Nate Catanzarite grew up in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, where his love for music started in school orchestras. He picked up the upright bass as a teenager, a decision that opened the door to professional opportunities. After completing his undergraduate degree at Duquesne, he came to WVU for a master’s in Music Education.
“When I got here, I finally had the chance to figure out my identity as a musician,” he said. “The teachers were supportive of every avenue I wanted to explore — bluegrass, performing, and even taking time off to tour with Charles. They held a place for me. They didn’t have to do that and that meant everything.”
His first connection to Godwin came in an unexpected way. During Christmas break of his senior year at Duquesne, guitarist Al Torrence called him to play upright bass for a studio session. Those recordings became part of the “Seneca” album. Months later, he was back in Morgantown for grad school, and was invited to the album’s release party at Gene’s Beer Garden.
“I walked up on stage and introduced myself to Charles as his bass player,” Catanzarite laughed. Six years later, he’s still holding down the low end.
On tour, he switches between bass guitar and upright bass, providing the backbone of Godwin’s sound. But his WVU connection goes beyond academics.
“I identify my college experience more with WVU than Duquesne,” he said. “That’s where I figured out who I was.”
Catanzarite still calls Beaver County home, where his wife teaches second grade.
“I have friends who did the Nashville thing, but it never ends there — you never stop. Coming home feels different. It’s not just dropping your bags until the next run. It’s actually home.”
And whether it’s in Morgantown or overseas, the Flying WV is never far away.
“We’ve seen people wearing it in London, Germany, even Texas. It’s amazing how far it reaches. Every show with Charles ends with “Country Roads.” Deep into a run, that moment still gives me goosebumps. Hearing a crowd in Oslo sing it back in their accents — that’s something I’ll never forget. They might not understand what Charles is saying on stage, but they knew every word of that song.”