List of popular music acts that incorporate the accordion

Last updated

Richard Reed Parry performing with Arcade Fire. RichardParryArcadeFire.jpg
Richard Reed Parry performing with Arcade Fire.
Charlie Gillingham playing the accordion CharlieGillingham.jpg
Charlie Gillingham playing the accordion
John Linnell performing with They Might Be Giants on a Main Squeeze 911 accordion in Fort Lauderdale on March 12, 2008 They Might Be Giants - John Linnell.jpg
John Linnell performing with They Might Be Giants on a Main Squeeze 911 accordion in Fort Lauderdale on March 12, 2008
"Weird Al" Yankovic playing a Roland FR-7 V-Accordion AlYankovicByKristineSlipson.jpg
"Weird Al" Yankovic playing a Roland FR-7 V-Accordion

This is a list of articles describing popular music acts that incorporate the accordion. The accordion appeared in popular music from the 1900s-1960s. This half century is often called the "Golden Age of the Accordion." Three players: Pietro Frosini, and the two brothers Count Guido Deiro and Pietro Deiro were major influences at this time.

Band or musicianAccordionistStyle
Abnoey Park "Captain" Robert Brown Steampunk
Arcade Fire Régine Chassagne
Richard Reed Parry [1]
Indie rock
The Band Garth Hudson Americana
Barenaked Ladies Kevin Hearn Alternative rock
The Beach Boys Various session musicians [2] [3] Rock
Beirut Perrin CloutierCombines elements of Eastern European and folk sounds
Brave Combo Carl Finchpolka/rock/worldbeat band, incorporates a number of dance styles, mostly polka, but also some Latin American and Caribbean styles [4] [5]
Calexico Martin WenkRock
Counting Crows Charlie Gillingham Rock
Silvestre Dangond Juancho De la EspriellaVallenato, Modern and very popular Colombian music
The Decemberists Jenny Conlee Folk rock
Detektivbyrån Anders FlandersCombination of electronica and folk.
DeVotchKa Tom Hagerman Indie rock
Alan Doyle Todd Lumley Folk/Country/Rock
The Dreadnoughts Leroy "Slow Ride" McBride Folk punk, polka punk, celtic punk
The Dropkick Murphys Tim Brennan Celtic punk
Dubioza Kolektiv Brano JakubovićBosnian dub-rock
Elaiza Yvonne Grünwald Folk, indie rock, alternative rock
The E Street Band Danny Federici [6]
Roy Bittan
Charles Giordano
Rock
The Felice Brothers James FeliceFolk/country rock
Finsterforst Johannes Joseph Folk metal, Viking metal
Flogging Molly Matt HensleyCeltic punk
Folkearth Polydeykis (Zion)Viking metal, folk metal, black metal
Jason Freese SelfAlternative rock, pop punk, punk rock, garage punk
Gogol Bordello Yuri Lemeshev [7] Gypsy punk, folk punk
Great Big Sea Bob Hallett Traditional Newfoundland folk and rock
Haydamaky Ivan LenoUkrainian folk punk
The Hooters Rob Hyman Rock
Bruce Hornsby Bruce Hornsby Rock. Played accordion at various Grateful Dead concerts.
Huntza Josune Arakistain SalasBasque folk punk
Jump, Little Children Matthew BivinsCombines Irish influences with an alternative rock sound
Kalevala Alexander Oleynikov Folk metal
Katzenjammer Anne Marit BergheimPop, folk rock
Mark Knopfler Phil Cunningham
Jim Cox
Iain Lothian
Blues Rock, Roots Rock, Celtic Rock, Folk Rock. Accordion included on most solo albums (since 1996), plus various collaboration and soundtrack projects.
Kongos Johnny KongosAlternative rock
Korpiklaani Juho KauppinenFolk metal
Lemon Demon Neil Cicierega Indie rock
Leshak Игорь "Hurry" Ангиоз Folk metal, death metal
Los Colorados UnknownWorld rock
Los Lobos David Hidalgo Rock and roll, Tex-Mex, country, zydeco, folk, R&B, blues
Lucero Rick Steff Alternative country, Punk rock, Alternative rock, Heartland rock, Memphis soul, Blues rock
Mägo de Oz Sergio CisnerosFolk metal, folk rock
Madvillain Madlib Hip hop
The Mahones Katie McConnell (Katie Kaboom)Irish folk, Punk rock, Rock
John Mellencamp UnknownRock. Has included the accordion in most of his music since The Lonesome Jubilee .
MewithoutYou Aaron WeissAlternative rock
Mekons Eric Bellis aka Rico Bell Alternative rock
Molotov Jukebox Natalia Tena Gypstep
Moonsorrow Henri Sorvali Folk metal
Motion Trio (Accordion Trio)Collaborations with other artists (such as Bobby McFerrin and Michał Urbaniak)
My Superhero Mike Berault Ska punk
Neutral Milk Hotel Julian Koster Indie rock
Maria Ney SelfWeimar German cabaret performer
NOFX Eric Melvin Punk rock
Oingo Boingo Steve Bartek, John Avila, Doug Lacy New wave, dance-rock, ska, alternative rock
The Pogues James Fearnley Irish punk, pub music
The Radioactive Chicken Heads Punky Rooster Punk rock, comedy rock
Random Encounter Careless Alternative rock, indie rock
Rotfront UnknownDub, ska, world music
Scythian Danylo Fedoryka Folk, Celtic, Celtic rock, folk rock, Americana
Czeslaw Spiewa Czeslaw Mozil, Martin BenneboCombines elements of Eastern European and folk with pop and alternative rock
Sound Horizon RevoCombination of many genres, ranging from heavy metal to classical
Steam Powered Giraffe Isabella "Bunny" Bennett Steampunk, folk rock, vaudeville
Stolen Babies Dominique Lenore Persi Experimental rock, avant-garde metal
Styx Dennis DeYoung Hard rock, progressive rock
Svartsot Hans-Jørgen Martinus HansenFolk metal, Viking metal
Tesco Value Czeslaw Mozil, Martin BenneboFolk, pop, rock
That Handsome Devil Jeremy Page and Andy Bauer Alternative rock, alternative hip hop
They Might Be Giants John Linnell [8] Alternative rock
Those Darn Accordions Various, currently Paul Rogers and Suzanne GarramoneAccordion-based rock/pop/comedy band
Yann Tiersen SelfFrench, avant-garde
Tiger Lillies Martyn Jacques Brechtian and modern cabaret
Tosca Tango Orchestra Glover Gil Nuevo tango, classical music
Turisas Janne Mäkinen, Netta SkogFolk metal, Viking metal
Twenty One Pilots Tyler Joseph Alternative rock, indie pop
The Twilight Sad Andy MacFarlaneScottish folk rock, indie rock
Varang Nord Jeļena KaļnišaFolk metal, Viking metal
Vitas Vitas (studio), unknown (live)Eclectic Russian pop
Julieta Venegas Self Latin pop
Vopli Vidopliassova Oleh Skrypka Ukrainian folk punk, folk rock
Tom Waits William Schimmel, David Hidalgo Jazz, rock, blues, folk, experimental rock
Jason Webley SelfCombination of traditional music, Romani music, punk rock
Weddings Parties Anything Mark Wallace Folk rock
Windir Valfar Folk metal, Viking metal, black metal
Wintergatan Martin Molin Folktronica
The World/Inferno Friendship Society Franz Nicolay [9] Cabaret punk
"Weird Al" Yankovic Self Comedy music, parody music
The Zydepunks Juan Küffner folk punk

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Accordion</span> Bellows-driven free-reed aerophone musical instrument

Accordions are a family of box-shaped musical instruments of the bellows-driven free reed aerophone type. The essential characteristic of the accordion is to combine in one instrument a melody section, also called the diskant, usually on the right-hand keyboard, with an accompaniment or Basso continuo functionality on the left-hand. The musician normally plays the melody on buttons or keys on the right-hand side, and the accompaniment on bass or pre-set chord buttons on the left-hand side. A person who plays the accordion is called an accordionist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brave Combo</span> American polka/rock/worldbeat band

Brave Combo is a polka fusion band based in Denton, Texas. Founded in 1979 by guitarist/keyboardist/accordionist Carl Finch, they have been a prominent fixture in the Texas music scene for more than thirty-five years. Their music, both originals and covers, incorporates a number of dance styles, mostly polka, but also some Latin American and Caribbean styles like norteño, salsa, rumba, cha-cha-cha, choro, samba, two-step, cumbia, charanga, merengue, ska, etc, all performed with a rock/worldbeat energy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Otep</span> American nu metal band

Otep is an American nu metal band. The band was formed in November 2000 in Los Angeles by frontwoman Otep Shamaya. The band is noted for their style of "art-house nu metal", and their strong political stances. Throughout the course of several lineup changes over the years, Shamaya has remained the only constant member in the band.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">God Only Knows</span> 1966 song by the Beach Boys

"God Only Knows" is a song by American rock band the Beach Boys from their 1966 album Pet Sounds. Written by Brian Wilson and Tony Asher, it is a baroque-style love song distinguished for its harmonic innovation and complexity, unusual instrumentation, and subversion of typical popular music conventions, both lyrically and musically. It is often praised as one of the greatest songs of all time and as the Beach Boys' finest record.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Piano accordion</span> Musical instrument

A piano accordion is an accordion equipped with a right-hand keyboard similar to a piano or organ. Its acoustic mechanism is more that of an organ than a piano, as they are both aerophones, but the term "piano accordion"—coined by Guido Deiro in 1910—has remained the popular name. It may be equipped with any of the available systems for the left-hand manual.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Girls & Boys (Blur song)</span> 1994 single by Blur

"Girls & Boys" is a song by English rock band Blur, released in March 1994 by Food Records as the lead single from the group's third studio album, Parklife (1994). The frontman of Blur, Damon Albarn wrote the song's lyrics with bandmembers Graham Coxon, Alex James and Dave Rowntree, while Stephen Street produced it.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Serry Sr.</span> American concert accordionist, arranger, and composer

John Serry Sr. 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wouldn't It Be Nice</span> 1966 single by the Beach Boys

"Wouldn't It Be Nice" is a song by the American rock band the Beach Boys and the opening track from their 1966 album Pet Sounds. Written by Brian Wilson, Tony Asher, and Mike Love, it is distinguished for its sophisticated Wall of Sound-style arrangement and refined vocal performances, and is regarded among the band's finest songs. With its juxtaposition of joyous-sounding music and melancholic lyrics, it is considered a formative work of power pop, and with respect to musical innovation, progressive pop.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Go West (song)</span> 1979 single by Village People

"Go West" is a song by American disco group Village People, released in June 1979 by Casablanca Records as the second single from their fourth studio album of the same name (1979). The song was written by Jacques Morali, Henri Belolo and lead singer Victor Willis, while Morali produced it. It was successful in the disco scene during the late 1970s and a top-20 hit in Belgium, Ireland and the UK. "Go West" found further success when it was covered in 1993 by English synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Logical Song</span> 1979 single by Supertramp

"The Logical Song" is a song by English rock group Supertramp that was released as the lead single from their album Breakfast in America in March 1979. It was written primarily by the band's Roger Hodgson, who based the lyrics on his experiences being sent away to boarding school for ten years. The song became Supertramp's biggest hit, rising to No. 7 in the United Kingdom and No. 6 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. In 2001, a cover version by the band Scooter returned the song to the top 10 in several European countries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Guido Deiro</span> American songwriter (1886–1950)

Count Guido Pietro Deiro was a famous vaudeville star, international recording artist, composer and teacher. He was the first piano-accordionist to appear on big-time vaudeville, records, radio and the screen. he usually performed under the stage-name "Deiro". Guido and his younger brother Pietro Deiro were among the highest-paid musicians on the vaudeville circuit, and they both did much to introduce and popularize the piano accordion in the early 20th century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Henry Doktorski</span> American accordionist, organist and author

Henry Doktorski III is an American accordionist, organist and author.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pietro Deiro</span> Italian-American accordionist

Pietro Deiro was one of the most influential accordionists of the first half of the 20th century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pietro Frosini</span> American songwriter

Pietro Frosini professionally known mononymously as Frosini, was an Italian vaudevillian performer and composer, who was based in the United States, we was one of the first famous "stars of the accordion."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Absolutely Fabulous (song)</span> 1994 single by Pet Shop Boys

"Absolutely Fabulous" is a song by English synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys, released by Parlophone and Spaghetti Records as a single for 1994's Comic Relief under the artist name "Absolutely Fabulous"; it is based on the BBC sitcom of the same name created by Jennifer Saunders and features sound bites taken from the first series of the show. The single peaked at number six on the UK Singles Chart and number seven on the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart. It was more successful in Oceania, debuting and peaking at number two in both Australia and New Zealand; in the former country, it is the band's highest-charting single, and in both, it was their last top-10 entry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Don't Know What You Want but I Can't Give It Any More</span> 1999 single by Pet Shop Boys

"I Don't Know What You Want but I Can't Give It Any More" is a song by English synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys from their seventh studio album, Nightlife (1999). Released on 19 July 1999 as the album's lead single, it peaked at number 15 on the UK Singles Chart, number two on the US Hot Dance Club Play chart, and number 66 on the US Hot Singles Sales chart.

The accordion is in a wide variety of musical genres, mainly in traditional and popular music. In some regions, such as in Europe and North America, it has become mainly restricted to traditional, folk and ethnic music. Nonetheless, the button accordion (melodeon) and the piano accordion are widely taught and played in Ireland, and have remained a steady fixture within Irish traditional music, both in Ireland and abroad, particularly in the United States and Great Britain. Numerous virtuoso Irish accordion players have recorded many albums over the past century or so; the earliest Irish music records were made in the 1920s, in New York City, by fiddler and Sligo immigrant Michael Coleman, widely considered to have paved the way for other traditional musicians to record themselves. Accordions are also played within other Celtic styles, as well as in English traditional music, American traditional music, polka, Galician folk music, and Eastern European folk music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I'm Not Scared (song)</span> 1988 single by Eighth Wonder, written by the Pet Shop Boys

"I'm Not Scared" is a song by British pop band Eighth Wonder, released in February 1988 by CBS as the first single from their debut album, Fearless (1988). The song achieved success in France, Italy, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and West Germany, where it was a top-10 hit. Written by the Pet Shop Boys, the original version contains several words in French. "J'ai pas peur" is the French adaptation of "I'm Not Scared" and is included as the B-side to the 7-inch and 12-inch singles. The 12-inch "disco mix" combines the two versions into one long mix. Pet Shop Boys also released their own version of the song, with Neil Tennant vocals, on the album Introspective.

"Must Be Santa" is a Christmas song written by Hal Moore and Bill Fredericks and first released in November 1960 by Mitch Miller on Columbia 41814. A cover version by Tommy Steele reached Number 40 on the UK Singles Chart a year later. Another cover, by Joan Regan made number 42 a week later.

References

  1. On tracks "Neighborhood #2 (Laïka)" and "Wake Up", respectively
  2. The Pet Sounds Sessions: "The Making Of Pet Sounds" booklet
  3. Pet Sounds (CD Liner). The Beach Boys. Capitol Records. 1999.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  4. "Brave Combo - Official Website". Bravecombo.com. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
  5. "Brave Combo". Grammy.com. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
  6. "Danny Federici of E Street Band dies at 58". Today.com. April 18, 2008. Archived from the original on 2014-01-10. Retrieved 2009-07-24.
  7. "Eugene Hutz, Gogol Bordello's Gypsy Punk Hero", NPR Music, August 15, 2007, retrieved 2010-01-26
  8. "John Linnell Biography". Starpulse.com. 1959-06-12. Archived from the original on 2011-06-06. Retrieved 2011-10-11.
  9. Best known as the keyboardist of indie rock group The Hold Steady