Category: Obituary

WXYZ: House musician with WXYZ-TV, performing on a few locally produced shows, including the late night Soupy Sales variety show.

 

 

 

 

 

Tony Dannon is a jazz legend in USA. He has played with the best, taught thousands of students over the years, and released jazz books & recordings. Here in Detroit USA, he is celebrating his 60th birthday with friends in 1997. – YouTube/Heinz Siemens

Tony Dannon is a jazz legend in USA. He has played with the best, taught thousands of students over the years, and released jazz books & recordings. Here in Detroit USA, he is celebrating his 60th birthday with friends in 1997. This friend is Jim Monahand on the bones. He’s brilliant. – YouTube.com/Heinz Siemens

Detroit Free Press, April 18, 2011 – The captivating sounds of accordionist Tony Dannon will continue to resonate thanks to his innumerable contributions as a composer and arranger and  through the hundreds of students he tutored.

Mr. Dannon, one of the music industry’s foremost jazz accordionists and former part-owner of Modern Accordion Studio in Dearborn, died Tuesday of complications from dementia at the home of his nephew in Sterling Heights. He was 87.

“Watching him perform was truly a mesmerizing experience,” said his nephew Joe Recchia. Dannon had lived with Recchia for two years. “He had such amazing ability, and he touched the lives of so many people in the accordion industry.”

Born in Villa Latina, a small town in central Italy, he was introduced to the accordion at the age of 3 by his father, Augustino D’Annunzio, who also played the instrument.

After the family came to the U.S. in 1935, his father was frequently hired by Henry Ford to entertain guests at the Ford mansion in Dearborn.

During World War II, Mr. Dannon served as a musician in the Army band.

Mr. Dannon and his business partner, Oliver Petrini, opened the studio in 1957. At its peak, the school had nearly 1,000 students, and many competed in and won national competitions, Recchia said. Besides giving lessons, the duo sold custom-built accordions made in Italy.

Mr. Dannon continued to perform in metro Detroit with his accordion bands and ensembles at Italian restaurants and clubs, including frequent performances at the Lido in St. Clair Shores.

“I would often sit in awe as his fingers fluttered over the keys,”  said Linda Reed, president of the American Accordion Association. “He knew how to = make an=20 accordion talk.”

Mr. Dannon also spent time as a house musician with WXYZ-TV, performing on a few locally produced shows, including the late night Soupy Sales variety show.

The studio closed in 1982.

His wife of 22 years, Lillian, died in 1995.

Besides his nephew, survivors include his sister, Mary Recchia, and brother, Joseph D’Annunzio, along with many nieces and nephews.

A funeral mass is at 10 a.m. today at St. Paul of Tarsus Catholic Church, 41300 Romeo Plank, Clinton Township. Visitation will precede the mass at 9:30 a.m.

Burial will be in Resurrection Cemetery in Clinton Township.

WXYZ: TV news videographer.  Jerry died at his home after an illness on Tuesday, September 23, 2014.

Press Release from WXYZ.com, “(WXYZ) – It is with great sorrow that we announce the passing of our beloved colleague and friend, Jerry Tarrien. Jerry lost his courageous battle with cancer Tuesday morning. Our entire Channel 7 family is terribly saddened by this news, and we extend our deepest sympathies to his family.

Jerry was an outstanding videographer and touched countless lives with his humor and kindness in his 35 years working here at the station.

He was instrumental to our team when it came to some of the biggest events including; Detroit’s Auto Show, Woodward Dream Cruise, NCAA basketball tournaments, the Mackinac Policy Conference and so much more.

Jerry was an absolute joy to work with. We will all miss him very much.” [1]

Just for fun, here’s a PR Newswire from 2006:

AURORA, Ill., Feb. 9 /PRNewswire/ — Jerry Tarrien, a cameraman for WXYZ– TV 7 in Detroit, Mich., outmaneuvered representatives from more than 100 news  media organizations Thursday (February 9) in a simulated NASCAR race sponsored by AAA during the 2006 Chicago Auto Show.

Tarrien posted a 207.225 mph average speed in the racecar simulator, which  is powered by a computer program representative of the tracks on which the  NASCAR Nextel Cup Series is run.  AAA will sponsor the #6 AAA Ford Fusion,  driven by Mark Martin, in NASCAR’s Nextel Cup series this year.

Winner of second place in the charity event was Ira Siegel, automotive columnist for the Daily Southtown in Alsip, Ill.  He navigated the course with an average speed of 205.489 mph.  Coming in third was Charlie Dowell,  production director for WMKB Radio of Mendota, Ill.

In addition to presenting certificates to the race participants, AAA provided cash donations to the favorite charities of each of the winners. Tarrien, who earned $2,500 for his virtual victory, will contribute his prize money to the Karmanos Cancer Institute.  Siegel selected Moraine Valley  Community College to receive his second-place winner’s purse of $1,500 and Dowell chose the Elburn Lions Club as the recipient of his $1,000 purse.

“Sponsorship of a car and driver on the hugely popular NASCAR racing circuit will help raise AAA’s profile with the many fans of this major spectator sport,” said Charles H. Podowski, president and CEO of The Auto Club Group (ACG), which represents AAA Michigan and other AAA-affiliated Clubs throughout the Midwest.  “The sponsorship ties very nicely into AAA’s century-long commitment to supporting continued improvement in vehicle safety.”

“Many of the safety features we take for granted on today’s passenger vehicles, such as lap-and-shoulder safety belts and hydraulic brakes, were introduced and perfected in racecars,” Podowski added.  “NASCAR races will continue to be the proving ground for new safety equipment, and the AAA clubs that comprise The Auto Club Group are pleased and proud to help support that progress.”

As North America’s largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides nearly 49 million members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services.  Since its founding in 1902, the not-for-profit, fully tax-paying AAA has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security for all travelers.

SOURCE  AAA Chicago

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References:

1. Obituary (PDF)- Desmond Funeral Home
2. WXYZ Mourns Loss – September 23, 2014
3. CaringBridge

WXYZ: TV research