AWW announces the publication of a fascinating new book about the accordion available on September 1, 2018. “Accordion Stories from the Heart: A Collection of Accordions from Around the World and Their Stories, Inspired by the Extraordinary People Who Played Them” (Accordion Stories Volume #1) by Angelo Paul Ramunni

Author Paul Ramunni shares: “The intention in creating this book was to make it a pleasurable, as well as an educational, viewing experience. But in the collecting of the many pictures, stories and in the production of the work itself, something quite unexpected happened.

As you read through the stories and see the various pictures of accordions, a composite mental picture may begin to immerge for you. It is the simple image of an accordionist offering their personal gift of music to the listener(s). This representative picture of how accordion players connected and created lasting relationships with other people is a hallmark of the accordion experience. They offered people their friendship in the form of a musically created greeting card, if you will, one that was personally built and delivered by the player.

As a grandparent these days, I am especially touched when my two beautiful grandsons create or build something themselves and offer it as a gift to me. They make that gift just for me and no one else, and so it becomes very special. As it turns out, that is how many accordion players from the past, and even today, create and deliver their musical gifts to people. It has the effect of bringing folks together and helping relationships grow deeper and stronger. In a sense, it can have the effect of building a bridge between people that, under ordinary circumstances, may have never occurred. It offers a starting point from which a mutually reciprocal relationship can develop and grow.

As of this writing, this is something our society seems to need in great quantities these days. Our country is deeply divided on many social and governing issues. But then again this is not something so new. This was the case often enough in the last 200 plus years of our American history, which coincidentally is at least how long the accordion has been around. I truly believe that during this period, the accordion helped many people come together through the tough times in their lives. Its musical message brought a sense of healing, happiness and unity. I also believe it can continue to do so as we move deeper into the 21st century. I hope we will let it continue to deliver its magic.”

You can order the book from the Amazon website.
For further information:
Paul Ramunni by phone: 860-833-1374
Email: ramunni@comcast.net

Paul Ramunni grew up on Long Island, New York in the 1950’s and 60’s. He graduated from Fairfield University with a bachelor’s degree in Economics in 1970. He went on to earn a Masters Degree in Economics from Fordham University and eventually a second Masters Degree in Accounting from Long Island University in 1976.

In 1978 he became a Certified Public Accountant and started his own public accounting firm in 1982, of which he is still a partner.

It was in 2008 when Paul suddenly (and inexplicably) had the urge to start playing the accordion again. He had taken lessons and played in an accordion band from when he was 10 years old to age 17, but had not touched the accordion since those early days. Once the “bug to play” re-entered his life, he started hunting for old and collectible accordions.

He contacted the Cleveland Accordion Museum and purchased a large portion of their collection and continued to find more units at tag sales and other locations. He then set up “The New England Accordion Connection and Museum Co.” which is currently attached to his home in Canaan, Conn.