 My Father worked in the coal mines of Pennsylvania, near Pittsburgh, but decided to go to Canton, Ohio and work in the steel mills. He loved to play the accordion also, and was very good at it.
He told me many stories about Rocca Pia. He always wanted to go back to Italy to see his folks, but he had so many Children, he could never afford it. I grew up like all Children do, only it was hard times. I went to work in a bakery when I was 14 years old, and did many other jobs until I was 17 years old, when I joined the U.S. Air force. All of my brothers and sisters helped to keep our family going.
My Father and Mother bought a home in 1940, and he worked so hard to fix this old house so it was livable. It was the nice's house in the neighbor hood When he finished fixing it, but it took him all his life fixing.  He was a very smart and inventive man. We were all proud of him and my Mother, who worked so very hard to raise us all. We always had a good garden, and my Father could really grow some good Tomatoes.
I served in the Korean War, and when I got home I met my wife, who was also in The U.S. Air Force. We married on August 9, 1952, and we had eight Children. Two died at birth. So we raised six children, Randall, Bridget, Wendy, Gino, Vincent, and Mario. Our oldest Child, Randall died last March. We miss him so much. I worked for the Bell System as a cable splicer, for 14 years, and then I was a assignor for 7 years, and a supervisor for 11 years. 
The Bell System was the Telephone Company. I retired in 1985.
I never had lessons on the accordion.
The Good Lord blessed me with a good ear for music, and if I knew the tune it would come out on the key board of the Accordion very easy.
I would take my Fathers accordion, while he was working, and practice until I knew a song. So one day when he came home from work, I played the song, and he was very proud of me, and would let me use his accordion when ever I wanted.
 There were times as I grew up, especially when I was in the Service, that I didn't play at all, but when I got my own accordion it all came back.
I really like all the electronic today, that you can use to help a person make good music, and all my equipment is made in Italy.
I am a very proud person to be born from Italian parents.
 My wife sometimes tell me, I'm more Italian, than American. My wife's name Is Faith (Gustafson) Amatangelo. We all call Sue, which was given to her by her Grandmother.
I now live in Harrison, Tennessee, where it is a little more warmer than Canton, Ohio. We have 3 of our children here, by us, and 2 live in Illinois. We have 12 grandchildren, and 3 Great Grandchildren. |
Hi Luca, here is a History of me: I was born July 20, 1931 in Canton, Ohio my Mother and Father were born in Italy. 
