Onstage at the Fair

August would not be August without a note from a dear friend and retired journalist reminding me of Accordion Day.

Police respond to a report of a suspicious package on Cradlerock Way in Columbia discovered it was only a musical instrument inside a suitcase.

It was not “only a musical instrument.” It was an accordion.

Today I discovered that I’m not the only person who celebrates Accordion Day. They’re celebrating accordions at the Howard County Fair today.

Yes, today the Maryland Accordion Club will be taking the stage at the Howard County fair from 10:30 am to 12 noon.

On August 6 at 10:30am, we expect a FULL stage of musicians~

Accordionists, clarinet, guitar, recorder, and tuba!

Our Senior Day program is filled with songs for kids from 3 to 93, families, and anyone whose parents (or grandparents) played radios, phonographs, reel-to-reel, 8-tracks, or cassettes. (We're also down with CDs and .mp3s.) - - Maryland Accordion Club Facebook page

Did you know that there was a Maryland Accordion Club? They’re Catonsville-based, meeting the first Saturday of every month at the Catonsville United Methodist Church. They’ve had their own float in the Catonsville 4th of July parade.

Image from Maryland Accordion Club social media

Long-time President and founder of the club, Joe Fertitta, celebrated his 92nd birthday this year. The Baltimore Sun featured Fertitta in an article in 2014.

Accordionist Joe Fertitta, image from Baltimore Sun Media Group

Catonsville man trying to bring back the accordion, Lauren Loricchio, Baltimore Sun

This sentence caught my eye:

"Before the Beatles, there were a lot of renowned accordion players," Fertitta said.

Sure, blame it on the Beatles. And I thought those days were over.

While the Maryland Accordion Club is not based in Howard County I believe membership is open in case you’d like to become a part of their organization. And they will be at the Howard County Fair today. I just couldn’t pass up an opportunity to celebrate Accordion Day - - one way or another.

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