1912-2010
Accordionist • Educator • Composer • Innovator
Born in Sicily, Charles Nunzio came to the U.S. at the age of 8 with his mother in 1921. His father, Giovanni, had come to the U.S. five years earlier to earn enough to bring his family here. They settled in Newark. The passport photo of 8-year-old Charles and his mother shows Charles beaming with a big
smile. Most likely, Charles was anticipating being reunited with his father. His mom, on the other hand, had a sour expression; she probably realized the 26-day voyage to America would be stormy and difficult. Charles became a world-famous accordion artist, teacher, composer, and arranger.
He had music studios in Newark, New York, and later in Nutley — the Nunzio Music Centre, at 401 Franklin Avenue. There he trained many champion accordionists who became successful professional artists in the
1950s and 60s, sold instruments and records, and sustained a busy performing schedule. He managed to compose accordion pieces and wrote hundreds of arrangements for popular and classical music. He was a busy guy! Even in his 90s, he was teaching students. One young accordionist traveled from Rhode Island to receive coaching from Charles. That young man won national and international championships. One advanced student found that many of his arrangements served as great instructional aids as well as
additions to his repertoire.
Charles married Helen Vitiello in 1941, and they lived on Oakley Terrace for almost three decades. They had two sons, John and Charles. Helen taught English in the Newark public schools for about 30 years, interrupted during World War II, when she managed the Music Centre for Charles, who was serving in the U.S. Navy.
Charles made his professional debut in a recital at Town Hall, NYC, in 1933, and an appearance in Carnegie Hall the following year. In 1937 he was a consultant to an accordion manufacturer, where he toured their facilities in Italy and suggested design features for new models suited to the professional artist. While there, he performed at many venues for goodwill. There is a photo of Charles playing the accordion in a gondola on a Venice canal. In 1938 he became a founding Board member of the American Accordionists
Association along with other renowned musicians, such as Pietro Frosini, Anthony Galla-Rini, Charles Magnante, Pietro Deiro, and John Gart.
In the late 1930s, he was doing an average of 35 radio shows a week on WOR, NBC, CBS, and making commercial recordings for Decca, Victor, and Columbia. His 40-piece accordion orchestra won first prize at the 1939 New York World’s Fair. He also performed with Guy Lombardo, Rudy Vallee, and Lester Lanin.
He occasionally played on the original Rambling with Gambling WOR radio broadcast. Radio had live music in those days. In August of 1942, he showed up at the broadcast at 5 a.m. wearing bedroom slippers — he hadn’t time to put on shoes because he had taken Helen to the hospital to give birth to their first son, John.
Charles helped the WWII effort by performing programs for the Veterans Administration and defense plant workers. Later, he served in the U.S. Navy as Musician 2nd Class Petty Officer, where he performed on coast-to-coast programs with the “Blue Jackets.” Later, stationed at Bunker Hill Naval Air Station in Peru, Indiana, he assembled a six-piece orchestra, the “Melody Mates.” They played three radio broadcasts weekly and all the dances for the Navy personnel. Charles tested so well on pitch recognition that, at first, the Navy wanted him to be a sonar operator on a submarine. But at 6 feet 2 inches and 220 pounds, this was not a good fit for him. And on a cramped submarine — where would he put his accordion?
A consummate performer, he received many awards. In 2002, the American Accordion Musicological Society (AAMS) honored Charles at their annual event. The plaque he was awarded summarized his 70-year career: “Presented to The Legendary Charles Nunzio in recognition of your contributions in developing the accordion’s American Evolution as artist, teacher, composer, and innovator, and as an inspiring idol to so many accordionists. The impact of your contributions will forever be felt.”
Charles, at 89 years young, performed his arrangement of El Cumbanchero, complete with bellow-shakes, at the award ceremony. He received a standing ovation.
A memorial concert was held in his memory in 2011 by the Accordion Pops Orchestra for the benefit of the Alzheimer’s Association. One of his last students praised his musicianship and teaching when offering condolences on Charles’ passing in 2010. He recalled that Mr. Nunzio would advise, “Don’t look down at the keyboard. They’ll think you’re asleep—or crying. Look up and smile.” But the greatest lesson was shown through his love for the
instrument, its music, and the dignity he gave to it.