On Thursday, October 4, 2018, Mayor Bill de Blasio and his wife hosted the annual Italian Heritage Celebration at their Gracie Mansion home in NYC. The celebration was attended by hundreds of people who were of Italian heritage and represented various Italian organizations throughout the city.
As the the people entered into the celebration area, which was located in a large tent on the grounds of Gracie Mansion, they were welcomed by “Papa Joe” De Clemente on the accordion. Joe received numerous compliments from the visitors and many of them requested Papa Joe to join them in their personal photos.
“Papa Joe” De Clemente, who lives in Queens, New York, was brought up in an Italian family environment and started playing the accordion at the young age of nine years old in 1956. He was interested in playing because he used to visit his relatives, the IORIO’s, who manufactured accordions in NYC, as far back as 1907. Joe has performed in numerous venues and loves to entertain people. He is also a member of the Long Island Accordion Alliance.
Joe DeClemente volunteers once a week early in the morning to assist the music teacher, Linda Holcomb, at an elementary school music program at PS 203Q, in Bayside, Queens which may be one of the only elementary schools in the five boroughs of New York City that has a student accordion band. The school started their accordion band fifteen years ago. They meet once a week, at the beginning of the school day to practice various songs that they will perform throughout the year.
Papa Joe volunteers his time to join the students for rehearsals and he inspires them to be better accordionists. Among the many things he does for them, he also fixes their accordions!
Joe shares his love for the accordion, “To me, music has been a language that crosses all barriers, speaking to all people and bringing joy to those who listen. The box has been my pal for over 60 years and I am glad the Lord gave me this special gift”
Joe has been married to his wife, Janet, for 49 years and is the father of 4 kids and has 11 grandchildren. Over the years, he has shared his love of the accordion with many people who developed a love and appreciation of the instrument because of his enthusiasm
For further information: Joedeclemente@yahoo.com
