[78-L] fwd: Art van Damme

[David Lennick]

Art Van Damme, R.I.P.

Art Van Damme, a former Northridge resident known as the father of jazz 
accordion, has died. He was 89.

The quintet leader known internationally for his swinging jazz accordion died 
Monday at a skilled nursing facility near his home in Roseville, a suburb of 
Sacramento.

Van Damme, who cut nearly 50 jazz records, made as many world concert tours and 
appeared on numerous NBC radio and TV shows, died before his 90th birthday 
concert bash.

Arthur Raymond Van Damme was born April 9, 1920, in Norway, Mich. During the 
1930s, he studied classical accordion in Chicago before styling himself after 
"King of Swing" Benny Goodman.

Known for his melodic jazz improvisation, Van Damme taught himself to swing his 
26-pound Excelsior as lightly as Goodman's clarinet, with nuanced bellows 
accents and a sliding five-finger chord style.

His Art Van Damme Quintet recorded 130 episodes of the "Art Van Damme Show" for 
NBC radio before performing on "Tonight" and other TV variety shows.

More at:
http://www.dailynews.com/news/ci_14422445?source=rss