I would like to Thank every one taking time to visit my website. I am not a professional accordionist, I am just an oldster having fun with old music. I hope to bring a smile to a few faces. I played accordion most of my life. Started in 1951 when I was 6 years old. During the 80’s and 90’s, my ex and I played as a duo known as the Good Time Two. We parted ways in 2008 and I did not play much after that. My wonderful Elkavox weighed 29 pounds and became way to heavy for me to lift. In 2019 I decided to get a smaller accordion that I could handle. I bought a small, 14 pound Roland FR 1X.… Read the rest
Open Up You Your Heart and Let The Sunshine In
Another Sunshine Song. Open Up Your Heart And Let The Sunshine In. A Facebook friend asked about the song. I looked it up and slightly remembered it. Once I started playing it, I did remember singing it back in the good old days! Thank You for the memory. I hope you enjoy singing along and feeling a bit of sunshine! This was written by Stuart Hamblen in 1953 and released it in an album in 1956, “It Is No Secret.” When he was 18 years old, Stuart took a job on KAYO-AM radio in Abilene, Texas, becoming radio’s first “singing” cowboy. He went on to write many songs including “This Ole House”.… Read the rest
You Are My Sunshine
You Are My Sunshine. This is my musette, waltz version. I never studied music theory, so it might break every rule written, but I had fun with it and did it my way. LOL My non-musician friends really like to hear the old, standard singalongs. Can’t get any better than You Are My Sunshine. So I hope you singalong. “You Are My Sunshine” is a song popularized by Jimmie Davis and Charles Mitchell in 1939. It has been declared one of the state songs of Louisiana because of its association with Davis, a country music singer and governor of the state in the years 1944–1948 and 1960–1964.… Read the rest
Whatever Will Be, Will Be – Que Sera, Sera
Happy Mother’s Day. Que Sera, Sera – Whatever Will Be, Will Be seemed like a great Mother’s Day song. I am sure we have all asked our Mom’s about our future. It is an easy, fun singalong. I dug up a bunch of my old photos back when I was probably asking my Mom if I would be pretty or rich or ??? I can’t believe how old the cars are in my photos!!! I was born in 1944, so that’s a hint. I hope you enjoy my old fashioned version and sing along. “Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be)” is a song written by the team of Jay Livingston and Ray Evans that was first published in 1955. Doris Day introduced it in the Alfred Hitchcock film The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956), singing it as a cue to their on screen kidnapped son.… Read the rest
Two Guitars
I wanted to do a traditional accordion piece and looked into my old, very old lesson books. I always had fun playing this when I was young and have more fun now that I am old. LOL I had this for a lesson Oct. 29, 1952 – not a typo, 1952. I definitely did not play it as written, but just played it my way and had fun today. Although known as a Russian Gypsy folk-song , Two Guitars (Две гитары) actually had a composer -Ivan Vasiliev 1810 – 1870 with lyrics by Apollon Grigoriev. It seems to have been written for a Gypsy folk choir that Vasiliev ran with Grigoriev.… Read the rest
No Love
No Love, but your love. Interesting song in a minor mood. I like to play it now and then. It was written by B. Myles in 1957. It was first recorded by Johnny Mathis with Ray Conniff and His Orchestra in 1957.… Read the rest
What A Wonderful World
Beautiful song my friend has asked me to play quite a few times. It’s a rainy, Spring day in Ohio, so a wonderful day to think about What A Wonderful World we live in. “What a Wonderful World” is a song written by Bob Thiele (as “George Douglas”) and George David Weiss. It was first recorded by Louis Armstrong and released in 1967 as a single, which topped the pop charts in the United Kingdom.… Read the rest
A Rose And A Baby Ruth
A Rose and A Baby Ruth. What fun to play and sing. I actually didn’t remember this one, but you can tell it is an old early rock tune. Thought I would sing the silly lyrics. I hope you feel transported back to the 50’s. LOL “A Rose and a Baby Ruth” is a song written by John D. Loudermilk under his “Johnny Dee” pseudonym. The song was published in 1956. The best-known version was recorded by George Hamilton IV. The song reached number 6 on the Billboard magazine pop chart and spent 20 weeks on the chart.… Read the rest
I’m In The Mood For Love
I’m In The Mood For Love with Jr. Petosa. Still getting to know this little guy. Got his mics connected to my computer to record with Audacity. Thought it sounds better this way for videos. The bass is super powerful and I turned it way, way down. I’ve been playing my old standards to get an idea how he sounds compared to my other accordions. He is VERY touchy, just like a man. LOL It is like driving a sports care compared to driving a Mac Truck. Every movement has a meaning and you better be very conservative when playing him. I will get use to playing smoother, hopefully. I’m In The Mood for Love written by Jimmy McHugh and Dorothy Fields in 1935.… Read the rest
These Foolish Things
These Foolish Things played with my new (slightly used) Petosa Little Pro. Actually his full name is Vampire Petosa Little Pro Piano Accordion LMM 26 72. I have problems lifting the heavy accordions, so I though I would get something smaller. Like my Old Age Insurance Plan so I can keep playing for a few more years. It weighs 14.5 lbs Yes, it is small with only 2 + octaves, but in real life, has a wonderful sound for a little guy. I don’t bounce octaves that much and play with chords, so it sounds pretty good. The challenge is learning to play on a short keyboard, sound good with sold chords and play smoothly. Thought it might be nice to use at a nursing home instead of carrying a larger accordion. Yes, I give up a bit on sound quality, but my back doesn’t hurt after I play. LOL… Read the rest
Lilacs in the Rain
I see Lilacs in the rain and you are with me again when April sprinkles her dreams in my heart. Happy Birthday Mom. She would have been 99 today, but unfortunately left us at 96. She loved my accordion playing from the time I started at 7 years old in 1951. This ones for you Mom, wherever you are. The song Lilacs in the Rain was written by Peter De Rose in 1939. Dick Jurgens and His Orchestra first recorded it on August 19, 1939. PS If you have really good speakers, I apologize for my dog snoring in the background. LOL I didn’t realize it until I was all done. LOL Mom loved all my dogs, too.… Read the rest
English Country Garden Variations
A friend asked that I play Country Garden after hearing it in a British film. It is a fairly simple song and I thought it would be fun to play it with different styles and different instruments via Mr. Roland. 7 variations, 7 instruments and 7 minutes. It is a long journey and I had GREAT fun programing Mr. Roland and choosing what styles to use. I hope it might bring a smile to your face as you spend an afternoon in the Country Garden.… Read the rest
Soon It’s Gonna Rain
It’s Spring – Soon It’s Gonna Rain. A beautiful song I always enjoy playing. Great chords and melody as with most songs from musicals. It is a song from the musical comedy The Fantasticks, with lyrics written by Tom Jones, and music composed by Harvey Schmidt in 1960.… Read the rest