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http://www.accordions.com/news.aspx?d=08-Nov-2013&lang=ru&s=7970
http://www.accordions.com/news.aspx?d=08-Nov-2013&lang=ru&s=7970
08-Nov-2013
by Rob Howard
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 Jazz accordionist Tommy Gumina died from cancer on October 28th 2013 at the age of 82 in Los Angeles.Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Tommy Gumina, enjoyed a long and very successful career, recorded scores of albums, and very nearly had a cinema career, too. He was cast to play the role of Angelo Maggio in ‘From Here to Eternity’ in 1953, but before it went into production, Frank Sinatra went to the studio and asked for the role. Gumina said he was disappointed but thought Sinatra was "wonderful in the role - probably better than I could have been, but it was a role that I wanted and think I could have done very well”. He added, "I admit I would like to win the reputation of being a fine actor, but the accordion is my real love as a career." Throughout the 1950s and 60s, Tommy Gumina recorded and performed with jazz greats Harry James, Buddy De Franco (forming the De Franco-Gumina Quartet), Tommy Dorsey, Charlie Barnet, Gene Krupa, Joe Pass, Art Pepper, and others. Alto saxophonist Pepper described him as "the incredible Mr. Fingers”. Gumina performed on US TV variety shows of the 1950s/60s such as Ed Sullivan, Jackie Gleason, Perry Como, and Liberace. He also worked with Nelson Riddle and Billy May, making background music for the TV series ‘Route 66’ and ‘Naked City’, and was on the musical staff of ABC Television. He performed in Las Vegas and at many of the big night clubs in L.A., such as the Cocoanut Grove and the Mocombo. Gumina was discovered at the Tic Toc Club in Milwaukee in January 1952 by Harry James, whose band was in town, and was invited to join. "I don't know how he does it, but Tommy Gumina gets a tone and has a style that I have never heard before from an accordion ... a real jazz feeling”, James later was quoted in an interview. In the 1960s, Gumina was also was an innovator when it came to amplification and equipment, and in 1968 founded the Polytone Amplifier Co. "When it comes to the accordion, Gumina's modifications and amplification development are on a par with Les Paul's guitar inventions....," according to writer Elliott Simon at allaboutjazz.com. Gumina continued to perform and record, including a 1987 disc called ‘Sound Project’ with guitarist Joe Pass, and an acclaimed 1991 album called ‘Autumn Leaves’ (Alfa Records) with Pass, drummer Jimmie Smith and clarinetist De Franco. On the latter, Gumina performed on the Polychord, an electronic accordion instrument of his own design. Gumina, the oldest of three boys, recalled in a 1955 interview with the Milwaukee Journal how he got his first accordion. "I'll never forget. When I was 10 years old, my dad, who had a job at International Harvester Co., had been very ill with pneumonia. I wanted an accordion so bad that I was busting, but I knew we didn't have much money. I told my dad how I wanted an accordion and he said, 'Son, I'll rent one for you. I can't buy one. I haven't any money.' Just renting seemed wonderful to me, but my dad, still too weak to go to work, went to a place to get an accordion - and he didn't rent it. He bought it - on time. Gosh. That's being fine to a kid....". Tommy Gumina is survived by his wife, Marie, a daughter, Mary Jo Gumina, and brothers Manny and Rosario. |