The Handsome Guy With the Accordion: Dick Contino

 

Dick Contino won a youth talent contest in the late 1940s, sponsored by Big Band leader Horace Heidt, who'd gone on to host a radio show. Heidt would "present" Contino's music on records early in the accordionist's career. 

Horace Heidt Presents Dick Contino,  1 of 2

Horace Heidt Presnts Dick Contino, 2 of 2

A 1990s book book about Contino's life has a cover image taken from Contino's appearance as the contest winner. The full sleeves are part of a stage costume, the kind of "ethnic" thing performers like Desi Arnaz used to wear. These stage outfits remind me of  "those Hungarians in the green coats" who play at the parties that Dorothy Parker's "Diary of a New York Lady."

 

 In this next video, Contino is playing on live television when one of his accordion strap breaks. He quickly puts down the instrument and moves to the piano to keep the music going. 

 

 

In popular culture, "Lady of Spain" was once the "Free Bird" or requested accordion music because of Contino's hit recording. 

  

 

Here's Contino on Ed Sullivan's television variety show, in 18950. 

Elvis was a big hit at the movies, so Hollywood thought "Why not Dick Contino?"  The bad-movie comedy show Mystery Science Theater 3000 shows us why not in their episode with "Daddy-O."

If you can't bear the watch all of "Daddy-O," here's a clip from the film of Contino singing "Rock Candy Baby."

Dick Contino spent happy retirement years in Palm Springs and lived to be 87, and left a legacy for his fans. Not a bad life, eh?

Here's a video someone made of himself playing Contino's personal accordion, with plenty of "bellows shake" and some "Lady of Spain" in there. 

Makin' the accordion cool...