BIOGRAPHY Contributed by Colin Nichol Name: PETER PICCINI SNR Born: 1900 Died: 1989 Peter Piccini Snr was born at Casorzo in the Piemonte region of northern Italy. He had the good fortune of a father who made sure his son's evident musical talent would be nurtured at the keyboard. Arriving in Australia in 1922, he began his career in 1924 touring Queensland. In Sydney Peter Snr was the first solo accordionist with the famed Isador Goodman orchestra at Sydney's St James Theatre. He forged a pioneering career in Australia's musical history and during his notable life from 1900 until 1989 became a part of that history, celebrated as the “daddy of the accordion in Australia”. By 1934 he had appeared in the film Strike Me Lucky with Roy Rene (Mo), in the Tivoli Variety Shows in Sydney and Melbourne and broadcast on national and commercial radio. Among his many credits, he appeared with the famous Jim Davidson Band, the Radio 2FC Sydney Jack Davey Shows, for Sir Charles Moses on the ABC and recorded for Regal Zonophone, Macquarie and Columbia records. Still playing and composing by the age of 88, he left behind a legacy of original music and songs brought to life by his son Peter Piccini Jnr., himself among less than a handful of the world's greatest accordionists. These compositions are available in pdf format at: musicforaccordion.com and also on the CDs Echoes of Europe and Sounds Italian. Colin Nicol has worked extensively in music and broadcasting in Australia, America, Europe and notably with Radio Caroline, Radio Luxembourg and the BBC.

Popular Four 1924 - Left to Right - Peter Piccini Snr(Accordion) Ettore Martinetti(Flute) Vincenzo Stanchinotti(Clarinet and Sax) Lorenzo Pensini(Two Keyboard Accordion)

Peter Piccini Snr & wife Veronica

Harry Bloom and his Tango Band 1934 - Accordionist Peter Piccini Snr

J. Stanley Johnson Advertisment - Accordionist Peter Piccini Snr

Peter Piccini Snr

Peter Piccini Snr and Peter Piccini Jnr 1952

Peter Piccini Snr

Giovani Cera with other members of the tango orchestra - Angelo Candela, Giannaccini, Domenico Gaffaro and Peter Piccini Snr in studio of radio station 3LO in Melbourne circa 1930

Photos courtesy of Dr John Whiteoak - researcher, writer, collector and editor. Research Fellow School Of Music, Monash University