How do you measure civilization? By its art? By its great bridges and buildings? By its ability to be more often at peace than at war? Well, maybe, but I`ll take something like Fred Anderson`s ...

Back in the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s, Los Angeles had a well-established accordion ecosystem. Door-to-door salesmen recruited students for lessons, dozens of schools sustained them and an annual ...

Across the street from a wine lounge and a gourmet sausage spot on Glendale Boulevard in Atwater Village, a small red-and-white neon sign reads: "DAVE'S ACCORDION SCHOOL." Inside, black and tan cases ...

Five-year-old Lily and 3-year-old Aubrii Sanchez of Eureka got to find out how the accordion works on April 29 on Eureka’s Boardwalk, where Guy Smith plays Old World dance songs on his 120 bass piano ...

Gino Bagala has been taking accordion lessons for 18 months, and so far, none of his West Santa Rosa neighbors has called the cops. With about 200 songs in his songbook, he has spent just about every ...

Forty years ago, Darel Conrad shook the floor of the dance hall on First South playing his accordion with a five-piece orchestra. Now there is a post office where that dance hall used to be, and it''s ...

What do you say after 55 years? Hi? What’s up? Did you bring your accordion? “What I did was give him a big hug, and I said, ‘Thank God!’ ” says Larry Micucci. “I didn’t remember him, I’m sorry to say ...

Save your jokes about the "stomach Steinway." Pete Sacchi is not amused. After 54 years of teaching accordion lessons, he still bristles a bit when the instrument is maligned. "More people than not ...