Blair Nuccio is the trumpet player in the PebbleCreek Big Dogs horn section. Blair was born and raised in Summit, Illinois, a south-west suburb of Chicago. He started playing trumpet at the age of eight, after four years of piano instruction from his father. As a graduate of Argo Community High School and Eastern Illinois University, he has played with a number of quality professional jazz musicians, including Mel Torme, Bobby Shew, Slide Hampton, and Vincent DiMartino, to name a few. He started his professional career as a junior high school band director in Illinois and soon thereafter transitioned to School Administration, finishing his career as a Public School District Superintendent in June 2024. Immediately following his retirement, Blair and his wife, Peggy, moved from Illinois to “paradise”, also known as the PebbleCreek community in Goodyear, Arizona. After being away from the trumpet for several years due to the realities of work, a growing family, and other various obligations, Blair committed himself to once again doing what it was he had a passion for … playing the trumpet. The Big Dogs gave him that opportunity, and he is very happy and extremely grateful. Retirement has been nothing short of bliss for Blair, and he owes it all to hard work, dedication and the continued pursuit of the good life.