons for Drumsticks sitting on the floor of his Mothers kitchen. Throughout his school years, he took lessons and later played on the small stage in the Elementary School Auditorium at P.S.#26. He was a youth member of the Hawthorne Firehouse Marching Band & later joined the Eastside High School Marching Band as Lead Drummer as well as Eastsides Jazz Ensemble, both of which received musical honors and awards. He was the Graduating Class of 1975.
After Graduation, he actively played and formed Bands with classmates and fellow artist from everywhere. The first Band formed was Called "Choice" and then a band called "Yzark" (Krazy spelled backwards). As his talent and confidence grew, he joined a group of amazing musicians and became a lasting band member with the "The Dalton Gang" headed by Musical Arranger & Bandleader Willy Dalton.
Also on Marc's impressive musical resume was the day he signed a Contract with Mercury Records to play with a Band called the "Kay Gee's releasing an Album in 1979 called "Burn Me Up". The excitement was incredible when the single of the same name was released and played on the radio in the Summer of that year.
A natural born Drummer, he was always a student as well as a Teacher & Mentor to many fellow Drummers over his five decades of performing with countless bands and artist playing in Honky Tonks, Night Clubs, Concerts and Special events. You not only remembered him for his amazing talent, you were captivated by his Charm and Big Personality both on and off the Stage! One of his fondest memories was when he met and played in a back-up band for Cissy Houston and a very young Whitney at the New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, NJ. He toured with The Shirelles & Little Anthony & the Imperials as well as meeting and auditioning for George Benson at his home in Englewood, NJ. In later years you could find Marc almost anywhere that hosted a live band playing Rock & Roll, Jazz and his personal favorite is R&B. On most Monday Night's, he was playing with Bandmates at the Hilltop Tavern in Lodi, NJ for their weekly Jam Night!
Throughout the years he also worked for the Passaic County Parks Department, Passaic County Sewage Commission and was a Paterson City Housing Inspector. He was a loving Son, Brother, Uncle and Friend to countless people throughout his life and is survived by his Brother Tony Cupo & Wife Julia, Step-Mother Claire Cupo, Sister-In-Law Penny Cupo, Nephew Anthony Cupo & Wife Jade, Nieces Ashley Cupo, Dana Mulvihill, Alyssa Reinbolt & Husband Jason, Tiffany Mekhail & Husband Brian, Nephew Vincent Cupo and Great Nieces Jaeleigh, Elena & Antonia, Great Nephews Jaydan, Alex & Anthony "AJ" Cupo
Memorial Mass will be held in his Honor on July 12th Saturday 10:30AM at The Church of Saint Anne located at 15-05 St Anne St. Fairlawn, NJ 07410.