The Immigrant Sons performed for the German Park Recreation Club in Ann Arbor on June 25, 2016.
The inception of Immigrant Sons is the culmination of all the musical history and heritage of the band members. Immigrant Sons allows all the Band members to come together and provide a wonderful blend of cultures. Most importantly, it allows them to continue what they enjoys most… playing a variety of music that makes people want to dance and tap their feet, creating the kind of fun that builds life long memories.
Immigrant Sons specialize in International Music for Festivals, Weddings and other Special Events, performing a wide variety of German, Italian, Polish, Austrian, Spanish, French and Contemporary Music.
The band members are:
Horn and Vocals – Stephan Lang ( son of German Immigrants )
Guitar & Vocals – Dave Accomando ( son of Italian Immigrants )
Drums & Vocals – Chris Gassel ( son of German Immigrants )
Accordion, Bass & Vocals – Joe Recchia ( son of Italian Immigrants )
Message from the band members: “Most of us are descendants of immigrants. For some of us that journey involves generations. For others it is a more recent if not a personal experience. Regardless of the distance in time, our family traditions reflect some influence from our cultures of origin.
While we are encouraged to assimilate into American culture, our homes retain the traditions and customs of our ethnic heritage. Not through rigid enforced activities but through the ever-present music echoing through the rooms. There were also many boisterous and happy melodies encouraging a lust for life and laughter.
Simple, yet lyrically powerful and poignant, these songs have provided a glimpse into the heart of the immigrant allowing us to experience the longing for a home left behind. These experiences instilled within each of us, the love and appreciation for the music that remains with us today.
Our band “Immigrant Sons” is a tribute to those in our families, past and present, distant and near who immigrated to the United States and to thank them for their sacrifices.”
Accordionist Joe Recchia is a first generation Italian and very proud of his heritage. Joe is thankful for sacrifices that his Immigrant parents and grandparents have made to provide a better life for his family. Joe currently holds the office as President of the Michigan Accordion Society and is a dedicated ambassador and promoter for the accordion. (See article in this publication about MAS scholarships).
Joe’s accordion DNA comes from a long line of famous accordionists; his grandfather was Henry Ford’s personal accordionist and music director at the Ford Mansion in Dearborn, MI and was labeled as “The Famous Accordionists of the Ford Motor Car Company”.
Joe’s uncle Tony Dannon world famous Jazz Accordionists, teacher, composer, promoter as well as one of the owners of the “Modern Accordion School” in Dearborn Michigan which was well known for the most successful accordion school in the nation.
His cousin also an accordionist is baseball legend hall of famer and former Atlanta Braves Pitcher John Smoltz. Music has been a part of Joe and his family all his life and Joe is excited to be part of a this wonderful ethnic band the “Immigrant Son”.
For more info: jrecchia@comcast.net
