La Villini Restaurant of East Northport, NY is sponsoring the next meeting of the Long Island Accordion Alliance (LIAA) on Wed., Oct. 3, 2018. The featured guest artist will be “Papa Joe DeClemente.”

Papa Joe DeClemente is a modest person. He is generous with his time and musical talents. He said, “As a young boy, I went to my relatives, the “Iorio’s”  who made the accordion. After a number of visits to their shop, I wanted to learn how to play. I started playing the accordion in 1956. 

In the 60’s, we started a band, the Moonlight Quartet” and played together for many years.Today I play solo and sing for the Mature Audiences, Italian Restaurants and Seniors. I have this passion to play and sing for anyone who might listen.”

Joe DeClemente volunteers once a week early in the morning to assist the music teacher, Linda Holcomb, at an elementary school music program at PS203Q, in Bayside, Queens which may be one of the only elementary schools in the five boroughs of New York City that has a student accordion band.

It is made up of ten 4th and 5th graders and is conducted by the school’s music teacher, Mrs. Linda Holcomb. The school started their accordion band fifteen years ago. They meet once a week, at the beginning of the school day to practice various songs that they will perform throughout the year.

For the past two years, the group has been fortunate to have the guidance of community member and professional accordionist, “Papa Joe” De Clemente. Papa Joe volunteers his time to join the students for rehearsals and he inspires them to be better accordionists. Among the many things he does for them, he also fixes their accordions! (Sometimes nine and ten year olds don’t exactly treat their accordion like they deserve to be treated!)

Joe shares his love for the accordion, “To me, music has been a language that crosses all barriers, speaking to all people and bringing joy to those who listen. The box has been my pal for over 60 years and I am glad the Lord gave me this special gift”

For LIAA reservations:
La Villini Restaurant
288 Larkfield Road.
East Northport, NY 11731
631 – 261 – 6344

For further information: JoeDeClemente@Yahoo.com