February 2007 - Accordion Lover`s Society

The REED BLOCK
February 2007
“Celebrating 100 Years of the Piano Accordion in America”
Harold Estok, Founder
ALSI and The Reed Block
THE REED BLOCK
c/o Helen Estok Schoell
P.O. Box 151357
San Diego, CA 92175
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February 2007
The REED BLOCK
February 2007
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ALSI STATEMENT OF PURPOSE:
ALSI is San Diego’s forum for appreciating and
performing accordion music,
including the MIDI electronic accordion
—We welcome members who enjoy listening to or
playing accordion music.
—We have an accordion ensemble group, monthly
meetings, local concerts featuring local and internationally famous performers, an annual picnic and a monthly newsletter.
President’s Message ...................................................
Happiness at ALSI ....................................................
Credits .......................................................................
Roy Wirta Tribute ......................................................
Upcoming Events.......................................................
ALSI Schedule 2007 ..................................................
Playing Around ..........................................................
Birthdays and Anniversaries .......................................
New Ideas ..................................................................
Timely Thoughts........................................................
Retirement Party ........................................................
Jam Music..................................................................
Showcase Flyer ..........................................................
PRESIDENT: Kjell Holmes
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(858) 453-5486
PRESIDENTS EMERITI : Harold Estok (Founder); Ron Griffin
EDITOR / SECRETARY: Helen Estok Schoell,
(619) 584-4970
ENSEMBLE DIRECTOR: Vicki Eriqat
(619) 563-5586
TREASURER: Vicki Eriqat
(619) 563-5586
REED BLOCK/WEBSITE PRODUCTION: Bob Page
(760) 451-3641
LIBRARIAN:
REED BLOCK SUBSCRIPTION RATES AND GENERAL INFORMATION
Subscriptions for the calendar year, January to December, $25.00 U.S.A., $26 Canada, $27.00 for International
Send check or money order payable to The REED BLOCK to:Helen Estok Schoell, at P.O. Box 151357
San Diego, CA 92175. The REED BLOCK is published once each month for delivery prior to the next meeting
(Meeting are the second Sunday of each month). Your input to the REED BLOCK is invited and should be submitted to Helen Estok Schoell or Bob Page.
DISCLAIMER: Unless otherwise indicated, all articles were written by the Editor. Unless so stated, no article is to
be construed as an endorsement. Articles not written by the Editor may contain comments that do not necessarily
reflect the views of the Editor. If you disagree with anything in the REED BLOCK, please let us know in writing.
SPECIAL NOTICE TO RECORDING ARTISTS: If you have an audio/video tape cassette you would like reviewed and written up inThe REED BLOCK, please send us a professional copy and a short biography of the artist;
include names, date and places. Please include the price of the item including shipping and handling. If you want
the package returned after the review include return postage with the package.
CUT-OFF DATE: All contributors to The REED BLOCK please note: all material is due two weeks before the
next meeting, accordingly the due date for the March 2007 issue is March 26, 2007. This includes all items such as
articles, upcoming events, playing around, accordion workshops and ensemble schedules. Please make sure your
material is received, in writing or email, no later than that date. Please submit your input to Helen Estok Schoell or
Bob Page at [email protected]. Thank you for your cooperation.
MEETINGS: The club normally meets at 1:00—4:00 P.M. on the second Sunday of each month at the Mt Miguel
Covenant Village, 325 Kempton Ave, Spring Valley, CA
ALSI Website: www.accordion-club-sandiego.org
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The REED BLOCK
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
by Kjell Holmes
The February meeting was
wonderful as we used the occasion to honor Roy Wirta in
his outstanding service to our
club. As he stepped down
from his role, Roy thanked
Bob Page for assuming production of the REED
BLOCK and praised Bob for
bringing our newsletter into
the 21st century with some of
the newer technology.
Bob Page is well versed on the computer and
enjoys working with new publishing tools. He has
a head full of ideas for our newsletter and will certainly feed them into the newsletter as time goes
on. I am so glad that he is now doing the production of the newsletter as well as being our new
webmaster.
I also wish to thank our secretary Helen Schoell
for putting on such a great retirement ceremony for
Roy Wirta, Production Manager now Emeritus. He
has religiously served from January of 1994 until
December of 2006, a period of twelve years. And
he always scheduled his vacations and holidays
such that he was here to do the production of our
newsletter, the Reed Block. Roy, I truly want to
thank you for your very loyal twelve years. And I
can tell from the size of the gathering that came to
the last meeting many members feel the same way
about you. I know, I will always miss the good
times we had together preparing the President’s
Message for the next newsletter. Elsewhere in this
newsletter there is a photo and an article about
Roy’s retirement ceremony.
As you all know by now Lou Fanucchi will be
our show case for our March 11 th meeting. Lou
tells me he is bringing a young lady entertainer
along for the show case.. Sounds exciting.
As most of you know, I am always looking for
other places for accordion players to play their accordions. Well we now have two more places at
the Mt. Miguel Covenant Village. Lou will be the
café player at the main restaurant, and Joe Digiacinto will be the café player at the Health facility
Crider Garden Café and Al Cerruti will be the
café player at the Crider Restaurant #2. All you
February 2007
accordion players be practicing your music because
the day is coming when I will be asking you to play.
There will be JAM after Lou Fanucchi’s show case.
Vicki is all energized and has chosen new music to
add to our jam books. Sharon Marotte.is also involved
and helping Vicki Eriqat with this work. So bring your
jam books and your accordions and join in the jam. If
you don’t have a jam book we have extras.
Look forward to seeing you all at the meeting on
March 11th. ♫ (Live Music Touches the Heart!)
HAPPINESS AT ALSI
by Bill Barr
February’s 11th theme, appropriate for upcoming
Valentine’s Day, was Romance. Performers were requested to play romantic/love songs, and everyone
obliged. Kjell Holmes was the MC for the day.
NADYA ZEIN was our Mystery Player. Nadya is
a second-generation ALSI musician, daughter of Tiina
and Sami Zein, trained in her native Finland and here
by Gordon Kohl. Her selections of romantic songs- at
least they sounded romantic- included familiar favorites and some not-so-familiar - Finnish and European
pieces, played in a professional manner and without
music, which should make her parents proud. Her instrument, described as a button accordion, is much
more sophisticated than the smaller button box we often associate with Latin American or European music.
It is Finnish-made, and similar in appearance and
sound to the Russian bayan (remember Stas
Venglevski who played for us a few years ago?). We
enjoyed this new talent and look forward to seeing and
hearing Nadya in the future.
The regular program opened with JANET
MARTINI and her small piano accordion which she
says “sounds like a button box” which she often plays.
Janet likes to entertain and educate us with music of
Old California - Spanish and Mexican songs from 19th
-century California. And she performs them so easily,
from memory and standing up front. Her selections
included El Sombrero Blanco, Varsoviana, and Vals
de Milan.
RUSSELL CAMP followed with selections from
his large repertoire of Latin American and American/
English inspirational songs; Jesus Name I Love, a
medley of Saved, Saved and Love Lifted Me, and The
Love of God. Russell plays with inspiration, and does
(Continued on page 4)
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The REED BLOCK
February 2007
(Continued from page 3)
so completely from memory. He even played this
time with a borrowed accordion.
ELKE ERTLE’s performance fit the romantic
theme with two French waltzes, accompanied by
Elke’s warm smile: La Ronde, and When Mademoiselle Kisses You. We know the latter better as
a theme for Under Paris Skies
NADYA ZEIN returned for one selection, this
one entitled Tusula Polka. It’s a Finnish polka,
which to some may sound more sophisticated than
the Polish/German/Alpine polkas we’re used to
hearing (please, no nasty letters to the editor). Or
perhaps it’s Nadya’s more melodic style.
SAMI and TIINA ZEIN followed. (No,
Nadya’s is not a warm-up act for her parents).
Sami and Tiina both play the large sophisticated
Finnish-made bayan-type button instruments, and
they play well-arranged duets completely from
memory. Their selections included a Finnish melody entitled, in English, My Love Belongs ToYou,
the very American song Sweet Sue, and the universal Anniversary Waltz.
FARRIE ANN NICHOLS touched us with
her performance of love songs dedicated to her
husband. She played and sang, all from memory,
Devoted To You, Love Me Tender, and Kiss An
Angel.
AL CERUTTI followed with three genuine
love songs, the very American /Irish Peg O’ My
Heart, La Vie En Rose (with echoes of Paris and
Edith Piaf), and I Wish You Love. Al plays behind, but not necessarily looking at, a professional
dance-band-style music-stand, and with a slow,
consistent tempo appropriate to these love songs.
AL JACOBS, always a favorite, did not disappoint. His style (like that of an English musichall?) standing, facing and visually connecting
with his audience, playing anything and everything
from memory, whatever the style or tempo required. His selections, correctly described by Al as
“love songs from around the world” included Let
Me Call You Sweetheart, Anema E Core, What A
Difference A Day Makes, Dein Ist Mein Ganzes
Herz (Yours Is My Heart Alone), La Vie En Rose,
and My Funny Valentine.
SHARON MAROTTE and TOM BAXTER
are a superb duet team that we’ve heard before and
we always look forward to hearing again. This
time they chose songs arranged by Frank Marocco,
meaning that they are very sophisticated and difficult
to play well, especially in duet form. They were When
You Wish Upon A Star, Lisa, and Over The Rainbow.
Only fine musicians as Sharon and Tom can carry it
off as well as they do.
VICKI ERIQAT is one of that small number of
musicians who are able to play an accordion and sing
simultaneously and do it well. Her songs included
You Belong To Me, Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain,
It’s all Right With Me, Heart and Soul, and Stormy
Weather.
JOE DI GIACINTO (“I’m Joe”) needs no introduction. His seemingly- effortless, super-professional
multi-arpeggio style is one we all know and love. His
selections included Yours, Release Me, He’ll Have To
Go, Lara’s Theme, and You Belong To My Heart.
The program concluded with a jam-session relying
on selections from the club’s Jam Book, with VICKI
directing/leading the group (as if anyone could lead or
direct this group). ♫
CREDITS
by Helen Estok Schoell
Our deep appreciation to Merle Williams and Russell Camp who came in early and set things up to
ready the Hall for our ALSI meeting and to Penny
Page, Debbie Ahumada, Sally Scheinok and Vicki
Eriqat for helping set the tables and serve the food for
our potluck luncheon. The members brought a variety
of delicious dishes to share in honor of Roy Wirta’s
Retirement Party for his 12 years of volunteer service
as producer and writer of the Happiness at ALSI and
for the REED BLOCK Newsletter. Penny Page offered to order the cake for ALSI to present to Roy
Wirta. Her choice of decoration, wording and type of
cake with the custard filling was perfect and delicious.
Due to the rainy weather, we could not set up and
serve out in the patio. Sami Zein helped Russell Camp
quickly set up tables inside the Bailey Center Hall just
before the refreshment break. Great team work!
Jack Marotte, photo processor of the REED
BLOCK, took important pictures of this special event
which appear elsewhere in this issue. Thank you Jack.
God bless you all for your support and generosity.
You helped make Roy Wirta’s Retirement celebration
a great success.
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The REED BLOCK
February 2007
TRIBUTE TO A FINE GENTLEMAN
by Sharon Marotte
A tribute was paid to a fine gentleman, Roy
Wirta, at the February ALSI meeting. Roy Wirta
has retired from being the REED BLOCK Production Manager and the writer for Happiness for the
past 12 years.
A plaque was presented to a very surprised Roy
from Kjell Holmes and Helen Estok Schoell before
the refreshment break. A delicious potluck was
enjoyed. Three tables were brought inside Bailey
Hall because of the cool weather outside. A large
cake was brought by Bob and Penny Page – with a
picture of the REED BLOCK on it. A group picture was taken by the food table and also on the
steps of the stage. This meeting was very well attended to honor him and have our picture taken
with him. Thanks, Roy, for a job well done!!!
HEARTFELT THANKS
by Roy Wirta
I want to express my deep heartfelt thanks to all
who so elegantly honored me at the February 11th
meeting of ALSI. As I said, I was truly overwhelmed.
My particular thanks to President Kjell Holmes
and especially to Helen E. Schoell who made this
event a success with her dedication to countless details. I thank all who so thoughtfully signed the delightful card and expressed their feelings. My sincere thanks for the splendid and specially decorated
cake that was prepared for this occasion. And finally, I am deeply moved by the presentation of the
magnificent engraved plaque detailing my contributions to the Accordion Lover’s Society International
by citing my production of the REED BLOCK and
for being a writer of “Happiness at ALSI” from 1994
to 2006.
Again, I want to thank each and every one of
your from the bottom of my heart for honoring me in
this manner.
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The REED BLOCK
February 2007
UPCOMING EVENTS
ACCORDION WORKSHOP
March 19, 2007. The Gordon Kohl workshop will
convene from 6:00-9:00 pm. At Stella’s Kitchen,
365 3rd Ave., Chula Vista. The topics will include: Cappriccio Italian music, Tango Time,
Slovenian waltz, Bass Latin rhythms, Polka style
pieces, and a version of “Night and Day”. Bring
Cappriccio Italian original and copy sheets to
workshop.
Cost: $22 and $12 for non-student guest.
For further information, call Gordon Kohl at
619-427-4344.
COTATI ACCORDION FESTIVAL
August 25-26, 2007 at Cotati (Sonoma county) in
California. For info call (707) 664-0444 or
e-mail [email protected]
ALSI SCHEDULE 2007
March 11
April 8
May 6
June 10
July 8
July 22-26
August 12
September 9
September 24
October 14
November 11
December 9
Showcase: Lou Fanucchi.
Meeting To Be Announced.
Meeting: To Be Announced.
Picnic.
Showcase: Gordon Kohl
Band.
Galla-Rini Accordion Camp
Meeting: To Be Announced.
Showcase: Al Jacobs.
Appearance: October Fest in
Balboa Park.
Meeting: To Be Announced
Meeting: Heritage Day.
Meeting: To Be Announced.
ROSE CITY ACCORDION CAMP
June 3-8, 2007. at Silver Falls, Oregon
For information call (503) 463-9909 or e-mail
[email protected]
PLAYING AROUND
Members and non-members would like to know who’s playing where and when
Please share your upcoming events as to date, time and location of public appearances. Please
submit these, in writing, complying with the cut-off date, to Helen Estok Schoell at P.O. Box
151357 San Diego, CA 92175 or Bob Page at [email protected].
Joe DiGiacinto : Thursday & Saturday nights, 6 – 9 pm, Bell’Agio Restaurant, Santo Rd and
Clairemont Mesa Blvd in Tierrasanta, (858) 268-8984.
Louis Fanucchi : Tuesday nights, 7:30-10:00 pm, The Prado Restaurant (Balboa Park)
with “Hot Club of San Diego”.
March 11, 2:30 pm Showcase performance at ALSI Meeting.
May 20, 11:30-3:30 pm at Sicilian Festival, in Little Italy (San Diego) with Roman Holiday
Kjell Holmes: Lake Cuyamaca Restaurant, 5-8 pm, Fridays, March 2 and April 6th.
Gordon Kohl: April 8, Easter Sunday at Lake Cuyamaca Restaurant from 12-3 pm and 5 -7 pm.
Julian Mayfest on Memorial weekend, May 26-27 from 11 am to 4 pm both days in downtown Julian.
Sharon Marotte : March 17, at 12-3 pm and 5-8 pm for St Patrick's Day at McDini's located on 105 E. 8th in
National City. Sharon is appearing with Mal Jaeger and the Irish Wanderer's.
“Smiling Jack”: Friday and Saturday nights from 6–9 pm at Luigi’s Restaurant located at 4015 Avati Drive
(off Morena Blvd.) in San Diego. Phone (858) 274 –6221.
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The REED BLOCK
February 2007
NEW IDEAS
Best Wishes to those of you born in the
Month of March
3/5
3/10
3/15
3/16
3/20
3/20
3/21
3/21
3/25
3/27
3/31
Gene Lloyd
Agustino Arcidiacano
Art Chappelle
Vivian Minella
Vicki Eriqat
Angie Kitchen
Al Wrona
Linda Banuelos
Ted Hansen
Roy Wirta
Ardith Birdsell
May your lives always be happy and filled
with precious time to remember.
For couples married in the
Month of March
Gene and Edith Lloyd 3/22
Larry and Helen Peterson 3/24
Charlie and Carol Carr 3/27
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
How to Practice the Accordion.
(Here is one plan that works for Peter Donatella of
the Arizona Accordion Club.)
First, Stop “warming up” or starting your practice
the same way you may have started for OH so many
years. Start a new routine. If you always play a scale
or a run, etc. don’t do it. Play a new chord progression instead, from a tune or make one up. Vary this
each practice by playing on right or left hand, by adding passing tones, adding rhythmic or sustained bass.
Be creative as you make the progression more complex (For example try using G7, Cm, Dm, G7, Cm as a
starter, then add more chords to the routine).
Step two : Find one, two or more measures that are
a troubling or a challenging part of a piece that you are
now learning or want to learn. Be sure the fingering is
comfortable, and mark each note so that you will do
this phrase the same way each time you play it. Do it
at a slow pace, increasing the tempo as you gain confidence. Spend as much time here as you can tolerate
before going to the next step.
Step three: Take a musical break! Prepare a list in
advance of your practice, however long you want, of
songs that you already know and enjoy. Play only one
of them, but play it several times, trying to enhance it
in some way. Like using more bellows for dynamic,
or playing the intro out of rhythm, or by changing the
arrangement in some small way.
Step four: Again, plan this before practice. Find a
song that is brand new to you. Begin studying it in the
way you started any new song in the past, but be
mindful of new ways that you discover as you learn
this new song (such as difficult fingering, or phrasing,
or chord progressions or syncopation, or combining
right and left hands or a new memorization technique).
Stay with this song each day until you are comfortable
with it and can move on to another new song.
Step five: Celebrate! Play your favorite song(s)
and enjoy the sound of your accordion. Let the instrument vibrate through your body, even sing along if
you want. Hopefully, this will revitalize the way you
practice. Try some or all of these ideas for a week of
practice, and you will find some new life in themthere old keys.
Now, get busy and do it. You can let me know
how it worked for you if you like: My email is:
[email protected].
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February 2007
TIMELY THOUGHTS
Jean Fanucchi: An Abundant Life.
by Louis Fanucchi:
On November 18, 2006 the full earthly existence of my mother came to completion that she may move on
to her heavenly mansion which has been prepared. A couple paragraphs cannot do justice to her 87 years but
allow me to touch on a few things about my mother (pardon the subjectivity). Laughter, hard work, social activity, having fun and loving children come to mind when reflecting on Jean. Speaking of kids, she had six
children (I’m the baby), seventeen grandchildren, nineteen great grandchildren and three great great grandchildren (last census). Additionally, during the week and, often Saturdays also, she did day care at home (3-7
kids a day). You do the math!
Her and my father were EXTREMELY active in the Italian community. To say I had extended family
would be a drastic understatement. My mother served as social chairperson for the Sons of Italy for years, assisted by my father (also the president for two terms that I can recall). Attending dances at various Italian social clubs every Saturday would not be an exaggeration. They loved family, good friends, good times, good
food, well, you get the idea…
Being a music lover she was very involved in a lot of my activities and enjoyed the company of my many
music friends and colleagues. She was known as Jean, mom or Mrs. Fanucchi from people ranging from
Myron Floren (Lawrence Welk accordionist) to “Country Dick” Montana (the late vocalist/drummer “can’t
quite put a label on him” front man of the Beat Farmers who also played “at” the accordion). She even allowed (and enjoyed) a top 40 dance band I was in to practice in an upstairs bedroom in her house! Believe me
we were loud. Only one complaint as I recall but, that mysteriously never happened again. I think my mom
somehow rationalized with SDPD that as long as we stopped at 10:00 we could be loud as hell… I think…
She loved people and the opportunity to talk with them any time and any place.
Her home became an open house for musicians, family and friends and a bed/breakfast to traveling accordionists/virtuosos from the world (she housed them and I entertained them-if you can imagine that). This included Jorgen Sundequist (Sweden), Stas Venglevski (Russia/now Milwaukee), Oivind Farmen (Norway), Lou
Soper (San Francisco) and others I’m probably forgetting… Anthony Galla-Rini and his wife Dolly were at
the house more than I can count. When Tony would drive down from San Marcos to meet up with Don
Balestrieri it was a given he would spend the night at my parent’s before returning home.
At ALSI functions, as with anywhere she went, my mother was welcomed and brought a distinctive personality with her that included trademark laughter and a story or two (or three or four or…) of her family, as a
girl, a mom, a grandmother and, oh yeah, a faithful wife. Everybody loves you mom… keep smiling.
Help! I’m looking to buy (or borrow, until I can buy
an available one), a Petosa S-2000 MIDI Power Supply Converter Box for ANS-2000 MIDI Accordion.
REMINDER:
Lou will be here this March as
our Showcase artist.
Contact: Lou Fanucchi:
[email protected]
(619) 948-3774
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RETIREMENT PARTY
“THOSE WERE THE DAYS”
by Burch and Elke Ertle
On Saturday January 13th, Burch and Elke Ertle
celebrated their retirement from the work place.
Burch retired from the City of San Diego in November 2005, and Elke from the City of La Mesa
in December 2006. In attendance were work colleagues, friends and members of ALSI and the San
Diego Mandolin Orchestra (SDMO). The theme
was “Those Were The Days”.
Elke and Burch decided early on in the planning for the party to include lots of music for people to sing, swing and dance to. Having members
of both groups made for a delightful evening. Al
Jacobs got things going by playing a number of
tunes and taking requests from the audience. As
usual, Al was a hit and provided the spark needed
to get the party going.
Al was followed by Sami Zein with his button
accordion. He wooed attendees with several romantic Finish selections that gained the applause
of everyone.
Ron Griffin also provided a solo accordion performance that was rewarded with enthusiastic applause. We are happy to say that many people who
have not been previously exposed to accordion
music expressed enthusiasm for the instrument and
the variety of music played.
Burch and Elke paired up with Jerry Sokol
(mandolin), Harry Mestyanek (guitar), and his
wife Nancy (percussions). Harry and Nancy also
provided the vocal accompaniment. We called ourselves “CHEMISTRY” and performed a number
of songs including Feelin Groovy, Zauber von
Paris, The Circle Game and Midnight in Moscow.
While Chemistry entertained, folks filled their
plates with a gourmet dinner comprised of ‘‘pot
luck” dishes bought by those in attendance. People
were imaginative and generous in the dishes they
provided.
Next on stage were members of the ALSI Ensemble including Vicki Eriqat, Erika Baier, Rena
Watton, Sharon Marotte, Kjell Holmes, Tom Baxter and Burch Ertle. The ensemble played a number of songs from its repertoire including Blue
February 2007
Skirt Waltz and Whatever Will Be Will Be.
Then twelve members of the San Diego Mandolin Orchestra led by Jim Trepasso took the stage.
This included the most senior member of the
SDMO, and co-conductor, Eugene Vacher. Eugene
has been a member of the El Cajon community for
97 years and was a member of the San Diego Symphony between 1927 and 1929. He has been a member of the San Diego Mandolin Orchestra for many
years and has been active musically his entire life
composing, arranging and conducting for various
bands and orchestras. The group played a number of
Italian and folk tunes as well as from musicals.
Eugene also conducted a number of the pieces.
It was noted by one ALSI attendee that Eugene
Vacher is much like Maestro Galla-rini in his dedication to music. All of what was played under his
lead was music he arranged.
The Polka Dots followed with Sharon Marotte,
Vicki Eriqat, Rena Watton and Linda Hibbert.
Again an entertaining and much appreciated group
as evidenced by the enthusiastic response.
The Friday Morning Group from ALSI was next
to entertain. They included Gloria Ensign, Sharon
Marotte, Erika Baier, Larry Kaiser and Tom Baxter.
Songs performed included a lively rendition of Five
Foot Two.
Next was a dramatic change in style when John
Simms took the stage with his classic Fender Stratacaster guitar to entertain us with a Cajun style version of Midnight Special, and a blues version of
Baby What You Want. It was a real treat having him
join us that evening.
“Chemistry” finished off the evening’s entertainment with Bad Bad Leroy Brown and a sing along
rendition of Those Were The Days.
The blending of music throughout the evening
between accordion, mandolin, guitar, bass and percussions was exciting. Someone commented that the
vent reminded them of being at a Garrison Keillor /
Prairie Home Companion concert. ♫
PHONE: (206)632-2700 FAX: (206)632-2733
E-MAIL: [email protected]
INTERNET: www.petosa.com
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February 2007
New selection for the Jam Book. Practice this song and join us for the next Jam on March 11!
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The REED BLOCK
February 2007
ALSI's Showcase
featuring San Diego's own
accordion virtuoso
Louis Fanucchi
Sunday, March 11, 2007
1-4 p.m.
Bailey Center Hall
Mount Miguel Covenant Village
325 Kempton St.
Spring Valley, CA
Admission:
$4.00 - members
$5.00 - non members
Program includes a variety of
musical selections from tangos to
Tex-Mex which are sure to please
one and all.
Let's all come and support this versatile accordion performer!
For more information, call 619-584-4970 or 858-453-5486
(Bring healthy goodies to share — tea and coffee provided)
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February 2007
Louis Fanucchi was born in Lodi, CA and moved to San Diego at age six months. Louis began accordion lessons at age 7-1/2 with Charles Bertolino and continued until age 15 after which
he started taking lessons from Maestro Anthony Galla-Rini. Under Galla-Rini, Louis studied
classical and free bass accordion.
Lou began his professional career at age 15 performing every Sunday in La Jolla and at age
17 every Saturday in Del Mar. Lou continued studies with Galla-Rini for eight years while simultaneously attending Palomar College and San Diego State University through 1985. He received a
Bachelor of Music degree from San Diego State University.
Louis moved to Los Angeles for three years where he studied jazz accordion with Frank
Morocco. In 1986 he bought his ultimate baby - a Petosa AM 1100. Through further study with
Donald Balestrieri, Louis expanded his repertoire to command a broad genre of music styles compatible with the accordion.
Louis's versatility opened opportunities in motion pictures, television and radio. He has
shared venues and performed with an impressive list of well known celebrities of stage, screen
and television. In addition, he has performed with the St. Louis Symphony, The American Ballet,
The San Diego Chamber Orchestra and Starlight Opera Company. Currently Louis performs and
records around Southern California and the U.S. using his Petosa AM 1100 and MIDI Accordions.
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