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http://www.accordions.com/news.aspx?d=29-Jun-2012&lang=de&s=5830
http://www.accordions.com/news.aspx?d=29-Jun-2012&lang=de&s=5830
29-Jun-2012
by Rob Howard
|
 Steve Pacitto, a fine jazz musician and exponent of the electronic accordion, was one of those involved with the founding of Club Accord in Birmingham by the late Malcolm Gee in 1976.Of Italian parentage, Midlands born and based Steve Pacitto began playing the piano at 5 years of age, but soon switched to and became hooked on the piano accordion. As a teenager he played accordion in a small group, and his first big career break came with a booking as chief support act to the legendary Glenn Miller AEF Band at Walsall Town Hall in 1944. This was a turning point in Steve’s life: “When I listened to the wonderful chords and solos they pumped out, I thought ‘This is for me’. This is what attracted me to jazz and swing music”. He made his first radio broadcast whilst in the Royal Navy, in a programme called ‘Navy Mixture’ with Jack Warner and a host of other stars including Alfred Marks and Paddy O'Neil. From 1945 Steve was a regular broadcaster with the BBC Midlands Light Orchestra and the Harold Rich Quartet, and in 1948 won three Melody Maker Awards for his unique playing. In the 1960s Steve Pacitto discovered the electronic accordion, and henceforward played with the sound of a jazz organ. Most of Pacitto’s work was within the jazz world, often with the Europa Jazz Band, though with occasional appearances in accordion clubs. He was one of the contributors to the 1979 Club Accord album ‘It’s All Accordion To What You like’, produced by Malcolm Gee. Steve Pacitto died from cancer at New Cross Hospital, Wolverhampton, on June 19th. |