Bob LaBua began taking accordion lessons at age of nine at Joe Delea Music Studio in Jamaica, Queens. His first accordion was on a twelve bass Hohner.

“After two years, my father drove me into the city on a sunny Sunday morning to audition for Joe Biviano at the Biviano School of Music on West 48th Street in Manhattan. I took lessons there for four years under the auspices of Victor Leone primarily but at times Tony Mecca substituted for him. In my first year I graduated from a sixty bass Galenti to my first one-hundred and twenty bass Mussi accordion.”

“I eventually asked Mr. Leone if I could study popular songs like the ones I heard on the radio. He told me ʻno!ʼ If you play the accordion pieces that I teach, youʼll be able to play anything.”

Bob eventually teamed up with some of his friends that played instruments and formed a little combo playing at local dances and Christmas parties. Bob married his sweetheart Regina in 1959 and began raising a family of four children. Needless to say there was not much time for the accordion. He very seldom played except at special family parties. In 1996 Regina surprised him with a new accordion – “a magnificent one-hundred and twenty bass Bell” (with a beautiful musette tuning) from Aldo Meccacini.“

“Unfortunately, for the following thirteen years, this gem of an accordion sat most of the time in the case, in the closet, only played a few times a year. I did not play much but my love for music and the accordion never left me.”

“Last September, I had the pleasure to discover the Long Island Accordion Alliance (LIAA) at a local restaurant in Commack, NY. I was so greatly overwhelmed by the talent in that room. I said to my wife that is how the accordion should be played. The accordionists that I heard at subsequent meetings inspired me and reignited my desire to get back to playing.

I thank all the virtuosos that have contributed to my renewed interest and the great personal enjoyment and satisfaction that I now get from my beloved accordion.”
The rest is history. At the March meeting of Long Island Accordion Alliance (LIAA) at La Villini Restaurant (East Northport, NY) Bob brought his beautiful Bell and played four selections flawlessly. His performance was greeted with tremendous applause.

Welcome back Bob LaBua and keep on squeezing. Bravo! Bravo!