The Connecticut Accordion Association (CAA) paid tribute to one of the greatest accordionists of all time, 94 year old Anthony Mecca, at Vasi’s Restaurant in his hometown of Waterbury, Connecticut on February 22, 2015. The celebrity’s son, Bill Mecca of Watertown, Connecticut hosted the multi-media presentation, with Anthony’s former student, Don Gerundo of New Rochelle, New York coordinating technical support, audio and video programs.

The audience, including many of Meccas including Tony’s sister, Katherine, thoroughly enjoyed learning about Tony’s extraordinary accordion career, witnessing his work, and hearing his music. In attendance was 91 year old Waterbury resident, Gerry Hertel. He shared the excitement of his 16th birthday as an avid accordion student from New Jersey, celebrating by going to Carnegie Hall in New York City for an accordion concert, seeing and hearing Charles Magnante, the most famous accordionist in the world, and being very impressed with the young accordion duo, brothers Domenic and Anthony Mecca.

A milestone for the instrument, this was the first accordion concert ever held at Carnegie Hall. The thrill of 18 year old Tony Mecca’s life was to participate as an accordion duet with his brother, 24 year old Domenic in this event – which attracted 3,000 people representing New York’s highest musical and social circles.
At this memorable, history making, musical event, the two new personalities, the Mecca brothers, were introduced by NBC T.V. Commentator, Kelvin Keech.

According to Anthony Galla-Rini – renowned accordionist, composer, and conductor……“When they (Tony and Dom Mecca) were invited to take part in this concert, they approached me to prepare a duet arrangement of Gershwin’s ‘Rhapsody In Blue’ as their one selection. The Mecca brothers paid me $60.00 for my arrangement.”

Galla-Rini went on to say, “After they finished the last note and walked off the stage at the concert, the applause was so strong and prolonged, that the Mecca brothers had to come back for an encore! In Vaudeville day parlance, that was described as stopping the show. The Meccas did just that at the Carnegie Hall concert, so the next act could not go on until the audience got their encore. They chose Pietro Frosini’s “Jolly Caballero”, and won enthusiastic appreciation. These brilliant young stars already had a wide following.”

Encores at Carnegie Hall transpired for Tony Mecca in 1959 and 1962 -the latter, a gala accordion concert featuring the Tony Mecca Trio, plus classical accordionists Carmen Carrozza, Charles Magnante, Andy Arcari, Betty Ann McCall – and Joe Biviano, who conducted the Accordion Symphony Society of New York .

Born on January 9, 1921, Anthony Mecca’s first accordion teacher at age 10 was Domenic Mecca, his 6 year older brother. At age 13, Tony continued his musical studies in New York City with Joe Biviano – performer, composer, and a founder of A.A.A. Renowned accordion performer and composer, Pietro Frosini, taught Tony bellows shake techniques.

While serving in the U.S. Army Air Corps from 1941 to 1945, Tony entertained the troops. In 1946, he moved to New York City, where he joined the teaching staff of Joe Biviano School of Music, recorded extensively for radio and television, performing in concerts and club dates as well. Around 1956, he opened his own music school In Westchester County, New York.

In the 1950s, ‘60s, and ‘70s, Tony performed in all major A.A.A. annual events at the Town Hall in New York City, plus Chicago, Cleveland , and Washington D.C. He was the regular guest artist at concerts and advertising campaigns for Fred Gretsch – world’s largest instrument manufacturer, with headquarters spanning 10 stories of a city block in Brooklyn, New York.

Tony performed for Annunzio Montovani, Michael Tilson Thomas, and for Leonard Bernstein with the New York Center Symphony, providing background for the Broadway musical, Cinerama, plus operas – “Four Saints in Three Acts” and “Wozzeck”. He has recorded with Andre Kostelanetz, Percy Faith, Mitch Miller, and performed in the orchestras of the Lucky Strike Hit Parade, Bobby Vinton and Ed Sullivan Shows, plus many others featuring accordion on T.V. networks, NBC,CBS, ABC – including the Perry Como and Vic Damone Shows. For 5 years, Tony was staff musician at New York City Radio Station WOV.

For RCA Victor, Columbia, and Decca…Mecca recorded several albums with accordion great, Joe Biviano. Tony accompanied Frankie Laine, singer, international star for his recording of “Raw Hide”, the theme song for the T.V. series, which aired from 1959 through 1966.

While remaining active in the accordion field in the empire state, Tony relocated in 1983 to the Palm Beach, Florida area, where he became very involved entertaining at society galas, various celebrity shows, and private parties. The 50 piece Lauderdale Pops Orchestra frequently featured Tony Mecca as accordion soloist.

A high point of Tony’s career was December 3, 2000, when he performed with the Naples, Florida Symphony Orchestra, accompanying the world famous Italian tenor….Luciano Pavarotti’s agent had contacted 8 different contractors in pursuit of an accordionist for this concert. Each and every one of them recommended only one accordionist, Anthony Mecca.

For approximately 35 years, from the 1950s through the ‘80s, Tony served on the Governing Board of American Accordionists’ Association, was their 2nd Vice President from 1960 through 1969, and again in the early ‘80s.

The song, “Isolde Polka”, was written by Tony in honor of his wife, Jeannette. After she died, Mecca moved back to Connecticut in 2014. Tony currently resides in Wolcott, and enjoys the attention and camaraderie at Connecticut Accordion Association gatherings with his son, Bill Mecca.

Tony Mecca’s legacy will live on through his family, friends, and accordion students – like Bob Siarkowski of Plantsville, Connecticut, who studied with him for 2 years in New Rochelle, NY, practiced 3-5 hours a day, and recalls their first meeting…….“Tony asked me to play something. I played an advanced version of “Talk Of The Town”. Then he said, “Hold up your right hand. The thumb is a finger. How many fingers do you have?” I said “Five. So he taught me five finger chords. Tony Mecca was the best jazz accordionist and teacher, bar none. God bless him for all he did for me and the accordion world.”