Oklahoma Squeezins

The Oklahoma Accordion Club held its May meeting on Sunday the 12th. We met in the large south room of Messiah Lutheran Church in OKC. aggie Abel called the meeting to order at 3:30 pm. There were nine members and six guests attending. Four of the guests had driven from Duncan, Oklahoma, to hear accordion music on Mother's Day. We began with The Pledge of Allegiance, led by Dick Albreski. There was a brief discussion about playing accordion music using technical devices. When Maggie asked several players why and when they had started playing accordion, a first-time guest from Duncan said she started playing at age nine when she lived in California. When Dick's father offered him lessons, Dick found it hard to say "no" to his Dad. By eighth grade Dick was in a band, playing for dances and wedding celebrations. Anne Lopez started accordion lessons about age nine. She chose accordion because there was no space in their home for a piano. Lois Roth (also around age nine) saw and heard a friend's accordion and fell in love with it. Myke Dixon, who had always enjoyed listening to "Weird Al" Yankovich and Dr. Demento, became interested in the squeezebox when he visited the World of Accordions Museum in Superior, Wisconsin. He bought an accordion and took lessons, and now has three accordions and a chord organ. Time for music! We warmed up with a singalong of three good old favorites: "I Want A Girl," "When You Wore A Tulip, " and "America The Beautiful." Anne and Lois performed several of Elvis Presley's famous songs: "Blue Hawaii," "Love Me Tender," "Wooden Heart," and "It's Now or Never." They continued playing with an occasional suggestion from the audience, such as "Beer Barrel Polka," "Tennessee Waltz," "Rain Rain Polka," and "The Chicken Dance" with audience participation! Lois finished the afternoon's music with a few solos including "Blue Eyes Cryin' In The Rain," "Bicycle Built For Two," and "Waltz Across Texas." The meeting was adjourned, but afterward Myke joined Lois for a bit of jamming. Our next meeting will be Sunday, June 9, starting at 3:30. Bring your accordion and play, or just come to listen and enjoy! Respectfully submitted, Lois Roth, OAC Secretary