1936-2011
The renowned Peter Piccini, Perth’s internationally acclaimed virtuoso of the piano accordion, pianist, composer, arranger, conductor, and master of music, passed away on Tuesday October 11th, 2011, at Murdoch Community Hospice, which is part of St John of God Hospital, and situated within the hospital’s grounds in the Perth suburb of Murdoch, Western Australia.
Peter was born in Sydney on June 4th 1936, the son of Pietro Piccinino (known as Peter Piccini Senior), from whom he acquired his skills with the accordion, for his father was himself an acclaimed musician. Piccini Senior emigrated from Italy to Australia in 1922 and started his musical career touring Queensland’s cane fields, entertaining workers, before moving to the cities of Sydney and Melbourne to perform on the Tivoli circuit, playing his accordion in a vaudeville act, and providing musical accompaniment for silent movies in Melbourne, then in 1934 he appeared in the sound movie “Strike Me Lucky” with Roy Rene. Piccini Senior also featured as a soloist with the Isidor Goodman Orchestra and appeared on all radio stations with Jim Davidson’s famous dance band and made many recordings with Regal Zonophone and Columbia Records. He also performed for the 2FC Jack Davey radio Quiz shows in Sydney.
Meanwhile, Peter Piccini Junior made his first solo appearance as an accordionist at a school concert when he was only seven years old and although he showed promise on this occasion he did not begin studying seriously until he reached the age of fourteen.
Peter Junior started broadcasting for national and commercial radio stations at the age of fifteen and appeared in many state performances. He subsequently went to Europe and England in 1955 to broadcast for the BBC, made several television appearances there and performed at the famous club Pigalle as accompanist for the French singer Line Renuld. During this time Peter also toured Italy with the famous Claudio Villa, one of Italy’s most respected and loved popular singers, appearing together on television, radio, stage productions and on recordings.
During the early 1950s Piccini Senior moved to Perth, Western Australia with his son Peter Junior, both involved with a music shop specialising in piano accordions in Perth’s Forrest Place and Peter Junior was heard regularly on Perth radio with his father conducting piano accordion lessons.
TVW veteran Richard Ashton remembers Peter Piccini during the good times on the Peninsular in South Perth, as 16-17 year olds back in 1952, enjoying bonfire nights, parties and going dancing with mutual friend Jim Dyer, which gave him a break from music. His father used to say that he wanted Peter to meet ordinary young men, rather than be cloistered away concentrating on music studies all the time.
A popular dance venue was the Kings Park Tennis Club where Jack and Jill Harrison entertained. Jack later joined Peter on his Clarion Record for Martin Clarke in 1974, titled Nostalgia Accordion. Other members of the band included Ray Walker on lead guitar and Bill Tattersall on drums, who both played with TVW’s “In Perth Tonight” orchestra. Many will remember Jack Harrison as the lead clarinettist with the WA Symphony Orchestra.
https://watvhistory.com/2011/10/tribute-to-maestro-peter-piccini-1936-2011