In 1965 I bought my first Cordovox accordion setup from Manny,who took good care of me from start to finish,including acting as go- between in having Lou Lazaro at Bell
Accordion install a set of custom pickups in the new instrument.
Manny supervised the entire transaction . It was apparent that
he wanted me to be happy with my new plaything. He knew very well that this purchase represented just about every cent I had.
At the time there were no more than half a dozen Cordovox accordionists listed in the 802 handbook, and having this toy resulted in an incredible increase in club date/ catered affair bookings throughout the tri- state area.
Most of the work was solo until I hooked up with a tenor saxist with a Selmer Varitone setup. Add a drummer, and we sounded like ten guys. Add a guitar and we became a do-all entertaining orchestra.
That electronic accordion saw me through thirty-five years of gigs, provided me with a lucrative side hustle while I was building a career with the City University, and was the mainstay of music programs at several children's camps I directed.
Being an entertaining accordionist is a young man's game, and I no longer qualify. The revolutionary CMI Cordovox that Manny passed to me across that 48th Street counter is now on it's way to a collector and musician, along with several other editions with the same Cordovox name.
And I'm still kicking around central Arizona, playing honky-tonk saloon piano, and entertaining folks who are, like me, immersed in serious adulthood.
Send up a flare !- < northperry@aol.com >