Carol A. Agosta

The talented and vibrant voice and spirit of Carol Ann Agosta also known as Carol August “Gus” and “Beaver”, will be greatly missed by her passing at her home in Vernon, CT on Tuesday, April 9, 2019, due to heart related disorders.

She was born in Worcester, MA on October 20, 1948, the daughter of Claire (Beaulac) Agosta and Pasquale Agosta. In 1959 the family moved to Keene, NH where she lived until graduating from Keene High School in 1966.

After graduation, she lived in the Boston, MA area until moving to South Carolina then settling in Vernon, CT where she has resided for the last 25 years. Carol worked with Vernon Pool Man specializing in pool parts and chemical knowledge. Once retired, she continued to perform weekly throughout New England with jazz professionals.

Carol was primarily known for her professional singing career which began as a Keene High School student creating the band “The Night Owls” which won the title of number one band in New England in the 1960’s. She sang rock for many years until evolving into the jazz genre. She was the first female lead singer with the well- known New England and Boston based band “PF and the Flyers”. She went on to sing with many other bands throughout her career. She performed frequently with her jazz combo “Reminisce”, and with the well-known group “The Blend”. The group also included a women’s vocal trio. She performed at many fundraiser events in New England as well as when she lived in the South including Furman University and the University of South Carolina. One of her bands was selected to perform at a conference in Germany. She often coached singers in the jazz style and shared her passion to build confidence and skills through the singing of jazz.

She leaves a sister, JoAnne Agosta Mead and her husband, Curtis; a niece, Ashley Cavolo and her husband, John Paul, and their daughters, Ava and Gia; and a nephew, Adam Arnone and his wife, Johanna, and their children, Stella and Maceo. She also leaves her aunt, Nancy Perrelli and her family who lives in Virginia, her brother-in-law, Robert Arnone and his partner, Chris Homan; and several other relatives, cousins, many close music colleagues, and friends. Carol is predeceased by her parents; her sister, Nancy Ann; her aunt, Lucy Wolcott; and her uncle, Nevio Agosta.

There will be a celebration of Carol’s life to be planned for this summer and a date and time will be announced.

In lieu of flowers the family has asked that donations be sent to the Keene Jazz Orchestra (Scott Mullett fund for jazz education for students) www.keenejazzorchestra.com; or to the Shriners Hospitals for Children, 516 Carew Street, Springfield, MA 01104; or to the KMBA/Keene High School Music Scholarship Fund, 46 Arch Street, Keene, NH 03431.