The accordion is truly an international instrument. This was very evident at the October 26th gathering of the Connecticut Accordion Association. The very talented Ed Hendela from Long Pond, Pennsylvania was the featured guest artist. He captivated the audience with his varied repertoire. His solo performance, reflective of his Scandinavian and German heritage – was even more interesting and meaningful, given Ed’s background of every song selection – from start to “FINNISH”.
Following Ed’s performance, Anita and Bob Siarkowski joined Ed on their accordions, the trio pleasantly surprising the accordion lovers with Octoberfest themed selections.
Ed Hendela has been listening to Scandinavian music in his home since he was a little boy. His Uncle Armas played accordion, and at family gatherings, the accordion was always a prominent
addition to the festivities. Ed began his lessons at the Kearny Conservatory of Music (later became the National Conservatory of Music) under Bruno Amato, Alfonso Veltri, and Patsy Veltri.
He began his professional career, playing a New Years Eve party for a Vasa group in New Jersey when he was 16. Many gigs followed. Ed leaned on the preparation of his music teachers, who stressed the importance of chord structure in learning many dance tunes from fake books for American gigs, along with exercise books that stressed finger dexterity that he leaned upon for polkas and ethnic songs.
Ed played Scandinavian music at New Jersey Vasa Home Park in Budd Lake, NJ for many years, with Joe Hendrickson, one of Paul Whiteman’s former drummers, as “the Norsemen.” Ed used his
Cordovox to add bass, accordion, and organ to complete the orchestra sound. The duo then played for 15 months at Kjellman’s Viking Inn, Stanhope, NJ, playing music of the 1930’s and 40’s while Ed was in college.
Ed began playing Finnish music in the early 1980s after moving from NJ to Connecticut with his US Government engineering job. He played at Aura Hall in Voluntown, CT, at the Finnish American Club in Canterbury, CT, Sovettaja Park in Rutland, MA, Saima Park in Fitchburg, MA, and the Finnish Halls in Lake Worth, and Lantana, Florida. He still plays in Florida for those clubs each winter!
Since those early days, Ed has teamed up with the Sveriges Cult Band (Swedish Culture Band) from Sweden. The band performed 2 shows each day for several Octobers at the Norsk Hostfest, Minot, ND, and at the 2002 Klondike Days in Edmonton, Alberta, where they performed 2 shows daily for the 14-day event. He most recently has performed for the Ambassador of Finland for a private party at her residence and at the Embassy of Finland in
Washington, DC in May, 2014.
Hendela is a regular performer within the Scandinavian community, playing for Sons of Norway convention in Albany the past June, for Sweden Day at the Svea Club in Kensington, CT, for
Midsommar events at Vasa Park, Budd Lake, NJ and the Finnish Community of the Delaware Valley, and the annual Scandinavian Festival each Labor Day Sunday in Budd Lake, New Jersey.
