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John Serry Sr.
John Serry Sr., circa 1967
Background information
Birth name	Giovanni Serrapica
Born	(1915-01-29)January 29, 1915 Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Died	September 14, 2003(2003-09-14) (aged 88) Long Island, New York, U.S.
Genres	Classical, jazz, bolero
Occupation(s)	Musician, composer, arranger
Instruments	Accordion, Organ, Piano
Years active	1929 - 2002

John Serry Sr. (born Giovanni Serrapica; January 29, 1915 – September 14, 2003) was an American concert accordionist, arranger, composer, organist, and educator. He performed on the CBS Radio and Television networks and contributed to Voice of America's cultural diplomacy initiatives during the Golden Age of Radio. He also concertized on the accordion as a member of several orchestras and jazz ensembles for nearly forty years between the 1930s and 1960s.^[1]

External audio

You may hear John Serry Sr. performing Agustin Lara's bolero Granada with the lyric tenor Nestor Mesta Chayres and the Alfredo Antonini Orchestra in 1946 Here

Biography

John Serry Sr. enjoyed a professional musical career which spanned over seven decades. As a proponent of Latin American music and the free-bass accordion, Serry performed as the featured piano accordion soloist on the radio music program Viva América, which was broadcast live to South America under the United States Department of State's Office of the Coordinator of Inter-American Affairs' cultural diplomacy initiative for Voice of America during World War II.^{[2][3][4][5][6]}

In addition, he was a member of the CBS Pan American Orchestra (1940–1949) conducted by Alfredo Antonini and the Columbia Concert Orchestra (1940–1949). Several of his broadcasts with the CBS Orchestra (1949–1960) on the CBS network are included in the permanent archive collection of the Paley Center for Media in New York. Over the decades, he performed with many orchestral conductors and jazz band leaders, including Shep Fields, Erno Rapee, Lester Lanin, Alfredo Antonini, Howard Barlow, Alexander Smallens, Archie Bleyer, Andre Kostelanetz, Percy Faith, Ben Selvin, Miguel Sandoval, Guy Lombardo, and Robert Irving.

Carnegie Hall
Carnegie-hall-isaac-stern

Serry's performances with Big Band jazz orchestras, classical concert orchestras, network radio and television orchestras and Broadway Theater orchestras entertained audiences at such leading concert venues as: the Rainbow Room at Rockefeller Center (1935);^[7] the Starlight Roof at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel (1936–1937);^[8][9]Radio City Music Hall (1935);^[10] the Palmer House in Chicago (1938);^[11] the Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles (1938);^[11]Carnegie Hall with Alfredo Antonini conducting (1946);^[12] the Plaza Hotel (1940s); The Town Hall (1941–1942);^[13][14][15] the Ed Sullivan Theater (1959) for CBS television; the Empire Theater (New York) (1953);^[16] the 54th Street Theatre(1965); The Broadway Theatre (1968); the Imperial Theater (1968); the New York State Theater at Lincoln Center (1968);^[17][18][19] and such New York cafe society nightspots as: El Morocco, El Chico and The Riviera in the 1930s.

As an organist, he performed for an additional thirty-five years during interfaith liturgical services at the Interfaith Chapel on the Long Island University C. W. Post Campus in Brookville, New York. In addition, he composed and arranged interfaith liturgical music and classical music for both organ and voice.

Early life and education

Serry was born Giovanni Serrapica in Brooklyn, New York to Italian-American parents Pasquale Serrapica and Anna Balestrieri of Castellammare di Stabia, Italy. He was the fourth sibling in a family of thirteen children. His first exposure to classical music occurred through the influence of his father who entertained his children with performances on the mandolin and the piano. Serry from the age of five was encouraged by his father to accompany him at the keyboard and to perform with phonographic recordings of classical music by leading European composers including: Verdi, Puccini, Rossini and Mozart.

Serry attended Brooklyn Technical High School, preparing for a career in architecture. After a nearly fatal illness interrupted his work on the piano, Serry's father encouraged him to learn to play the accordion. He studied with the accordionist Joseph Rossi from 1926 to 1929 at the Pietro Deiro School in New York, and at the age of 14 performed live on the Italian radio station WCDA. He undertook Studies in piano and harmony with Albert Rizzi from 1929 to 1932 and in harmony and counterpoint with Gene Von Hallberg, founder of the American Accordionists Association, for two years. A lifelong friendship with the accordionist Louise Del Monte was established as a result of these studies. Del Monte awakened Serry's interest in Latin American music. Advanced studies in harmony and orchestration were completed under the instruction of the composer Robert Strassburg in the 1940s.

Career

The 1930s: The big band era

Rainbow Room in Rockefeller Center, New York City

With the help of Del Monte, in the 1930s Serry began his professional career by making appearances with the Ralph Gomez Tango Orchestra at The Rainbow Room at the RCA Building in Rockefeller Center,^[7] leading to an extended engagement there in 1935.^[7]

During the big band era in New York City, he performed under Erno Rapee, conductor of the Radio City Music Hall Orchestra, and was the ensemble's first on-stage accordion soloist in 1933. He played with the Hugo Mariani Tango Orchestra at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in the 1930s,^[20] with Alfred Brito, a Cuban orchestra leader in New York (1936), and Misha Borr, conductor of the Waldorf-Astoria Orchestra.^[20] He appeared as a soloist for society functions at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel's Waldorf Towers and at its Starlight Roof with the Lester Lanin Orchestra. In addition, he performed regularly at clubs such as El Morocco, the Rainbow Room, El Chico, and the Riviera in New York City.^[7]

Serry performed with the jazz group Shep Fields and His Rippling Rhythm during a nationwide tour with live radio broadcasts from the Palmer House hotel in Chicago, Illinois, and the Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles, California, over the NBC network (1937–1938).^[11] These big band remote broadcasts used Zenith's Radiogran technology. His performances as a member of the orchestra and soloist are documented in the film The Big Broadcast of 1938 ("This Little Ripple Had Rhythm" and "Thanks for the Memory"), which won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1939.

He recorded several popular songs of the time for Bluebird, including "With a Smile and a Song", "Whistle While You Work", and "Now It Can Be Told".^[21] He was Assistant Dean of Accordion and Harmony at the Biviano Accordion Center in Manhattan between 1939 and 1942,^[22][23] providing instruction on accordion and orchestral jazz.^[24][25]

The 1940s: The golden age of radio

Serry married his wife Julia in the 1940s and moved to Nassau County, New York on Long Island to raise a family of four children, one of whom is the jazz musician John Serry Jr. He simultaneously undertook private studies with Joscha Zade in piano (1945–1946), Radio City Music Hall organist Arthur Guttow, (1946) and composer Robert Strassburg in orchestration and Advanced Harmony (1948–1950)^[26] while specializing in the musical compositions of Gershwin, Debussy, and Ravel.^[27]

Town Hall in New York City

In 1941, Serry performed opera music at Town Hall under the baton of Alexander Smallens in concert performances of Virgil Thomson's Four Saints in Three Acts^[15] with choral director Leonard De Paur.^[15] Building on his live radio experience during the 1930s, he entered the golden age of radio in the 1940s, performing on the CBS radio network with several New York City concert musicians, including Marianne Oswald (a.k.a. Marianne
Lorraine), a French chanteuse, in a performance of Mr. Lincoln and His Gloves by the American poet Carl Sandburg and Archibald MacLeish's poem Never Before at Town Hall (1942),^[13][14][28] and Alfredo Antonini, a conductor for CBS Pan American Orchestra on the CBS network (1940–1949)^[29][30] and for the Viva América program on CBS for the Department of State Office for Inter-American Affairs (OCIAA).^{[31][20][30][32]} His performance with Marianne Lorraine was praised in The Players Magazine - National Journal of Educational Dramatics and was also described as being skillfully presented in The New York Times.^[33][28]

He performed in Antonini's orchestra in the Night of the Americas Concert gala at Carnegie Hall in 1946.^[12] While on staff at CBS, Serry performed on The Gordon MacRae Show Star of Stars broadcast live from the CBS Starline Roof (1946) featuring Serry as solo artist and Archie Bleyer as conductor; The Danny O'Neil Show featuring Serry as guest artist (1946); The Coca-Cola Hour on the CBS network with the Percy Faith Orchestra conducted by Percy Faith (1948); The Jack Smith Show (1947); The Jean Sablon Show (1947); and Studio One with cellist Bernard Greenhouse.^[34]

Serry worked with a number of international concert musicians during this period, including Argentine composer Terig Tucci,^{[35][36][37][38][39]}Juan Arvizu, Mexican "Tenor with the Silken Voice" and bolero dancer on CBS (1940s);^[40]Nestor Mesta Chayres, a Mexican tenor, (a.k.a. "El Gitano De Mexico") on CBS (1942 and 1945);^[41]Eva Garza, featured on Viva América for CBS/ABC radio;^[42]Miguel Sandoval, Guatemalan composer and pianist on CBS (1940s), Elsa Miranda, Puerto Rican vocalist on Viva América (1940s)^[43][44][45] and Marlene Dietrich in a performance of "Lili Marlene" on CBS (1945).

A variety of recording artists also participated with him including: Victoria Cordova vocalist and Alfredo Antonini, conductor for a recording session on Muzak (1949);^[46][47]RCA Victor's transcriptions division for recordings of over thirty compositions by Serry's ensemble the BelCordions (four accordions supported by string bass and guitar) for broadcast over the NBC network (1946); and the Biviano Sextette in a performance for a series of LP recordings (1946). His recordings with Cordova showcased several songs from Latin America including: "Verde Luna" (Vincente Gomez), "Amor" (Gabriel Ruiz), "Siboney" (Ernesto Lecuona), "You Belong to My Heart" (Agustin Lara), "Edelma - Pasillo" (Terig Tucci) and "What a Difference a Day Made" (Maria Grever).^{[48][49][50][51]} His recordings with the Viva America Orchestra conducted by Alfredo Antonini for Alpha Records in 1946 featured several Latin American favorites including: "Tres Palabras" (Osvaldo Farres), "Caminito de Tu Casa" (Julio Alberto Hernandez), "Chapinita" (Miguel Sandoval) and "Noche De Ronda" (Augustin Lara).^[52][53] Reviews in The New Records praised the orchestra's performance and hailed the collection as among the best new albums of Latin American music.^[54]

While working with the CBS Pan American Orchestra he recorded several Mexican songs for Columbia Records with Mexican vocalist Luis G. Roldan, including "Tres Palabras" and "Esta Noche Ha Pasado".^[55][56][57] As a member of Alfredo Antonini's Viva America Orchestra he collaborated with the romantic Latin trio Los Panchos to record "La Palma", a Chilean cueca dance, and the conga "Rosa Negra" for Pilotone Records.^[58]Agustin Lara's popular song "Granada" was recorded with the Mexican tenor Nestor Mesta Chayres and Alfredo Antonini for Decca Records in 1946.^[59]

In the realm of live international radio broadcasts, Serry performed for audiences in both North and South America over CBS Radio. Several performances were enjoyed by Eleanor Roosevelt and South American diplomats during the opening ceremonies of Macy's Latin-American Fair of 1942 in New York City.^[37] In Europe, members of America's armed forces also enjoyed his artistry on the Viva America program which was broadcast over the Armed Forces Network during World War II every week ^[60] By 1945 these perfromances were also broadcast by 114 stations affiliated with the CBS "La Cadena de las Americas" network and Voice of America for audiences in twenty Latin American nations in support of President Franklin Roosevelt's Good Neighbor Policy and Pan-Americanism.^[61][62]

As a member of the Biviano Accordion & Rhythm Sextette, Serry recorded his work "Leone Jump" with Tony Mottola on guitar and Angelo Delleria on accordion for Sonora Records in 1945.^{[63][64][65][66]} The album includes performances of "Little Brown Jug", "Golden Wedding", "Swing Low Sweet Chariot", "That's a Plenty", and "The Jazz Me Blues".^[67][64] Later in 1949, accordionist Joe Biviano collaborated with the RCA Victor Accordion Orchestra to record Serry's composition "Manhattan Hop" for RCA Victor.^[68]

Serry founded and operated a music studio in Manhattan and Long Island, New York. Between 1945 and the late 1980s he provided instruction on accordion, piano, and organ.^[35][69] His pupils included Anthony Ettore, president of the American Accordionist's Association,^[70] and Robert Davine, an accordionist and educator at the Lamont School of Music at the University of Denver.^[71] He was invited to contribute to the annual series of Master Accordion Classes and seminars sponsored by the American Accordionists Association in New York City in August 2000.^[72]

Serry published several method books for his elementary, intermediate, and advanced grade students between 1945 and 1983.^[20] He took note of the limitations imposed by the Stradella bass system during performances of classical music. In an effort to circumvent these limitations, he designed and developed a working model of a free-bass system for the accordion during this decade. It incorporated dual keyboards for the soloist's left hand while incorporating two sets of reeds which were tuned in octaves. This gave the soloist access to a range of tones which exceeded three and one-half octaves.^[73]

The 1950s: Live network television

During the early days of network television in the 1950s, Serry performed at CBS as a staff member of the original CBS Orchestra (1949–1960) and an accompanist on several live network television programs including The Jackie Gleason Show in 1953, The Ed Sullivan Show in 1959, The Frank Sinatra Show (CBS TV series) in the 1950s, and with organist Billy Nalle,^[74] on the prime time drama I Remember Mama in 1953 with Peggy Wood.

Shubert Theatre in New York City
Shubert Theatre NYC

Serry also performed with Mitch Miller at Columbia Records to produce an LP demonstration recording in 1951. In 1951 he also arranged his compositions La Culebra and African Bolero for solo flute. He subsequently dedicated the scores to his close friend Julius Baker (first flautist for the Columbia Broadcasting Symphony Orchestra at CBS and for the New York Philharmonic)^[75][76] He appeared under Andre Kostelanetz, the conductor on the Eastman Kodak Kinescope broadcasts in 1951.

Performances on the radio also continued and included: appearances as a member of the Magnante Accordion Quartet, on The Lucky Strike Hour, Waltz Time, and The American Melody Hour (1940s). He occasionally substituted for the quartet's founder Charles Magnante.^[20]

On the Broadway stage he performed under director Harold Clurman in a production of Arthur Laurents play The Time of the Cuckoo with Shirley Booth and Dino Di Luca.^[77][78][79] Serry served as soloist and musical director at the Empire Theatre on Broadway from 1952-1953.^[16][80][81] He later joined the orchestra in the premier of Can-Can at the Shubert Theatre in 1953.

Serry recorded for Decca Records during this time and also collaborated with RCA Victor's Ben Selvin, producing an electrical transcription for RCA Thesaurus (1954). He composed, arranged and performed several compositions for Dot Records (#DLP3024) with Al Caiola and Bernie Leighton on his album Squeeze Play (1956).^[82][83] The production received a critical review as a new popular album in The Billboard in 1956 and was cited for establishing a beautiful soothing mood.^[84] The album was also critically reviewed in Cash Box magazine later that year. Serry was applauded for establishing a wide variety of musical moods with grace, while simultaneously emphasizing a relaxed performance style.^[85] In 1958 several songs from the album were released once again in France by Versailles records (# 90 M 178) as Chicago Musette - John Serry et son Accordéon.^[86][87][88] These activities led to Serry's nomination to the "Who Is Who In Music International" in 1958.^[27]

His advanced grade composition for accordion, American Rhapsody was completed and published during 1955, and he created a comprehensive course of instruction for students of the accordion at the U.S. School of Music at the start of this decade.

The 1960s: Broadway theatre

Serry collaborated on the Voice of Firestone series with the conductor Howard Barlow (guest conductor for NBC Television in 1961^[89]) and on The Revlon Revue (1960) for CBS Television. He also appeared in several Broadway theatre productions including: Cabaret at the Imperial Theatre (1968);The Happy Time starring Robert Goulet at The Broadway Theatre (1968 Tony Award Best Musical), and Fiddler on the Roof starring Zero Mostel at the Majestic Theatre (1968).

In addition to entertaining audiences on Broadway, he was a member of the Seven-Up Continental Band, which performed at the 1964 New York World's Fair in the Seven-Up International Gardens Pavilion.^{[90][91][92][93][94][95][96]}

On the Off Broadway stage, he emerged in the 1965 production of Gerard Calvi's La Grosse Valise at the 54th Street Theatre starring Ronald Fraser (actor) & Victor Spinetti (1965) (composer Gerard Calvi, lyrics by Harold Rome, musical director Lehman Engel).

New York State Theater in Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts
New York City Opera

Later in the decade he appeared in a revival by the bandleader Guy Lombardo of Oscar Hammerstein II's South Pacific at the Jones Beach Theater located in the Jones Beach State Park on Long Island, New York (1968).^[97][98] The production featured Jerome Hines and Kathleen Nolan in the starring roles and was directed by Oscar Hammerstein II's son William Hammerstein.^[97]

Returning to the classical concert venue, Serry served as the lead concert accordionist in performances of the New Ballet staged to the music of Tchaikovsky (the Orchestral Suite No. 2 (Tchaikovsky)) at the New York State Theater (1969).^{[99][100][101]} The production was performed as part of the 20th anniversary season of the New York City Ballet. The performances featured both the choreography of Jacques d'Amboise in the premier of his Tchaikovsky Suite and the artistry of the musicians of the New York City Ballet Orchestra under the musical direction of Robert Irving.^[102] Principal dancers in the corps de ballet included Francisco Moncion, Gerard Ebitz, and Nina Fedorova. ^{[103][104][105]}

His advanced grade composition Concerto For Free Bass Accordion was also completed during this decade in 1966. In the process, he contributed a definitive work for accordion which embraces both the classical music and symphonic jazz musical genres as expressed within the United States. (See Advanced compositions below & List of jazz-influenced classical compositions).

The 1970s to 2002: Liturgical concerts

At the start of the 1970s, Serry continued his work as an accordionist in a limited revival production of Fiddler on the Roof with Zero Mostel at the Westbury Music Fair on Long Island, New York.^[106] As the decade of the 1970s unfolded, however, the publics' interest in the accordion began to diminish. With this in mind, Serry elected to devote more time to playing as a concert organist.

C.W. Post College, Brookville, Long Island. LOC gsc.5a29157

During the course of the next thirty-five years, he appeared as an independent free-lance chapel organist at the Interfaith Chapel of the Long Island University C W Post Campus^[107][108] in Brookville, New York (1968–2002).^[109] In addition to performing liturgical music regularly during interfaith wedding ceremonies, he composed a "Processional for Organ" which was featured during the chapel's dedication ceremony. Working in collaboration with Peg Larson (Assistant Director-Chapel Scheduling), Rabbi Nathaniel Schwartz (Independent Chaplain) and clergymen from the Catholic Church, Serry arranged and performed musical programs for hundreds of wedding parties and their invited guests. His performances featured the Interfaith Chapel's Hammond organ utilizing a Leslie speaker, as well as its baroque Allen organ.^{[110][111][112]}

In accordance with the ecumenical and liturgical guidelines for interfaith marriage ceremonies, Serry performed sacred music reflecting a variety of religious traditions, including: Catholicism, Protestantism, Judaism, and Eastern Orthodox. His brief concerts were presented prior to each wedding ceremony on both the organ and the piano. Musical accompaniment was often provided for vocal soloists, hazzans, as well as cantors. His concerts featured classical and contemporary works by such composers as: Bach, Ludwig van Beethoven, Leonard Bernstein, John Denver, Mendelssohn, Jean-Joseph Mouret, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Purcell, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Satie, Vivaldi, Wagner, Charles Widor, and Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Death

Long Island
Manhasset Bay Panorama 1

Serry died after a brief illness on Long Island, New York in 2003, age 88.^[113] One of his surviving sons is John Serry Jr., a jazz pianist, composer, conductor, and arranger.^[114]

Performance style

Several of John Serry's early live performances and recordings were reviewed by critics in such noted magazines as The Billboard, Cash Box and The Players Magazine - National Journal of Educational Dramatics.^[115][85] While accompanying a dramatic vocalist he was cited for contributing to an intriguing and nuanced performance.^[116] His musical arrangements were also cited for using the accordion to convey a variety of musical moods with easy-going grace intended for low-pressure listening.^[85] Above all else, he was applauded for utilizing the accordion to establish a beautiful, relaxed and soothing mood while avoiding a more common type of "show-off" performance.^[115][85]

Works

Published compositions and arrangements

His compositions include:

• 
  Desert Rumba (for accordion, 1939; publisher Antobal Music, 1951)


• 
  Glissando (for accordion, publisher Biviano Music, 1942)^[117]
  


• 
  Tarantella (for accordion, 1942; publisher Alpha Music, 1955)


• 
  Valse (Composer Pytor Ilych Tchaikovsky (Opus 39 No. 8), arr. for accordion, publisher Viccas Music, 1946)^[118]
  


• 
  Fantasy in F (for accordion, publisher Viccas Music, 1946)^[119][120]
  


• 
  Consolation Waltz (for accordion, publisher O. Pagani & Bro., 1948)^[121]
  


• 
  Uncle Charlie's Polka (for accordion, publisher O. Pagani Bro., 1948)^[122]
  


• 
  The Bugle Polka (for accordion, publisher O. Pagani Bro., 1948)^[123]
  


• 
  Leone Jump (for accordion, publisher Pietro Deiro, 1956)^{[67][124][125]}
  


• 
  La Culebra (for accordion, 1950; arr. accordion & flute; 1950, arr. flute solo 1991; publisher Antobal Music, 1951)^[126][127]
  


• 
  African Bolero (for accordion, 1950; arr. accordion & flute; 1950, arr. flute solo 1991; publisher Antobal Music, 1951)^[128][129]
  


• 
  The Syncopated Accordionist (for accordion, publisher/editor Charles Colin, 1952)^[130][131]
  


• 
  The First Ten Lessons for Accordion (for accordion, publisher Alpha Music, 1952)


• 
  Accordion Method Books I, II, III, IV (for accordion, publisher Alpha Music, 1953)


• 
  Rhythm-Airs for Accordion (editor John Serry, publisher Charles Colin & Bugs Bower, 1953)^[132]
  

External audio

You may hear John Serry Sr. performing his Leone Jump with the Joe Biviano Accordion Rhythm Sextette and Tony Mottola in 1947 Here

• 
  La Cinquantaine (m. Gabriel Marie, arr. accordion quartet, publisher Alpha Music, 1954)


• 
  Allegro (m. Joseph Hayden, arr. accordion quartet, publisher Alpha Music, 1954)


• 
  Top Ten Accordion Solos – Easy to Play (editor: John Serrapica, publisher Alpha Music, 1954)^[133][134]
  


• 
  Junior Accordion Band Series (arr. accordion quartet, publisher Alpha Music, 1955)


• 
  Tango Verde (m. Romero, arr. accordion quartet, publisher Alpha Music, 1955)


• 
  Holiday in Rio (m. Terig Tucci, arr. accordion quartet, publisher Alpha Music, 1955)


• 
  En Tu Reja (m. Romero, arr. accordion quartet, publisher Alpha Music, 1955)


• 
  Tango of Love (for accordion quartet, publisher Alpha Music, 1955)^[135]
  


• 
  Manolas (m. Escobar, arr. accordion quartet, publisher Alpha Music, 1955)


• 
  Petite Tango (for accordion quartet, publisher Alpha Music, 1955)^[135]
  


• 
  Garden in Monaco (for accordion, publisher Alpha Music, 1956)^[135]
  


• 
  Rockin' the Anvil (for accordion, publisher Alpha Music, 1956)^[135]
  


• 
  Selected Accordion Solos (arr. accordion, publisher Alpha Music, 1956)


• 
  Spooky Polka (for accordion, publisher Alpha Music, 1957)


• 
  Reeds in a Rush (for accordion, publisher Alpha Music, 1957)


• 
  American Rhapsody (for accordion, publisher Alpha Music, 1957)

Unpublished compositions

Advanced compositions

Serry's compositions in the symphonic jazz and classical music genres include:

• 
  American Rhapsody (for accordion, 1955: published by Alpha Music 1957; transcribed for piano, 2002)^[140]
  


• 
  Concerto For Free Bass Accordion (for accordion, 1966; transcribed for piano, 1995–2002, unpublished, a.k.a. Concerto in C Major for Bassetti Accordion)^[141][142]
  

Discography

External audio

You may hear John Serry Sr. with Juan Arvizu and the Alfredo Antonini CBS Tipica Orchestra performing the boleros: Viva Sevilla, Mi Sarape, Que Paso?, El Bigote de Tomas and De Donde? in 1942 Here

• 
  Squeeze Play – Dot Records (catalogue #DLP-3024) (1956)^{[27][83][143]}
  


• 
  RCA Thesaurus  - RCA Victor Transcriptions series of over thirty works. John Serry Sr. as a contributing arranger and soloist with The Bel-Cordions accordion Sextette ensemble and Ben Selvin – Music Director (1954).^[27] List of musical arrangements -Allegro - Joseph Haydn, The Golden Wedding( La Cinquantaine) - Jean Gabriel-Marie, Tango of Love - John Serry Sr., Shine On, Harvest Moon - Jack Noworth & Nora Bayes, My Melancholy Baby - Ernie Burnett & George A. Norton, Singin' in the Rain - Arthur Freed & Nacio Herb Brown, Nobody's Sweetheart - Elmer Schoebel/Gus Kahn, Chicago - Fred Fisher, If You Knew Susie - Buddy DeSylva & Joseph Meyer, Somebody Stole My Gal - Leo Wood, Ta-ra-ra Boom-de-ay - Paul Stanley (composer), Old McDonald - children's music, Beer Barrel Polka - Jaromir Vejvoda/Eduard Ingris, I Love Louisa - Arthur Schwartz/Howard Dietz, Oh You Beautiful Doll - Seymour Brown/ Nat D. Ayer, Chinatown, My Chinatown -William Jerome/Jean Schwartz
  


• 
  Accordion Capers - Sonora Records (catalogue # MS 476) - as a member of the Biviano Accordion & Rhythm Sextette. (1947)^{[66][144][67]}List of musical selections: Little Brown Jug- Joseph Eastburn Winner, The Golden Wedding (La Cinquantaine) - Jean Gabriel-Marie, Leone Jump - John Serry, Swing Low, Sweet Chariot- Wallace Willis, That's a Plenty - Lew Pollack, Scotch Medley - folk music, The Jazz Me Blues - Tom Delaney
  


• 
  Latin American Music - Alpha Records (catalogue # 12205A, 12205B, 12206A, 12206B) - as a member of the Viva America Orchestra - Conductor Alfredo Antonini (1946)^[145]List of recordings: Caminito de tu Casa - Julio Alberto Hernandez, Chapinita - Miguel Sandoval, Adios Mariquita Linda - Marcos A. Jimenez, Mi Nuevo Amor, La Zandunga - Andres Gutierrez/Maximo Ramo Ortiz, La Mulata Tomasa - Lazaro Quintero, Tres Palabras - Osvaldo Farres, Noche de ronda - Augustin Lara
  


• 
  Granada - Decca Records (catalogue # 23770A) - as a member of the Alfredo Antonini Orchestra with the lyric tenor Nestor Mesta Chayres (1946)^[59]
  


• 
  Leone Jump – Sonora Records (catalogue # 3001 B) - as a member of the Biviano Accordion & Rhythm Sextette. (1945)^[65][67][63]
  


• 
  Tres Palabras and Esta Noche Ha Pasado - Columbia Records (catalogue # 6201-X) - as a member of the CBS Pan American Orchestra - Conductor Alfredo Antionini, Vocalist Luis G. Roldan (194?)^[55][56]List of songs: Tres Palabras - Osvaldo Farres, Esta Noche Ha Pasado - M. Sabre Marroquin
  


• 
  Asi and Somos Diferentes - Columbia Records (catalogue # 6202-X) - as a member of the CBS Pan American Orchestra - Conductor Alfredo Antonini, Vocalist Luis G. Roldan (194?)^[146][147]List of songs: Asi - María Grever, Somos Diferentes - Pablo Beltran Ruiz
  


• 
  La Palma and Rosa Negra - Pilotone Records (catalogue # 5067 & # 5069) - as a member of Alfredo Antonini's Viva America Orchestra, Vocalists Los Panchos Trio (194?)^[58]List of songs: La Palma (Chilian cueca dance), Rosa Negra (Conga)
  


• 
  El Bigote de Tomas and De Donde - Columbia Records (Catalogue # 36666) - as a member of the CBS Tipica Orchestra conducted by Alfredo Antonini with tenor Juan Arvizu (194?)^[148] List of musical selections: El Bigote de Tomas - Valie, De Donde - María Grever
  


• 
  Mi Sarape and Que Paso? - Columbia Records (catalogue # 36665) - as a member of the CBS Tipica Orchestra conducted by Alfredo Antonini with tenor Juan Arvizu (194?)^[148]List of musical selections: Mi Sarape - María Grever, Que Paso? - Cortazar
  


• 
  Viva Sevilla! and Noche de Amor - Columbia records (catalogue # 36664) - as a member of the CBS Tipica Orchestra conducted by Alfredo Antonini with tenor Juan Arvizu (194?)^[148] Musical selections: Viva Sevilla! - Lavidad/Delmoral, Noche de Amor - Tchaikovsky arr.Arvizu/Antonini
  


• 
  Shep Fields and His Rippling Rhythm Orchestra - Bluebird Records - as the accordionist (1938)^[149]List of recordings 1938: A Stranger in Paree (#B-7566), I Wanna Go Back to Bali (B#7566) - Harry Warren/Al Dubin, Cathedral In The Pines (#B-7553) - Charles Kenny/Nick Kenney, Somewhere With Somebody Else (#B-7555), That Feeling Is Gone (#B-7555), Good Evenin', Good Lookin (#B-7553), My Walking Stick (#B-7592), Havin' Myself A Time (#B-7581) - Ralph Rainger/Leo Robin, Fare Thee Well, Annie Laurie (#B-7581), This Time It's Real (#B-7579), If It Rains - Who Cares? (#B-7579), Now It Can Be Told (#B-7592) - Irving Berlin, I've Got A Pocketful of Dreams (#B-7581), In Any Language (#B-7604), Where In The World (#B-7604), Any Little Girl, That's a Nice Little Girl, Is the Right Little Girl for Me (#B-7606) - Thomas J. Gray/Fred Fisher,In The Merry Month Of May (#B-7606), Don't Let That Moon Get Away (#B-7697) - Johnny Burke (lyricist)/James V. Monaco
  

External audio

You man hear John Serry Sr. with Los Panchos Trio and the Alfredo Antonini Viva America Orchestra performing a chilian cueca dance La Palma circa 1946 here

• 
  Shep Fields and His Rippling Rhythm Orchestra - Bluebird Records - as the accordionist (1937)^[150]List of recordings 1937: With a Smile and a Song (#B-7343) - Frank Churchill/Larry Morey, Whistle While You Work (#B-7343) - Frank Church/Larry Morey, It's Wonderful (#B-7333), I'm The One Who Loves You (#B-7333), There's A New Moon Over The Old Mill (#B-7355) - Allie Wrubel/Herb Magidson, Goodnight, Angel (#B-7355) Allie Wrubel/Herb Magidson, Bob White (Whatcha Gonna Swing Tonight?) (#B-7345) - Bernard Hanighen/Johnny Mercer
  


• 
  Chicago Musette-John Serry and His Accordion - Versailles (catalogue # 90 M 178) released in France (1958)^[87][88]List of musical arrangements: Rock and Roll Polka - Mort Lindsey/George Skinner, My Heart Cries for You- Percy Faith/Carl Sigman, Secret Love -Paul Webster/Sammy Fain, Granada - Agustín Lara
  

Filmography

• 
  The Big Broadcast of 1938 (1938) – as himself, performing with the Shep Fields Orchestra.^[151]
  

Inventions

In addition to his accomplishments as a professional musician, Serry also received recognition in 1966 from the United States Patent Office for his design of a protective shield for collapsible tooth past tubes which featured an aesthetically pleasing design (US Patent #US3269604, 1966).^[152]

Bibliography

• 
  Serry, John (November 1937), "Accordions & Orchestras: Past Present & Future", Accordion World.mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit}.mw-parser-output q{quotes:"""""""'""'"}.mw-parser-output code.cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:inherit;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Lock-green.svg/9px-Lock-green.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-gray-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-red-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration{color:#555}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription span,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration span{border-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration,.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-right{padding-right:0.2em}.


• 
  Serry, John (March 1939), "Those Neglected Basses", Accordion World.


• 
  Serry, John (1964), "Jazz And The Student Accordionist", Accordion World.


• 
  Serrapica, John (1952), The Syncopated Accordionist, Charles Colin.^[130]
  

Archived works

External audio

You may hear John Serry Sr. with the tenor Luis G. Roldan and the Alfredo Antonini CBS Pan American Orchestra performing the boleros Esta Noche Ha Pasasdo (Sabre Marroquin) and Tres Palabras (Osvaldo Farres) in 194? Here

• Selected examples of Serry's original compositional scores, arrangements, LP recordings, reel to reel recording tapes and related materials have been donated for archival purposes to the Eastman School of Music's Sibley Music Library within the Ruth T. Watanabe Special Collections Department to benefit both researchers and students^[153]
  


• 
  Chicago Musette - John Serry and His Accordion - soloist John Serry (1958) - a copy of the record is archived within the Bibliotheque nationale de France in Paris, France.^{[87][154][155]}(in French)
  


• 
  The Syncopated Accordionist - author John Serrapica (1952) - a copy of the book circulates at the Library of Congress, Washington DC, USA^[156]
  


• 
  Top Ten Accordion Solos - Easy to Play - editor John Serrapica (1954) - a copy of the musical score circulates at the Library of Congress, Washington D.C., USA^[157]
  


• 
  Valse - music by Tchaikovsky arranged by Serry (1946) - a copy of the musical score circulates at the British Library, London, UK


• 
  La Culebra - composer & arranger John Serry (1950 & 1991) - a copy of the score circulates at The Juilliard School - Lila Acheson Wallace Library, New York^[158]
  


• 
  African Bolero - composer & arranger John Serry (1950 & 1991) a copy of the score circulates at The Juilliard School - Lila Acheson Wallace Library, New York^[159]
  


• 
  Latin American Music - Serry as a member of the Viva America Orchestra - Alfredo Antonini conductor (1946) - a copy of two 78 RPM sound recordings is archived at the Library of Congress, Washington, D.C., USA^[160]
  


• 
  It's A Grand Night For Singing: Excerpt from a radio program ("Program of the Three Americas") -Columbia Broadcasting System - La Cadena de Las Americas - Serry as a member of the Viva America Orchestra - Conductor Alfredo Antonini (1945)^[161] Musical selections include works by Irving Berlin, Jerome Kern and Richard Rodgers - a copy of the master disc 33 1/3 RPM is archived at the New York Public Library, New York City, USA^[162]
  


• 
  Victoria Cordova - Serry as a member of the Alfredo Antonini Orchestra - Conductor Alfredo Antonini - recorded for Muzak (194?) - sound recordings are archived at the Library Of Congress, Washington, D.C.^{[48][49][163][164]}List of musical selections: Verde Luna -Vincente Gomez, Tres Palabras - Osvaldo Farres, What a Difference a Day Made - Maria Grever, You Belong to My Heart - Agustin Lara, I Love you So Much More, Say It Isn't So - Irving Berlin, How Deep Is the Ocean - Irving Berlin, I Don't Want to Love You (Like I Do),Me Ensenastes a Quere (Just to Know that You Care), Temor (There's Still a Little Time), Siboney (song) - Ernesto Lecuona, Acurrucadita, Amor - Gabriel Ruiz, Sone, Tu Nombre, Lucero Mananero, Cancion del Alma, Muy Tarde, Noche de luna -Mykola Lysenko, Amar y Vivir - Consuelo Velazquez Torres, Crueldad, A Perfect Day - Carrie Jacobs-Bond, Edelma - Pasillo - Terig Tucci
  


• 
  Granada - Decca Records (catalogue # 23770A) - as a member of the Alfredo Antonini Orchestra with Nestor Mesta Chayres (1946) as archived on archive.org^[59]
  


• 
  Leone Jump, Swing Low, Sweet Chariot, The Jazz Me Blues, Nursery Rhymes - Serry as a member of the Joe Biviano Accordion and Rhythm Sextette (1945?) as archived on Archive.org.^[63]List of musical selections: Leone Jump - John Serry Sr., Swing Low, Sweet Chariot - Wallace Willis, The Jazz Me Blues - Tom Delaney, Nursery Rhymes - children's nursery rhymes
  


• 
  Tres Palabras and Esta Noche Ha Pasado - Serry as a member of the Alfredo Antonini CBS Pan American Orchestra, Vocalist Luis G. Roldan (194?) are archived online at archive.org.^[55][56]List of songs: Tres Palabras - Osvaldo Farres, Esta Noche Ha Pasado - M. Sabre Marroquin
  


• 
  Asi and Somos Diferentes - Serry as a member of the Alfredo Antonini CBS Pan American Orchestra, Vocalist Luis G. Roldan (194?) as archived on line at frontera.library.ucla.edu^[146][147]List of songs: Asi - María Grever, Somos Diferentes - Pablo Beltran Ruiz
  


• 
  La Palma and Rosa Negra - Serry as a member of Alfredo Antonini's Viva America Orchestra, Vocalists Los Panchos Trio (194?) are archived online at archive.org^[58]List of songs: La Palma (Chilian cueca dance), Rosa Negra (Conga)
  


• 
  El Bigote de Tomas and De Donde - Columbia Records (Catalogue # 36666) - Serry as a member of the CBS Tipica Orchestra conducted by Alfredo Antonini with tenor Juan Arvizu (194?) List of musical selections: El Bigote de Tomas - Valie, De Donde - María Grever
  


• 
  Mi Sarape and Que Paso? - Columbia Records (catalogue # 36665) - Serry as a member of the CBS Tipica Orchestra conducted by Alfredo Antonini with tenor Juan Arvizu (194?)^[148]List of musical selections: Mi Sarape - María Grever, Que Paso? - Cortazar
  


• 
  Viva Sevilla! and Noche de Amor - Columbia records (catalogue # 36664) - Serry as a member of the CBS Tipica Orchestra conducted by Alfredo Antonini with tenor Juan Arvizu (194?)^[148] Musical selections: Viva Sevilla! - Lavidad/Delmoral, Noche de Amor - Tchaikovsky arr.Arvizu/Antonini
  

Professional affiliations

Serry was an active member of the BMI, SESAC, American Federation of Musicians (Local #802) (1933–2003),^[165] and The American Guild of Organists. For a brief period he served as a charter member of the American Accordionists Association (1938). He pursued professional musical studies with: Joseph Rossi (accordion, 1926–1929); Albert Rizzi (piano and harmony, 1929–1932); Gene Von Hallberg (counterpoint and harmony, 1933–1934) (a founder of the American Accordionists Association); Jascha Zade (piano, 1945–1946); Arthur Guttow (organ, 1946), and Robert Strassburg (piano, advanced harmony, and orchestration, 1948–1950).^[20]

See also

References

External links

• 
  Chicago Musette - John Serry et son Accordeon - sound recording of Serry performing "Granada" by Agustin Lara on BnF Gallica.bnf.fr (in French)
  


• 
  Tres Palabras - sound recording of Serry performing "Tres Palabras" by Osvaldo Farres - CBS Pan American Orchestra, Vocalist Luis G. Roldan on Archive.org


• 
  Esta Noche Ha Pasado - sound recording of Serry performing "Esta Noche Ha Pasado" by M. Sabre Marroquin with the CBS Pan American Orchestra, Vocalist Luis G. Roldan on Archive.org


• 
  La Palma;Rosa Negra - sound recording of Serry performing "La Palma" & "Rosa Negra"- Viva America orchestra, Vocalists - Los Panchos Trio on Archive.org


• 
  Granada - sound recording of John Serry Sr. performing "Granada" by Agustín Lara with the Alfredo Antonini Orchestra, Vocalist Nestor Chayres on Archive.org


• 
  Leone Jump, Swing Low, Sweet Chariot, Jazz Me Blues - sound recordings of John Serry Sr. with the Joe Biviano Accordion & Rhythm Sextette on Archive.org


• 
  Viva Sevilla!;Noche de Amor;Mi Sarape;Que Paso?;El Bigote de Tomas;De Donde - sound recording of John Serry Sr. performing as accordionist in the CBS Tipica Orchestra conducted by Alfredo Antonini with tenor Juan Arvizu on Archive.org


• 
  Asi, Esta Noche Ha Pasado,Somos Differentes and Tres Palabras - Sound recordings of John Serry Sr. performing as accordionist in the Orquesta Pan Americana with Alfredo Antonini conducting with vocalist Luis G. Roldan at the University of California Los Angeles on fronter.library.ucla.edu


• 
  It's A Grand Night For Singing - CBS radio program excerpt from "Program of the Three Americas" -Viva America Orchestra sound recording at the New York City Public Library Online Catalog at catalog.nypl.org
  


• 
  Latin American Music - Viva America Orchestra 78 RPM sound recordings at The Library of Congress Online Catalog at catalog.loc.gov


• Copies of selected radio broadcasts by the Office of the Coordinator of Inter-American Affairs - Radio Division as archived at the United States National Archive www.archives.gov