Video 1:Frank performs during participant performance evening in June 2011, Castelfidardo Italy
Video 2 : Frank performs with Eddie Monteiro during his nearly five-hour birthday party in January 2011, Mesa Arizona.

The legendary accordionist, Frank Marocco, would have turned 90 on January 2, 2021. When Frank asked Joan Grauman and me to run an accordion orchestra camp for him in late 2006, we said that we had never done this before, but since it was Frank who asked, and since we had previously attended a session of the Galla-Rini Accordion Camp, we said that we would give it a try. We picked Mesa, Arizona as a location that would be in driving distance for attendees from the West and easily accessible by air for other participants. The first event was held in January 2007 and went well. We had a waiting list in subsequent years.
Frank enjoyed these events as much as the participants. He was one of the kindest and most accessible artists that I have known. He treated every participant regardless of playing ability equally, paying full attention when anyone performed. The 2011 event, which took place in January, was one of the highlights of our 8-year run. It was the year we celebrated Frank’s 80th birthday. There was a second birthday celebration in Castelfidardo, Italy, directed by Frank’s Manager & Publicist, Elke Ahrenholz. Sadly, it would be the last event in which he would participate, as he passed away in March 2012. Stas Venglevski, whom Frank chose as Assistant Music Director, led the orchestra during the last three years.
The two videos included in this article are beautiful ways by which to remember Frank
Video 1: Frank performs during participant performance evening in June 2011, Castelfidardo, Italy.
Video 2: Frank performs with Eddie Monteiro during his nearly five-hour birthday party in January 2011, Mesa, Arizona.