Originally Posted By: jazzmammal
Cool thread. I too got started young, about 8 I think with accordian. My mother was a champion swing dancer in the 50's in LA and was even offered a contract at Warner Brothers but declined. Years later I asked why and she said she was pregnant with my sister and that was it. My step father was a big band singer so like most of you music was all over the house.

Everybody loved Lawrence Welk and I really liked Myron Floren so my grandmother started me with lessons. I was in a 36 piece accordian orchestra and we took first place at the Western States Accordian Festival in '57 and '58 playing Toccata and Fugue in Dm and Victory at Sea. I was 12 and 13 then. We had the original orchestra charts and had to transpose in our heads, I was 2nd Trombone, then first. When I started high school accordians were definitely not cool and I stopped playing until I joined the Air Force in '64.

Music has been in my life all of my life and I'll never give it up. I'll gig until I can't do it anymore it's that simple.


I feel like the accordion is such an underrated instrument. I really like the sounds it can produce.

Also, thank you for sharing your story -- that's so insanely cool that your mom was offered a contract with Warner Brothers! We actually have a pretty large swing dance community out this way. I've never been, but I'd like to go sometime! The music is so fabulous.

Cheers,
Ember