Discuss Ernie Felice

1/25/2012

Ask me any questions about my dad. I'm happy to answer. If I can't answer, I can ask my dad. Thanks, Dan Filice. Oh, if you wonder why my name is spelled with an "i" in Filice instead of an "e" as in my dad's last name, he chose "Felice" for his professional career. The "e' was actually how the name was in Italy. It changed when my dad's parents came through Ellis Island.

43 Comments

Marko Könönen

1/25/2012 09:30:28 pm

Hi Dan & Ernie!
This website is wonderful !
I am curious that, what tunes Ernie recorded with Dean Martin and Bing Crosby?
Is it possible for you to add some Ernies handwritten tunes to this website?
It would be just great!
Yours,
Marko

Dan Filice

1/26/2012 02:24:09 am

Marko,

I will create a page an post some scanned pages of my dad's music sheets from his arrangements. I have a large box filled with his arrangements and it will take some time to sift through it all. I'll ask about the Deano and Bing music. He may have just played with them and not recorded records with them.

Marko Könönen

1/29/2012 04:03:43 pm

Dan,
It would be great to see Ernie s handwritten arrangements.
Thank you very much.

Jari Salo

1/31/2012 12:10:42 am

Dan
Thank You for this site !!!
It is super and I have fw it to all I know.
All the best to you and your family.
Jari

p.s. in Finland, - 17 C below zero now, almost a summer . LOL

marko kononen

3/4/2012 03:06:05 am

Hi Dan!

CD arrived.Thank You VERY MUCH!!!!!

It is fantastic!!!!

Especially I like I´ll Remember April, Sweet Georgia Brown and Just In Time , because these tunes played by Ernie are the best
recordings I have ever heard in accordion field.

So you can send these regards also to Ernie from me.

Yours,
Marko Kononen

Steve Hathaway link

4/25/2012 04:12:06 am

Dan you stated that Ernie used "e" in last name, but the Snader Telescriptions of Quartet show "i" in title.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=haeq-2c-axg

Here is what I believe is personnel.

TAKING A CHANCE ON LOVE
June Christy with the Ernie Filice Quartet
Snader Telescriptions Corporation #0703 ©1950 [NT]
Personnel: Ernie Felice, leader & accordion; Bill, Ainsworth, clairnet; Mike Andre, guitar; Rolly Bundock, bass; with Claude Williams, piano.

Can your dad verify personnel for this film?
Also, any relation to a Pat Felice who was my school principal in Sunnyvale?

Dan Filice

4/25/2012 05:20:11 am

Steve,

The personnel on that Julie Christy YouTube video is correct, as listed. Not sure about the Snader Telescriptions showing "i". I think this is the first instance where I've seen the "i" listed for my dad's music career. I'll ask him about Pat Felice. Most of my first, second, third cousins, etc. that I know of all use the Filice spelling.

Dan

Steve Hathaway link

4/25/2012 09:51:59 am

Not sure of Pat's spelling of last name. This would have been in the late 1950s early 60s. Also any relation to old Western Wear Tack store in San Martin, CA

Dave link

7/5/2012 03:35:23 am

Dan,
This site is fabulous. I always played Sonola Accordions.
Can you describe your Dad's voicings. It sometimes sounds like he plays the Melody on the bottom with the chords built on top.
I have been a fan for a lot of years.

Dan Filice

7/5/2012 06:09:12 am

Dave,

I'll need to ask your question to my dad to get an accurate answer, but he told me that he played parts of various instruments on his accordion, such as clarinet, saxophone etc., which was different than anyone else playing accordion. When my dad first visited Benny Goodman, Benny's test for my dad was for my dad to try and play what Benny played (all in an effort to loose my dad). Not only was my dad able to payback on his accordion everything Benny played on his clarinet note for note, my dad played stuff that Benny couldn't playback.

Dan Filice

8/13/2012 04:00:34 am

To Larry Ferrell who sent me a message, but all of my replies to your AOL email account bounce back. Larry, you asked whether my dad was still alive. Thank you for your comments and fond memories about my dad. My dad is still living. He turned 90 in April and he is mentally very sharp, although he is physically challenged. He loves all the comments his fans make about him and he said he feels more popular now than he was at the top of his career.

Regards,
Dan Filice

Arnold Koskela

9/1/2012 03:27:18 am

After being an accordion player myself for 64 years and listening to all kinds on accordion styles and playing, I can honestly say your Dad is my favorite with his swing style. Tell him Hi for me.

Dan Filice

9/2/2012 02:16:45 am

Arnold, thank you for your comments. I read all of these messages to my dad and he is thrilled that he has so many fans. Thank you, Dan

Ron Sauro link

9/11/2012 10:46:06 am

Dan,
I just ran across this while findoing a lot of accordion music online that i did not know was there. I started accordion in 1953 in Akron Ohio.... Took lessons from Frank Yankovic and Frank Spetich.... Then took lessons from Dick Contino and loved the Three Suns with the big chords... Learned to play everythin from polkas and Italian Music to Jazz and Classical with the Cleveland Symphony...
Loved hearing your Dad and the other greats that made accordion the "go to "Instrument of the 1950's....
I worked with Chicago Musical Instruments in developing the Cordovox back in the early sixties and have now lived in the Seattle- Tacoma area near Petosas Accordion shop... Knew Jow senior for many years before his death... When I was younger I had a concert Excelsior...but that has faded away over the years. Still think your dad had some of the best fingering in the business and was a great advocate of block chords that has been lost over the years to the detrimate of music in general..
Tell me more about his book on Block chording
Ron Sauro

Ron Sauro

9/11/2012 10:48:36 am

Sorry about the mis-spellings but one finger typing and arthritis do not work well together

Dan Filice

9/11/2012 11:19:25 am

Ron,

My dad had an accordion lesson book called "Advanced Accordion Lessons" which had pages dedicated to Block Chords. I only have a few copies of this book but I have made it available as PDF files on this website under the "Purchase CD" link. It's about 50 pages of PDF files.

Dan

Ron Sauro

9/11/2012 04:02:26 pm

How much is the book now? Does your dad still play at all?

Dan Filice

9/12/2012 12:28:09 am

Ron,

The cost is $5.00. Under the "More" pull-down menu, go to "Purchase DVD/CD and you will see an option to purchase the Advanced Accordion Lesson book.

Bill Turek

4/8/2013 09:22:21 am

Please advise if you have any recordings I could buy with June Christy performing with your father's FABULOUS quintet. I have watched the YouTube videos so many, many times. Thank you.
Bill

Dan Filice link

4/8/2013 10:26:36 am

Bill,

I do have a DVD with a few videos that feature June Christy and my dad's group, but I don't own the rights to the videos so unfortunately I can't sell a copy. If you want to hear more music from my dad, visit his website at www.erniefelice.com.

Thank you,
Dan

Erik Kolm

4/9/2013 12:19:23 pm

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.361463777303418.1073741828.100003193957303&type=1

Wow! Are they bringing back the Sonola?!?

Erik Kolm

4/9/2013 12:34:49 pm

Sorry! I can't get the link to work!

Dan Filice

4/9/2013 03:29:15 pm

Erik,

Very interesting about bringing back the Sonola! It's great that the Accordion is popular once again. It's not a crime to play the Accordion!

Dan

Dan Filice

4/9/2013 03:33:21 pm

Erik,

Very interesting about bringing back the Sonola! It's great the Accordion is popular again and it's not a crime to play Accordion!

Dan

Erik Kolm

6/11/2013 10:11:05 pm

The website is: www.sonola.it

Daniel Filice

6/12/2013 04:41:01 am

Thanks for the Sonola.it link. Nice! And it's nice they have images of my dad.

Dan

Michele La Bono link

6/10/2013 01:49:04 pm

Hi Dan,
My dad knows your dad. His name is Tony La Bono and he played accordion also. My dad and your dad took music lessons at the same place- Anderson Music Co. In San Jose when they were kids and went to school together at Campbell Grammar School. My dad is 91 years old- he doesn't play accordion anymore as he is too weak. He used to play on radio KROW in Oakland for the Italian hour - that was around 1933. My dad's music teacher was George Gregorio and he said Ernie's teacher was Lou Figoni. It is so fun to hear my dad talk about those memories. My sisters and I were hoping they could meet - we live in so. California.
Hope to hear from you.
Michele

Dan Filice

6/11/2013 03:09:42 am

Michele,

Interesting information. I will read your email to my dad and see if he remembers your dad. Probably. Of course he'd have to remember who he took lessons from back then. My dad doesn't play accordion any longer either. He is very weak but enjoying what life serves up. I'd like to say you could meet my dad, but unfortunately he is not in a condition that he could have visitors. My dad and I live in So. Cal too.

Dan

Edward (Ed) Osiecki

12/9/2013 02:09:14 am

Hi Dan,
Thank you for your reply. On your blog section "Movies" tab, if you'll scroll down to "Hora Staccato" the name of the song being played there is "Oodles of Noodles" not Hora Staccato. Jimmy Dorsey's famous sax solo. You may want to make the correction.
Ed O.

Erik Kolm

8/12/2014 11:26:14 pm

Hi Dan,

In that photo of your Dad and the quartet, he is holding a accordion that isn't a Sonola. I've often wondered about it. Who made it and the model. If you could ask him about it sometime, I'd really appreciate it!

Dan Filice

8/13/2014 05:31:39 am

Hello Erik,

The accordion in that photo is made by Columbo, which my dad still has. He really liked this accordion and I believe he preferred it to the Sonola, but of course Sonola was the company who made the sponsorship with my dad.

Dan

Dan Filice

8/14/2014 09:42:45 am

Erik,

I just spoke to my dad and I have updated information about the accordions he used. The Columbo was used throughout his time in the service, but after that he was approached by the Sonola company and it was the Sonola that he used to create his "sound" by the modifications he invented by changing the baffles. So, the Sonola was his accordion of choice and it carried his modified sound through most of his professional career.

Dan

Erik Kolm

8/20/2014 10:10:25 am

Thanks Dan! From what I've read, Columbo was from San Francisco and made some really fine accordions. I'd love to see some pictures of your Dad's Columbo sometime. "With a Song in My Heart" was just on AMC. I just love your Dad in there. Thanks again for asking him!

-Erik

Celia Mooradian

1/9/2015 07:11:52 am

Hi Dan,

First I just want to thank you for this amazing resource for learning more about your father. This truly must be an act of love.

Second, as a jazz accordionist and a collector of all jazz recordings (I am a jazz DJ for both radio and dancers), I just want to say that the 1947 Goodman recording of "Sweet Lorraine" is my absolute favorite recording of all time. I have probably 100 different recording of the same tune, and literally days of music in my library, but your father's playing is one in a billion. I cannot wrap my brain around how he gets his accordion to sound like a woodwind. He gives it a VIBRATO. Your dad is an amazing musician and I can only hope to inspire the same pathos as I continue playing.

Dan Filice

1/9/2015 07:42:10 am

Celia, thank you for your kind comments. My dad loves it when I call him and read comments from fans such as yourself. Yes, my dad was an amazing accordion player. A lot of what my dad learned about playing jazz came from his friend who was a saxophone player and my dad emulated how the sax played jazz. Then of course my dad modified the reeds of his accordion (which was created by Sonola when they sold their Ernie Felice model. Lastly, muss dead a master of playing bloch chords. All of these were part of the "Ernie Felice Sound" that my dad became known for.

Arnold Koskela

10/13/2015 01:41:42 pm

Dan, I really felt bad when I read your dad had passed away. We will all miss him and his music. I have a Ernie Felice Model Sonola which will be a reminder of him. Arnold Koskela Port Charlotte FL

Ron Sauro link

10/13/2015 03:23:59 pm

Dan, I just read the post about your Dad passing away..... it seems all of the greats from our past are leaving us and I will miss him as well...
You have my condolences
Ron Sauro

Ralph Salerno

11/23/2015 06:40:29 pm

Sorry to hear about Ernie. God Bless. I recently purchased a SS4 Sonola from a player in New Jersey. I wanted to take a picture of the accordion and have your Dad sign it. It would have been nice to talk with him. I like his style of playing and of course like all accordionist it was a must to play the same type of instrument. Great music and what a tremendous loss. Thanks, Ralph Salerno CIAO for now.

weidenthaler gaby

7/28/2016 04:47:08 am

hello dan, i want to tell you something.my dad have been also died on 05.06.2016 so i havent no more time to wright to you. how are you today ?

Dan Filice

7/28/2016 06:37:28 am

Gaby,
Sorry to hear about your father too. I feel your pain. I miss my dad every day. I miss calling him every day to read him emails from his fans like you. Often when my phone rings I think it is my dad calling as he always did. Thank you, Dan.

Sam M

5/24/2017 08:16:44 pm

Hi Dan!
Loved hearing about Ernie Felice and his quartet! I've always loved this style of music and appreciate all that you've shared through this website. I have a bit of an odd question regarding the lineup of your father's quartet, specifically regarding one of the guitar players. I am a guitarist myself and actually wound up owning,by chance, one of Mike Andre's guitars. It is from the correct period that it may have been used in the quartet, and I was wondering if you knew anything about how long Mike was in the quartet and which recordings he was on (or at least what period of recordings). Interestingly, I did not purchase the instrument knowing it was Mike Andre's, despite being a huge fan of this music, so this came as an incredibly pleasant surprise. Anyway, thanks again for all the great info and the wonderful website!
Sam

Daniel Filice

5/24/2017 10:56:11 pm

Sam, great story about your guitar. Unfortunately I don't have answers to your questions. I only know that Mike Andre did play guitar in the EF Quartet for a period of time, but I don't know if it was in the '50's or '60's.

Paul Hemmer

2/2/2019 12:34:01 pm

I have long respected Ernies playing and am anxious to get the CD set. My first experience hearing him was on an old Benny Goodman 78 rpm album. Music Maestro Please was a favorite. Just watched Panic in the Streets and knew immediately it was Ernies music in several scenes. Searched IMDB and it lead to your site. Much love and respect to you for making your fathers great music available again. I'm 74 and still active in the area music scene with a 15 piece big band, combo and solo piano gigs, too. Music is an avocation I'll enjoy to the grave!

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