“The Amazing Accordion Kings” features three world renowned accordionists: Angelo DiPippo, Frank Toscano and Manny Corallo.These master musicians have created beautiful arrangements covering the spectrum from opera to jazz.
Angelo DiPippo, a graduate of Holy Cross College, with a Master’s degree from C.W. Post College and an honorary Doctorate from Five Towns College, has played on thousands of recording sessions having recorded and concertized with such artists as Peggy Lee, Billy Eckstein, James Earl Jones, Judy Collins, The Ramones, Robert Merrill, Harry Belafonte, Debbie Reynolds, Donald O’Connor, Randy Newman, Theodore Bikel, The Four Lads, Roberta Peters, Don Sebesky, Mary Duff and Gilbert Becaud.
Angelo and his Jazz Group have made appearances at the Newport Jazz Festival and many other Jazz venues. His appearances include: The Tonight Show, The Today Show, The Regis Philbin Show, The New York City ballet, Sesame Street, The New York Pops with Skitch Henderson, Jackie Gleason Show, etc.
Angelo was voted best accordionist in America in the prestigious “Keyboard Magazine Poll.” Angelo may be seen and heard playing accordion in the wedding scene of Godfather I. He has also appeared or played in “Lovers And Other Strangers”, “Wiseguys”, “Wait Until Spring Bandini”, “Cookie”, “Playing For Time”, “Tuff Turf”, “Johnny Skidmarks”, “The Dangerous Hero”, “Johnny Skidmarks”, “The Dangerous Hero”, etc. Angelo has played in several Broadway Productions including: “Carnival”, “Fiddler On The Roof”, “Irma La Douce”, and “Follies Bergere”. Angelo conducted and arranged for the eminent Metropolitan Opera baritone Robert Merrill and is presently active in New York City as an accordionist and arranger.
Manny Corallo is one of the Amazing Accordion Kings. At age 4 he started playing drums, switching soon after to accordion, taking lessons from his father’s music teacher, Frank Toscano. By age 13 Manny began piano lessons and continued to study with Frank who provided Manny with proper classical training in addition to a love for jazz. Manny met another great musician, Angelo DiPippo. Inspired by Angelo’s accomplishments,, Manny began his career arranging for tenor Peter Colombo and accompanying him on his tours as his piano conductor later arranging and recording two albums for Peter. Manny met record producer and engineer Gerry “Doc” Comito of Sonic Sound Recording Studio in Freeport,N.Y.who gave him many more projects.
Manny has played accordion on various ethnic albums, and scored “Mr. Men & Little Miss”, a children’s cartoon. The producer was so pleased with Manny that the next project he was given was the famous “Pokemon”. This led to Pokemon’s motion picture followed by the animated television series “ Tama & Friends”, “Kirby Right back at ya”, Sonic X etc. Recently Manny had a dream come true recording with Frank Toscano, and Angelo DiPippo and continues to work as a composer,arranger, and music editor.
Frank Toscano, coming from an Italian family who had a deep love for music, took lessons on the accordion and it became the passion of his life. He continued his studies on both the accordion and piano, and at the age of twenty-one opened the Frank Toscano Music School which continues to flourish with students of all ages. In his professional career, Frank has performed for many artists including Peter Columbo, Mikhail Barishnikov, and Aidan Quinn. He can be heard on many recordings of other artists. Frank appears at the Magnanini Winery as well as the North Hempstead Country Club and various other well-known clubs around the tri-state area. For more info about Frank, please refer to the article in this issue.
For info on the artists and purchase of the CD Email: franktee@amazingaccordionkings.com
