The Accordion.  An instrument marred by a strong negative stigma, countless jokes, and a sea of looks when one plays that spill “You play…. Accordion….Why?”  But this was not the case in the 1940’s and 50’s.  The Accordion was of the Most popular instruments to play across the United States, to the point where even during its downfall in the early 60’s, there was an Accordion / Guitar duel-purpose magazine; something unimaginable today.  This immense success was largely due to the achievements of one single accordionist whom woman wanted, and men wanted to be.  A showman of the stage whom appeared on the Tonight Show of its day, “The Ed Sullivan Show”, a staggering 47 times.  That is in fact, more than The Beatles did.  This fame began when he won the very first of a new talent segment on the famed Horace Heidt Show.  It was December 7th, 1947, the day the accordion changed forever in the USA.  His name – Dick Contino.  For the next 4 years, Contino would date famous actresses, have his own TV show, act in movies, and have his name in large letters at famous theaters over smaller letters that read famous names like Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis.  

 

I was incredibly fortunate to closely know Dick from when I was 12 years old, made possible by my “Don’t take No for an answer” father who got us all to have dinner in Las Vegas one day.  I cherish the pictures from that night, and they sit in view from where I do my practicing today.  It was around this time where I was becoming sure enough of myself and my playing, to know I had something special within me.  The ceiling was not just another top accordionist, it was more.  Coupled with this, my longstanding battle with the accordion world was well in full force by then, and I saw myself as a rebel on multiple fronts.  No one believed in what I felt outside of my teacher and my family, which of course doesn’t count for anything since they’ll always believe in you.  President Clinton had my back as well, but he didn’t know Steve Dominko from Lawrence Welk.  I needed assurance from someone who had nothing to gain by saying it.  Dick was the one, and the quotes he gave me so early on have been my most cherished.  A Rebel who did not get along with the accordion world, didn’t believe in the same rules and regulations, and just forged his own path.  I saw myself in him from a different generation, and that confidence he gave played a vital role in any challenges I ever faced.  Additionally, his longstanding friendship assured it.  

 

Now everyone of course knows he was not anywhere near Coupe Mondiale level for playing ability, whether he was trying to be or not.  And he knew it.  But this here, has always been the foundation for the rift between the accordion world and Dick Contino.  “He didn’t deserve his fame, it should have been Frosini, Galla-Rini or X, Y, Z.”  Trust me, I’m always one viciously fighting for actual Ability over showmanship and marketability, but one cannot sit and sulk today about how the accordion remains unpopular, and then be angered about the one person that Did make it truly popular.  A beggar, cannot be a chooser, and with it, no one can deny Dick’s still unbeaten charismatic stage presence and ability to culminate what technical talents he Did have, into a captivating show that did to audiences what Elvis did to them.  

    

Furthermore, Dick is not only an inspiration to me; he IS in fact, The reason I play accordion.  I of course only play because my father wanted me to, and he only played because he became so overwhelmed with excitement after seeing him time and time again on television, and live in Las Vegas in the 50’s as a child.  And that’s just it – So many people around the country played in that Golden Era directly because of Dick, and many who pick up the accordion today, do so because their parent or grandparent played…. and they don’t realize how that very parent or grandparent played, because of Dick.  The Contino tree, is still bearing fruit.  

 

I am a man of statistics, and I would truly love the exact numbers, but I can say this; When I was last in Castelfidardo, 2 officials at one of the longstanding accordion manufacturers told me “When the accordion was the #1 export of Italy in the 1950’s, approximately 60% of that was going to the USA, and 80% of that 60%, were sales directly due to Dick Contino’s success and popularity.”  So yes, forget the USA, an argument could be made that Castelfidardo’s heyday, was largely due to this one man.  The great and powerful accordion schools of the past which had 1000’s of students in various locations across the US can confidently say they produced all the students to make the instrument popular.  Absolutely.  But without an inception in a human’s mind, there is no driven interest to go learn.  Dick Contino Gave that interest in the 4 year run of high profile fame he had, and in his continued performances to full audiences into his early 80’s.  Again, I don’t have the exact numbers, and with Dick’s passing I will begin to look into this, but I can tell you across my career, with total honesty and confidence, that every other person I meet who comes to talk about the accordion with me, played it or had interest in the instrument, Soley, because of Dick Contino.  Not Pietro Diero, not Charlie Magnante, not the Coupe Mondiale events, and not one of the main accordion organizations’ push to attain interest in the instrument over the many decades. 

 

As I type this, just hours after Mr. Contino has passed away, still processing the news, my dear friend and accordion devotee Dr. Ian Fries texted me, and might summed it up best, “A staff of music is quiet tonight of which we once all enjoyed hearing.” 

 

I’ll miss you so much Dick.  The entire accordion world all will. 

 

Musically and Sincerely - 

 
Cory Pesaturo  

 

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