Music Memories

of the 20's, 30's and 40's

If you are a documentarian interested in the Big Band Era, we would love to hear from you.

1929 Fan letter to radio station WJZ - New York (A flagship station of NBC)
For: Joe Pecoraro
Live banjo on morning radio

1932

Joe and his wife Veronica.
Daughters - Leonore and Jo-Ann
Grandchildren - Lorraine, Ray, Janet, Lauren, Kim
Great Grandchildren - Tyesha, Brian, Danny, Tony,
Great great Grandchildren Kaiden, Keioni

They Made The Music!

Charles Magnanti - Accordion .

Born in 1905 in New York City on 106th street in an area known as Harlem. He began playing at age five with his father who loved to play accordion. Charlie Magnanti who became know as one of the greatest masters of accordion, began his career as a teen playing in Italian restaurants and at weddings around the New York area. He played accordion for awhile as a featured musician on the Staten Island Ferry. During the peek of his career he was playing over thirty live radio programs. He gave hundreds of concerts and in the late 1930's he was playing at Carnegie Hall to packed audiences of 3000 people. That evening at Carnegie, he played two duets with his friend and fellow accordionist Joe Biviano. One of the highlights of his career was his concert at the Civic Stadium in Buffalo, NY when he played for an audience of over forty thousand people. Charlie also worked at CBS and with many great musicians. He was Enoch Light's favorite accordionist. Someone once said, "He made the instrument sing, and did it without assistance or backup." Joe Pecoraro remembered Charlie as a brilliant musician who not only loved his instrument but had a special connection to people and his audiences. Charles Magnanti died in 1986 in Westchester, New York.

Joe Biviano - Accordion

Joe Biviano who was born in 1908, began His career at sixteen years old when he was discovered by Charlie Magnanti playing on the Staten Island Ferryboat's. From playing on the ferryboat's, he went directly to work at NBC radio. At NBC Radio he was a staff musician along with his friend Joe Pecoraro. It was here that they became know to the large NBC audiences as "The Radio Joe's." They did numerous backup music for popular radio dramas, and featured artists. Joe Biviano remained with NBC for eleven years, worked at CBS for 9 years, He played vaudeville and was back up accordionist to many of the great singers of that era, including Kate Smith's U.S.O programs. He has a long list of Broadway productions to his credits and was featured on a number of TV programs including the Jack Benny Show. Joe Biviano played with the Metropolitan Opera and the New York Philomonic. He was the founder of the Biviano Accordion School of Music. He died in 1992 in Westchester, New York

Joe Venuti - Violinist

Giuseppe "Joe" Venuti, known as the first great violinist of jazz. Joe was born in 1903 aboard a ship when his parents emigrated from Italy. He was a close childhood friend of jazz guitarist Eddie Lang. He worked with both Dorsey brothers, Benny Goodman and Paul Whiteman early in his career. Joe Venuti pioneered the use of string instruments in Jazz. He was influential in introducing many names to the "big band era" When Joe Venuti heard Joe Pecoraro play a sax solo at a small supper club in New York, he offered to introduce him to the Dorsey brothers. A friendship grew and they were often seen at after hours clubs playing fiddle duets for the joy of it. In the 1920's Venuti recorded a number of records on the okeh label. He died in August of 1978.

The Boswell Sisters - Vocal

Martha born in 1905 - Connie born in 1907 - Vet (Helvetia) born in 1911. The first vocal jazz group. The Boswell sisters who began their career in New Orleans, came to New York in 1930 to do a daily radio singing program. Many of their broadcasts were supported with back up musicians Joe Biviano and Joe Pecoraro. Connie sang from a wheelchair or seated position throughout her entire career due to a childhood accident or illness. Her disability prevented her from doing overseas U.S.O. programs which the sisters wanted to do. Between 1930 and 1936 they were the hottest vocal group in the country. Connie who had a unique singing style of her own did branch off and do solo performances. Martha, who played piano died in 1958, Connie, who played cello, saxophone and guitar died in 1976, and Vet, who played violin, banjo and guitar died in 1988.

Christy (Columbo) Maisto - Drums, Piano, Xylophone

Christy and Joe were not just fellow musicians, they were close friends. When Joe finished his day work at NBC, starting early in the morning with rehearsals and live radio programs, he would head home at the end of that long day, and change clothes with just enough time to meet Christy and a few of the "guys" for a nightclub performance. These musicians often worked sixteen hour days. Christy and Joe worked together with Nick D'Amico, Poncho, and with Paul Whitman. Christy, who was born in the Bronx in 1904 came from a musical family. His father Vincenzo was an orchestra leader and composer. Christy's brother Louis played piano, drums and clarinet performing with the Ted Lewis band. Their brother Charlie (Carlo) played drums and saxophone while performing on cruise ships. Christy Maisto passed away on Long Island in 1975.

Laura ( Joe's sister) a concert pianist. March 30th 1952.

Laura drew the attention of music great Dr. Frank Damrosch. Laura Pecoraro was a born concert pianist with a rare gift. She was accepted into the Damrosch (presently Julliard) School of music around 1911. At the age of twenty Laura made her debut with the New York Symphony. One of her greatest joys in life was performing for renowned pianist Josif Hofman, when he visited New York City. In 1931 she moved to Hollywood, California to advance her career. Laura’s musical career was at an all time high when she traveled to Italy to meet and give a performance before King Victor Emmanuel III and his guests. The King gifted Laura with a gold watch. A watch she treasured her entire life.

Joe always had a great story to share!

The Hat Story. While Joe Pecoraro was on tour with the band in the 30's, they had just arrived in Chicago to play at the well known Palmer House. One of the trumpet players who always wore his lucky hat, had been concerned about someone making the remark that his head looked big. Well, the other musicians thought that was very funny, and since they were always playing jokes on each other, they decided to play a joke on their fellow musician. They set out to prove that this poor fellows head was indeed getting bigger. Each day the band members took a thin strip of newspaper and put it in the lining of the trumpet players lucky hat. It started to fit very tight on his head and he was constantly looking in the mirror and talking about the size of his head. Soon the hat just sat on the top of his head no matter how much he pulled it down. Everyone in the band kept telling him his head appeared as though it was getting bigger and the trumpet player became very worried. Than each day, they grabbed his hat and started taking out one strip at a time. The trumpet player again started panicking because the hat was suddenly becoming so much bigger than his head, to a point of actually pushing over his ears when he placed it on his head. It wasn't until some days later that the pranksters, who had a full week of laughter, decided to confessed their joke to their fellow musician. That trumpet player was furious. To get back at them, he said lets just go and have dinner on me, and forget that I was angry. He gave the name of the restaurant he reserved a table at, and he ordered a very expensive bottle of wine. The band members showed up, as he knew they would. They sat down and drank the wine as they waited for the trumpet player, who never showed. They ended up having to pay for their own dinners, and for the expensive bottle of wine.

Bandleader Story. Joke playing among musicians occurred quite frequently. Joe said they were opening at a club in West Palm Beach under the baton of Nick D'Amico. It was Nick's birthday, and he was superstitious about opening at a club on his birthday. Nick was very exact with timing and with guys standing and sitting on cue, so some of the sax players decided to play an opening night joke. They passed the word not to play when he raised his baton nor stand on cue. Nick entered the set, took his position and raised his baton. No one played. He looked upset, as he nodded to the guys as if to say "what are you doing?" He raised his baton again, and still no one played. It was clear he was beginning to panic. After the third try, he started tapping the baton and waving his hand. The audience began clapping. Not knowing what to do, he turned to face the audience, and the entire band began to laugh. The band members then stood up and sang happy birthday. Everyone in the club joined in. An immediate expression of relief came on his face. Afterwards, he never mentioned the incident.

Bob's Dad. Joe always said that musicians "are the most caring and giving people on earth." When Bob, a newcomer from a small town in Pennsylvania came on board with the DAmico band, he so wished that his ailing dad could be at the theatre to see him perform. His dad a coal miner had struggled taking a second job to be able to pay for the music lessons. The band members liked this young musician from his first day he arrived. Without Bob knowing it, they took up a collection and arranged for his dad to be present at opening night. Bob's dad died just weeks after that performance. Joe said, "it just choked me up."

Carman Miranda's Birthday? Before being featured in films, Carmen sang on a number of radio programs. She was a Samba singer for ten years before she was invited to do a show on Broadway. She was called the Tutti Frutti lady by all the musicians. She was born on February 9th 1909. Her real name was Maria, it was her father who called her "Carmen" because of his love of opera, especially Carmen. Joe said Carmen had a great personality and sense of humor, and was liked by most musicians who worked with her. She loved joking around. When she was rehearsing a holiday show in New York City, she told one of the stage managers to pass the word to the musicians that it was her birthday. She also told the stage manager to make certain they knew she liked nice gifts. Everyone in the band scrambled that afternoon to get a birthday gift for Carmen. At the end of the dress rehearsal, the gifts were given. She stepped to the microphone and smiled saying, "thank you boys, I love all the gifts," and then paused and said, "even though it's not really my birthday."

Fred Allen - moved from CBS to NBC in 1933. Joe would say that Fred was the only comedian that kept him laughing for hours. The program was called The Salad Bowl Revue (in a nod to new sponsor Hellmann's Mayonnaise). Later that year it became The Sal Hepatica Revue (1933-34), The Hour of Smiles (1934–35), and finally Town Hall Tonight (1935–40). This was the longest running comedy in classic radio history. Many who were connected with the broadcasts said, Allen was a perfectionist in every way. When one of his live stage appearances failed, Allen made the best of it by circulating an obituary of his act on black-bordered funeral stationery.

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