Peter Piccini

Virtuoso Of the Piano Accordion

BIOGRAPHY

NAME: Peter Piccini

BIRTHPLACE: Sydney

BIRTH Date: June 4^th, 1936

Peter Piccini was born in Sydney in 1936, and from the time of his birth music has been his natural background. He made his first solo appearance as an accordionist at a school concert when he was only seven years old. Although he showed promise on this occasion he did not begin studying seriously until he reached the age of fourteen years old.

Peter began earnestly to learn the secrets of the accordion from his father Peter Piccini Snr -known as the Daddy of the Accordion in Australia - and was the first to introduce the piano keyboard on the accordion in Australia. Peter Jnr started broadcasting for the national and commercial radio stations at the age of fifteen years and appeared in many state performances. In 1955 he went to Europe broadcasting for the BBC, appeared in television shows and performed at the famous club Pigalle as an accompanist for the French singer Line Renaud. While in Europe Peter toured Italy with the famous singer Claudio Villa. Together they appeared on television and radio, stage shows and of course recordings. In 1963 Peter and his wife Sarah(Fina) launched on another tour overseas. During this tour he began playing the piano as well as the accordion. This led to engagements with leading orchestras and playing continuously throughout Europe. Returning to Australia in 1965, he became Music Director for the Channel 9 Television Network and also began broadcasting for the ABC. In 1968 he toured Vietnam with an all-Australian concert party, entertaining the Australian and American forces. In 1972 he did another tour of Europe and visited the USA. He was then back in Australia in 1976. Peter became very busy broadcasting once again recording with his large orchestra. Peter still finds time to compose music for the accordion. In 2002 Peter has been added to the AATA(Australian Accordion Teachers Association) Roll Of Honour in appreciation of his contribution to the Accordion in Australia.

ARTISTS PETER PICCINI HAS WORKED AND RECORDED

WITH RADIO AND RADIO PRESENTERS, TV AND

TV PRESENTERS AND STAGE SHOWS.

Line Renaud	Carol Calores	Tommy Trinder
Cyril Fletcher	Twlighters	Kay Cavendish
Stan Wood	Leslie Adams	William Hargreaves
BBC Variety Orchestra	Ruth Wallace	Dick Emery
Frank Ifield	Matt Monro	Max Bygraves
Wally Stott	Renee and Renato	Tony Hatch and Jackie Trent
Claudio Villa	Aldo Alvi	Flora Haris
Wanda Romanelli	Bettie Curtis	The Deltones
Lucky Grills	Bobby Limb	Ron Blaskett
Gerry Gee	Denzil Howson	Peter Harries
Veronica Overton	Stan Gervas	Colin Nichol
Gary Meadows	Gary Carvolth	Lloyd Lawson
Graham Kennedy	Geoff Newman	The Drifters
Samantha Sang	Debbie Byrne	Freddy Morgan
Kelly Green	Reno Brothers	Ricky May
Cornelia Frances	Dennis Bird	Karen Knowles
Johnny Young	Normie Rowe	Jerry Gibson
John Farnham	Col Joye	Jade Hurly
Denis Walter	Barry Crocker	Johnny Borg
Tony Christie	Earl Reeves	Robert Gesmundo
Ken Goodwin	Bill & Boyd	Des O'Conner
Judy Stone	Reno Brothers	Ted Egan
Ross & Robin	Peter Harrison	Barry Crocker
Don Spencer	Mario Riva	The Drifters
Frankie Davidson	Buddy Lauren	Tony Charlton
Sandro Della Grotte	Ray Burgess	Tony Pantano
Peter Duncan	Phil Booth	Geoffrey Wheeler
Harold Aspinall	Ray Irving	John Villani
Nunzio Mondia	Lionel Lewis	Wally Carr
Adrian Dante	The Diamonds	Aurelio Fierro
Keith Walshe	Bill McCormack	Luciano Tajoli
Allan Rowe	Reg Gray	John Clarke
Ed Devereaux & Friend Skippy	Ken James	Karl Akers
Ric Curtin	Otello Proforzio	Giuseppe Bertinazzo
Sandy Sanford	Eddie Youngblood	Tito Burns
Bassano Mazzochi	Denis Walter	Christopher Peraldini
Maria Venuti	Colleen Hewitt	Bill Shepherd
Ann Spring	Twilighters	Alan Copeland
Ted Bull	Tuxedo Junction	Russ Sheppard
Peter Chaplin	Rhythm Spinners	Sandy Sandford
Claudio Terni	John McHugh	Syd Donovan
Freddy Morgan	Geoffrey Wheeler	Betty Astell
Elio Moro	Graham Kennedy	Ruth Wallace
Los Reales Paraguy	Freddy Morgan	Otello Proforzio
Kerry Berdel	Buddy Loren	Andy Stewart
Ron Pearce	Sir Bernard Delfont	Cyril Stapleton
Peter Clinch	David Measham	Robyn Owen
Ross Mao	Terry Smyth	Cathie Travers
Same Day Twins	Michelle Edwards	John Hunter
Joy Mulligan	Chuckles O'hara	Robyn Hills
Johnny Gattuso	Karen Beckett	Ken Goodwin
Guy Bart	Jack Harrison	Brian Meddemmen
Graham Wood	Laszlo Vidak	Ray Walker
David Krygger	Martin Clarke	Gary Carvolth
Jeff Newman	Peter Dean	Franco Potenza
Murray Wilkins	Verdon Williams	McDuff Williams

CONDUCTORS AND ORCHESTRA LEADERS

PETER PICCINI HAS WORKED WITH

David Measham Verdon Williams McDuff Williams Franco Potenza

COUNTRIES PETER PICCINI HAS WORKED IN

Australia England Italy

Vietnam Switzerland Germany USA

RECORDINGS 1958 ITALY ON THE CETRA LABEL

45 RPM EXTENDED PLAY

(No longer available)

Flight of the Bumble Bee Boogie	Resta Cu’mme with vocal - Claudio Villa
Chattanooga Choo Choo	Solo Giallo - Claudio Villa
Colonel Bogey	Caravan Patrol - Claudio Villa
Moonlight Serenade	Mandolini Al Chairo Di Luna - Claudio Villa
TicoTico	Io - Claudio Villa
Body and Soul	Vecchio Frack - Claudio Villa
12^th Street Rag	Finale Mia - Claudio Villa
A Media Luz

ALL INSTRUMENTAL QUINTET

RECORDINGS 1958

Piove	Nessuno
Io Sono It Vento	Li Per Li
Partir Con Te	Aussie Polka(composed by Peter Piccini)
Un Bacio Sulla Bocca	Sera Sull’aia
Cononscerti	Tarantella Della Nonna(composed by Peter Piccini)
Passeggiate Romane	Festa Tirolese

RELEASED IN AUSTRALIA ON THE CETRA LABEL 1960

Chattanooga Choo Choo	Tico Tico
Body and Soul	12^th St Rag
Colonel Bogey	Amedia Luz
Flight of the Bumble Bee Boogie

RELEASED IN AUSTRALIA ON THE CETRA LABEL 1962

SOLO ACCORDION

Vieni Vieni	Rosina Mazurka
Cumana	The Train
Tarantella Serafina	Elvira Waltz
Ole Guap

RECORDED ON THE CLARION LABEL IN AUSTRALIA 1962

ON AN EXTENDED 45 RPM

Little White Star (Composed by Peter Piccini) was the first commercial issue on the Clarion Label in Australia 1962. The song and monologue was about the space flight of John Glenn and refers to the lights of Perth.

John H. Glenn jr LT Colonel, USMC Mercury Astronaut has a copy of this recording.

CLARION RECORDINGS 1965

QUARTET

Continental Polka(Composed by Peter Piccini)	Mazurka Paesano(Composed by Peter Piccini)
Waving Palms(Composed by Peter Piccini)	La Danza

PETER ARRANGED PLAYED AND CONDUCTED FOR MANY OF THE ARTISTS THAT RECORDED ON THE CLARION LABEL.

CLARION LARGE ORCHESTRAL RECORDINGS

1970

Little Wolf(Composed by Peter Piccini)

1971

Let me be free(Composed by Piccini/Clark)

Want you again(Composed by Piccini/Clark)

There will come a time(Composed by Piccini/Clark)

1972

Just stay(Composed by Piccini/Clark)

1973 Festival Calender Label LP

NEVER ENDING HITS

1973 Martin Clarke Production

And I love you so(45rpm - vocal by Ann Spring)

1974 Clarion Label

Peter Piccini at the Hammond Organ LP

Nostalgia Accordion LP

1975 Clarion Label LP

Peter Piccini Hammond Organ LP

1975 Harlequin Clarion LP

The Instrumental Sounds of The Peter Piccini Orchestra

1975

Composed music theme for the ABC TV show The House – Theme played by the WASO Symphony Orchestra

1975 Calender LP

Organ Highlights

Peter Piccini at the Conn Organ

1980 ABC LP Recording

Orchestra of the West LP

Symphony Orchestra

1980 Creative Music Publications LP

Echoes of Europe

1980 Creative Music Publications Cassette

Musical Bouquet of Old Memories

(All music Composed by Peter Piccini Snr)

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CD Reviews

Echoes of Europe - Accordion with Rhythm Accompaniment          CLP-002

(All music composed by Peter Piccini Snr)

REVIEW BY TANIA LUKIC-MARX - April 13^th 2001

“Peter would be one of Australia’s finest accordion entertainers. He plays traditional style accordion entertainment –no high tech computerised sounds. His style is immediately recognisable: touch of class in his performance makes these simple, easy listening tunes a fine entertainment. From the very first sounds I heard, I thought how incredibly pleasant Peter’s style is! Peter’s CD would be (in my opinion) an example of the traditional accordion entertainment performing style: pleasant, easy listening, classy, and it makes you feel at ease”

Cool Change - Peter Piccini Jazz Trio CLP-003

(All music composed by Peter Piccini)

REVIEW BY TANIA LUKIC-MARX - August 31^st 2001

"On this 2nd recording, accordionist and entertainer Peter Piccini presents himself as a leading instrumentalist of his jazz trio which includes bass and drums.

This recording consists of 10 tunes, all composed and arranged by Peter in the jazz-swing style.

My first impression about this band was that these three instruments blend in together ideally. Although they are in the "back ground", drums and bass give good foundation. Their presence adds nicely to the overall sound image, creating a really "cool" jazz experience. As a listener I really appreciated that all the instruments were acoustic - no electronic attachments. The sound and the "feel" of an acoustic band is irreplaceable to me personally, with all due respect to modern technology.

Secondly, I loved Peter's playing style. His jazz-swing is mellow, yet full-flavoured and mature as well as technically clear and crisp. Peter plays with a lot of style and I enjoyed listening to his recording very much."

This CD has been played by all the radio and jazz shows throughout Australia.

Sounds Italian - Peter Piccini And His Accordion CLP-004

Vocal And Instrumental(words and music composed by Peter Piccini Snr)

REVIEW BY TANIA LUKIC-MARX - March 28th 2003

On this recording sent to me, Peter Piccini plays entertainment tunes written by his father Peter Piccini Snr. Peter Piccini Senior composed the music and words, and Peter Piccini Junior arranged the music and performed. Some of these tunes are written purely as an instrumental and some include vocals. All are of a light, dancing character.

Peter Piccini Senior holds the unofficial title of "The Daddy of the Accordion in Australia". Having decided to compose on his 88th birthday, Peter Snr went to work and composed twelve contrasting pieces with lyrics as well. Peter Senior's career started in Australia in 1924, his first appearance touring Queensland. In Sydney Peter Snr was the first accordionist to appear as featured soloist with the Isidor Goodman Orchestra at the St James Theatre, Sydney. In 1934 he appeared in the Movie "Strike Me Lucky" with Roy Rene, performed for the Tivoli Variety Show in Sydney and Melbourne, broadcasting on all National and Commercial Stations, broadcasting with Jim Davidson's famous dance band, 2FC Sydney Jack Davey Shows, Sir Charles Moses ABC, recorded for Regal Zonophone and Columbia Records. A Tour De France of the Accordion!

I found Peter Senior's career as an accordion entertainer in Australia quite remarkable, and I thought it to be quite an extraordinary achievement that he composed the music and words for this recording at the age of 88! The tunes he wrote are light, written in the traditional accordion entertainment style, very pleasant to listen to. In another words - it is quite polished entertainment, played with class by his son - Peter Piccini Junior.

Accordion Powerhouse - Peter Piccini CLP-005

Instrumental(music composed by Peter Piccini)

REVIEW BY Joan Cochran Sommers - May 2005

This music is what is usually called pretty, nice, pleasant, easy listening music suitable during dinner or for dancing afterwards. The tempos are all steady with a solid bass behind every piece. Drums are also used on many of the selections. The accordion takes the introduction, the bass joins and, often, a second accordion line is heard. Since no one is given credit for this, I assume Peter Piccini dubbed it in during another session. Most certainly it adds to the musical arrangements which are smooth swing with a bit of a jazz chorus for a very nice completion.

This is good music to do other things by reading, mending, doing homework …you will enjoy listening to it but it won't disturb your thoughts. Peter shows a great capacity for writing these very typical entertaining melodies and he has the right hand technique to play them very well. Several of the pieces exhibit this great right hand facility, notably the Gordi Kramer piece, especially.

Personally, I would have liked more variety of switch changes, perhaps, or even more different keys for some of the tunes but, all in all, this CD is very nicely produced by everyone involved and you will enjoy it.

Now Available Sheet Music in eSheet Format at The Largest Accordion Internet Site – Accordions Worldwide.

For more information on Sheet Music contact Peter.

Email:    peter.piccini@bigpond.com

Check out the Peter Piccini Picture Gallery at www.users.bigpond.com/Piccini/gallery

Also check out the Peter Piccini Snr Picture Gallery at www.users.bigpond.com/Piccini/snr