L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2014 www.italoamericano.com L'Italo-Americano 7 the Pioneers, lead by Bob Nolan. He admired them, and knew everything about the band and its leader. When Shorty Joe was about 14 years old The Sons of the Pioneers came to San Jose, the admission price was 10¢ but even that was more than he had in his pocket. He was excited and just had to see them so he went around back hoping to catch a glimpse. A Dodge with long- horns on the hood arrived, and as the driver step out, Shorty Joe mustered up the nerve to ask if he could meet Bob Nolan. The dri- ver asked him what he knew about the band leader, Shorty Joe began to talk fast, rambling on and reciting Nolan's life story. The driver was awed by the young fan's knowledge, he shook Shorty Joe's hand and introduced himself as Bob Nolan. Hearing of the young boy's financial dilem- ma he invited him backstage and gave him a chair to watch the show. Since it worked once, Shorty Joe decided to try a similar approach with his number one idol, Dude Martin at a radio sta- tion in Oakland. Dude Martin had become the top western band in the area. He appreciated Shorty Joe's tenacity and took a liking to the short Italian kid. Dude Martin would let him into his shows whenever Shorty Joe showed up at a performance. Bob Nolan and Dude Martin were to influence Shorty Joe's musical career for life and provide the spark a young man needed to fuel his own passion for country music. Before World War II, Shorty Joe formed his first country trio, after the war, the trio quickly became eight and in no time at When you think of Italians and music, you might just think of the great opera composers, Verdi, Pucchini, Rossini, or the powerful voices of Caruso, Pavarotti or Bartoli. Perhaps your mind fills with the smooth sound of Sinatra and Martin but that is only part of our history. What if I told you Italians also made the best toe tapping, boot scooting, country AND western music, right here in California? In 1924 in Monreale, Sicily, a hillside village best known for the Cathedral of Monreale, one of the greatest examples of mosa- ic art in the world, was born Guiseppe Quartuccio, later to be known as "Shorty Joe". He emi- grated to the United States with his family in 1930 by way of New York, Ohio before finally settling in San Jose in 1936. It was the era of the Great Depression and the Quartuccio family made its living, like many other Italian immigrants, as farm laborers and cannery workers. Shorty Joe started picking fruit at age 12 then moved into cannery work until the outbreak of World War II when he joined the Navy and became an aviation mechan- ic. After his discharged from the military, he was hired by NASA and eventually assisted in train- ing astronauts and jet pilots at NASA's Ames Reach Center at Moffett Field in Mountain View, California. But this was just his day job. When Shorty Joe was a young boy he'd listen to the radio, that's when he first heard and fell in love with country music. His favorite band was The Sons of The Old Country and New Western – A Singing Cowboy's Tale all, Shorty Joe and the Red Rock Canyon Cowboys, whose origi- nal members were all Italian American, were recording under the Golden West and Bella labels. Their popularity continued to grow and they soon found themselves performing in larger venues with their music gaining more and more radio time. Their original songs had a distinct Bay Area sound and one of Shorty Joe's favorite compositions is "In Santa Clara Valley Round Ole San Jose". They performed at Tracy Gardens in San Jose (now the site of Valley Fair Mall) to huge audiences and their shows were aired live on the radio. They played to sold out crowds all over Northern California alongside Hank Williams, Roy Acuff, and NANcy MORREALE Lefty Frizzell. Shorty Joe has been honored as a "living legend" by the Italian American Heritage Foundation, San Jose. He is an elected mem- ber of the Country Western Music Hall of Fame for his work in bridging Country Music with Western Swing. And was just Sept. 6 - 21,- Verdi's Rigoletto, A tale of innocence lost. A ven- geance gone tragically awry. A deformed court jester wants nothing more than to protect his virtuous daughter from a licen- tious duke who seduces and then abandons her. Don't miss this Giuseppe Verdi's famous masterwork. Opera San Jose, 2149 Paragon Dr, San Jose, 408-437-4450, www.operasj.org. Sept. 13, Sat. Little Italy San Jose Gala Celebration under the evening stars! 5:00 – 11:00 p.m. Featuring music by Italian Tenor Pasquale Esposito & Band. This Gala Celebration inclu- des a four-course Italian dinner with fine wines, a live auction, costumed performers and renaissance & Venetian-themed decorations. Little Italy San Jose Foundation, www.littleitaly- sj.com, 408-394-2893. Sep. 16, Tues. - The Four Days of Naples, Special Viewing, 6:00 p.m. doors open, 7:00 p.m. movie starts. An award win- ning movie tells the story of the Italian revolt of September 27-30, 1943 against the German forces occupying Naples during World War II. Admission $5.00 suggested donation. 425 N. 4th St, San Jose, 408-293-7122, www.iahfsj.org. Sept. 18, Thurs.- IAHF Italian Regional Lunch, Discovering Trabia and Western Sicily, 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. San Jose was once home to more Trabians than Trabia. Enjoy the tastes that are unique to the isle of Sicily and learn more about its con- nection to San Jose. $15 non-members, $12 IAHF members. 425 N. 4th St, San Jose, 408-293-7122, www.iahfsj.org. Sep. 20, Sat. - Luna Park Chalk Art Festival 2014, 10:00 – 5:00 p.m. Now in its seventh year, the Luna Park Chalk Art festival bring together thousands of artists, arts students, and art lovers. Backesto Park, N. 13th Street and E. Jackson Street, San Jose. Free admission. More information at http:// luna- parkchalkart.org/ or email, info@lunaparkchalkart. org. Sep. 30, Tues. - Neapolitan Biscotti Cooking Class, 6:45 p.m. Napoli has its own special way of making the popular Italian biscotti. Come learn from Ann Tudino, an Italian native, just what makes this cookie unique. $15.00 per person, includes all ingredients and supplies. 425 N. 4th St, San Jose, 408-293- 7122, www.iahfsj.org. Community Highlights opera performance by the First Street Opera Singers of San Jose. A surprise for everyone even the event planners. The crowd gathered around to hear them sing and just when they finished and were preparing to disappear as quickly as they had appeared only minutes before two elderly ladies came up on stage. They were there to cross off a line on their bucket list. So at age 88 and 84, these two friends climbed inside the wine barrels and began to stomp grapes. They stomped and squealed at the feel of the grapes between their toes. There's one thing you can count on from Italians, you never know what to expect but it's always done with love and fami- ly and heart. BRAVO Italian Family Festa! The people came to enjoy a weekend of everything Italian and they were not disappointed. From the sounds of accordions, the beautiful tenor voice of ALFIO to the aromas of Italian sausages and marinara sauce simmer in huge pots. The Italian Family Festa, in its 34th year in San Jose, delivered a festive end of summer event. Weaved into the music and food, was grape stomping, a fantastic wine tasting garden featuring local Italian wineries and never to be too far from the Italian heritage, a family roots project. There was a variety of unique entertainment starting culinary demonstrations, Italian book readings and a photo opportunity area where people really enjoyed having their pic- tures taken with friends and family, instantly posting to Facebook, Instagram and other social media sites really had the Festa buzzing this year. There was also "flash mob" NANcy MORREALE Shorty Joe Quartuccio recently noted by the Italian Consulate General of San Francisco for his contributions to music and for providing a posi- tive portrayal of Italians in America. Today his band record- ings are housed at the Southern Folklife Collection at the University of North Carolina. To add to his accomplish- ments, Shorty Joe achieved all his musical ambitions without ever giving up his career at NASA, retiring after 30 years of service. Today, Giuseppe Quartuccio, Shorty Joe, lives in Sacramento, with his wife Jeannie Valentina, and is the last surviving member of the Red Rock Canyon Cowboys. Shorty Joe first met his wife while picking prunes in Santa Clara Valley. They attend- ed school together and got mar- ried in 1946. They have a son, Joel and daughter, Joann Wilcox along with four grandchildren, Gregory, Denise, Nicole, and Christine. Google "Shorty Joe", you'll find him on YouTube and else- where. Listen to the early sounds of San Jose's own country AND western swing. I guarantee you, you'll never look at Italians and music the same.

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