Tony Lovello

Tony Lovello is largely regarded as the greatest accordion player in the world and has appeared on numerous national television programs. Nicknamed the "Liberace of the Accordion", he performed with such singers as Frank Sinatra, Debbie Reynolds, Jimmy Durante, Kate Smith (2) and Eddie Cantor. He learned to play the accordion at age 5 under the guidance of his father. He was playing professionally by age 7. Lovello performed on Arthur Godfrey’s TV show, then joined The Three Suns, a popular nightclub attraction in New York City. He toured and recorded with the group throughout the 1940s and 1950s, and also released several solo recordings. When an illness caused him to be deaf in his left ear, he retired from show business, and settled down to work at The Campbell House Inn in Lexington, Kentucky. He was there 31 years, first as entertainment director and then as general manager until his retirement in 1999. He passed away in 2017.