Tony Lovello in 2009 performing the famous Frank Sinatra melody “Strangers in the Night”
AWW is sad to report the passing of accordionist Tony Lovello. Tony was a unique person, blessed not only with great talent but with the special ability to touch the heart and soul of everyone he met, always with a kind word, an enthusiastic desire to spread joy with music, and a sense of modesty. He will be greatly missed.
Excerpts from the ACCORDIONS NOW! brochure by Donna Regis: Since 2000, following his retirement from a 31-year career detour into hotel management, Tony recorded 14 CDs, performed over 250 concerts, arranged hundreds of songs (including some beautiful originals), given dozens of seminars, received five Lifetime Achievement Awards, been proclaimed “King and Master of the Bellow Shake” by the late great maestro Galla-Rini and hailed as “The Living Legend of the Accordion World”.
Born in 1932 in Buffalo, New York, Tony first became interested in the accordion at age five. Under the guidance of his father, Anthony Lovullo, Sr., Tony quickly excelled and was soon performing in public. When he was 12, his family moved to Los Angeles, where Tony was discovered by Eddie Cantor, who suggested the teen-aged Tony change his last name from Lovullo to Lovello. An interesting and exciting career ensued: Tony performed not only with Eddie Cantor, but with such greats as George Jessel, Kate Smith, Jimmy Durante, Debbie Reynolds, Scatman Crothers and Frank Sinatra.
While serving with the US Army during the Korean conflict, Tony made several performance tours to Korea and Alaska. His military duty complete, he resumed his stellar career. He performed on the Arthur Godfrey TV Show, then joined the legendary Three Suns (of “Twilight Time” and “Peg ‘O My Heart” fame) with whom he recorded and toured extensively for several years.
After an illness that left him deaf in the left ear, Tony decided to retire from active show business and went into the hotel business and settled down in the city of Lexington, KY. It didn’t take long for Tony to get back in the circle of music performing his exciting arrangement of “The National Anthem” at Rupp Area, which inspired the late George Steinbrenner to invite Tony to perform the same at “Yankee Stadium”. His brother Sam Lovullo, producer of the TV show “Hee Haw”, then invited him to make several appearances with Roy Clark and the “Hee Haw” gang.”
His granddaughter Jessica said, Today heaven gained another Angel. My best friend, role model, inspiration and the best grandad I could have ever asked for. I am so truly blessed to have spent my 20 years on this earth with you part of it and I will never forget all of the wonderful memories we created and life lessons you taught me. You are truly one of a kind. I promise to never let you down and always keep my car full of gas. I know this life will never be the same without you, but I also know you will watch over us and keep us safe. I am so lucky to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard. I couldn’t thank you enough for your part in my journey, until we meet again grandad, I love you always.
His granddaughter Olivia said, “Today I said goodbye to my best friend, my role model, the greatest accordion player in the world, and my biggest supporter. Grandad, you’ve touched more lives than I can count. You’ve given me so many things to live for and so many dreams to pursue. I knew that I’d never be ready for this day and I was right. You told me just a few days ago that I was going to be alright, I hope you’re right, you usually always were. I’ll continue to live through you everyday. You sure were one of a kind. I am so grateful to have spent 20 years with you. Love you always, grandad.”
The arrangements for Tony Lovello will be Wednesday, from 5 to 8 at Pax Christi Catholic Church for visitation and the funeral will be at 11:30 on Thursday, also at Pax Christi Catholic Church.
