Desiree Apolonio Bassett was born September 11, 1992 in New Haven, Connecticut and at the tender age of 3, she became fascinated with playing the guitar and singing. Her delighted parents, Daniel and Myrna Bassett, quickly realized that their little girl was clearly a budding protege so her father began formally teaching her. Her first lessons were on a half-sized Lotus guitar, but by the age of 5, Desiree was playing her dad’s full-sized ’83 Ibanez Roadstar II. Within a few years she was entertaining her family and friends with Joe Satriani tunes and performing in music competitions. When Desiree reached the age of 9, she began study at the University of Connecticut music program and went on to win Talent America’s Musician of the Year in 2005 in New York City at age 12.
Desiree continued to hone her skills playing venues around New England in open mic jams where she was discovered by bassist Doug Wimbish who invited her to share the stage at his annual Wimbash in Hartford. She was also invited to play the side stage at Ozzfest in Hartford, Ct. Desiree performed with many outstanding and renowned musicians including Living Colour, Andy Aledort, members of the Allman Brothers Band, Johnny Vibrato, Pete Schneips Band and XY Eli Band. She had developed a rich portfolio of her own original music and went into the Pat Keegan Studios in Wallingford, Ct. in 2005 to start recording her first CD. Her first five tracks were all recorded with Desiree featured on all instruments.
By the age of 13, Desiree was being invited to play multiple venues and she began traveling with her own band which included bassist David Stoltz, a former member of the Dickey Betts Band and drummer Robert L. Gottfried from children’s television. In December of 2005, Desiree entered the Olympics of Entertainment in N. Y. City where she won a finalist position. https://desiree-bassett.squarespace.com/