Amazing finding this. Actual film footage of George Wright playing organ. I've always wondered if any film existed! Thanks so much for finding these and posting them online.
@tictac21 Thank you. I never would have guessed. Never thought I'd ever see him playing a Hammond organ, either. This is a great video, but I'm suprised that he is not mentioned in the credits. Maybe he wasn't well-known at the time. But, he was a great theater organist--probably the best ever!
@princess5257 I got these from a person who only had these three I have on youtube. That person passed away years ago. If there are more videos of Charles I have no source to them. Maybe your brother can locate or find out if there are more videos since he is related to Charles. If there are more out there I would enjoy seeing them
@tactac21 My cousin Angelo Presti was my teacher for several years after I outgrew group lessons and inherited one of Angelo's Mussi Constellations. He saw what I was about to see and he tried to keep me busy, learning and practicing before I fell thru the window after seeing girls. He knew all these Nunzio, Magnante, Van Damme guys.Rumor hazzit he's the youngest kid in N.Y. to play ON RADIO (Rhapsody in Blue). What I know (music) iz Angelo Presti foundation. He wasn't an ACTOR . HE PLAYED!!
As an 8 year old out of LI School of music got a Third Place ribbon in NYC Waldorf Astoria performing " Waltz Allegro" as orchestrated/written by Charles Magnante...all fingers non stop as I recall,.....he was a great inspiration.......
Just a bit of trivia re: this Soundie: the sound track was recorded separately. The guitar sound that you hear is actually played by Tony Mottola. He was unavailable for the filming, so Johnny Smith stood in for him. Bass player is Eugene Ettore, a wonderful accordionist. Organist is the great George Wright, one of the alltime supreme organists, just as Magnante was to the accordion.
In Nazareth,Pa at the high school auditorium.However just to make it clear Magnante played solo. He certainly needed no help from me or any of my accordion teachers students.
I am a drummer and when I was 16 years old I played a concert with Mr Magnante, I still play but Charles is gone. A great memory for me as I am now in my early 70s.
Great accordinist, proper right and left hand tecnique, unlike many of the ones today in these push pull honkey polka bands, I sure dont hear magnate slurring and dragging the notes like that gomlka guy does.
Sorry,I don't have the score. The recording was done sometime in the nineteen forties probably at the radio station that Charles played on a daily basis.
I was also fortunate enough to be on stage with Magnante,in 1958,when I was eight years old. My accordion teacher had a recital for all his students and Magnante was there as the featured artist. I remember him telling us he practiced up to eight hours a day.
Amazing finding this. Actual film footage of George Wright playing organ. I've always wondered if any film existed! Thanks so much for finding these and posting them online.
steverabb 1 month ago
@tictac21 Thank you. I never would have guessed. Never thought I'd ever see him playing a Hammond organ, either. This is a great video, but I'm suprised that he is not mentioned in the credits. Maybe he wasn't well-known at the time. But, he was a great theater organist--probably the best ever!
RonN448 3 months ago
Is that, in fact, a young George Wright playing the Hammond organ? Can anyone confirm, or disprove that?
RonN448 3 months ago
@RonN448 That is George Wright on the organ.
tactac21 3 months ago
Such ease, style, presence, grace; the great Magnante.
GiovanniMariaTommaso 10 months ago
he is good
RolandfionaRuby123 1 year ago
He's just a brilliant musician . Magnante is the great Carmen Carrozza's idol .
elnrobo 1 year ago
tactac21, can you tell me where you got these from, we're trying to obtain more, Charles is my brother's great, great, great grandfather!
princess5257 1 year ago
@princess5257 I got these from a person who only had these three I have on youtube. That person passed away years ago. If there are more videos of Charles I have no source to them. Maybe your brother can locate or find out if there are more videos since he is related to Charles. If there are more out there I would enjoy seeing them
tactac21 1 year ago
@tactac21 My cousin Angelo Presti was my teacher for several years after I outgrew group lessons and inherited one of Angelo's Mussi Constellations. He saw what I was about to see and he tried to keep me busy, learning and practicing before I fell thru the window after seeing girls. He knew all these Nunzio, Magnante, Van Damme guys.Rumor hazzit he's the youngest kid in N.Y. to play ON RADIO (Rhapsody in Blue). What I know (music) iz Angelo Presti foundation. He wasn't an ACTOR . HE PLAYED!!
jdmfonte 5 months ago
awesome!
AccordionManiac 1 year ago
As an 8 year old out of LI School of music got a Third Place ribbon in NYC Waldorf Astoria performing " Waltz Allegro" as orchestrated/written by Charles Magnante...all fingers non stop as I recall,.....he was a great inspiration.......
keyboardcharles1 1 year ago
he was my judge when i played accordian boogie....i was 15. they used to have accordian competitions. i got 3rd. place.
emaey 1 year ago
Magnante the Master, Charles Magnante was the first accordionist to perform at Carnegie Hall before an audience of 3,000 people on April 18, 1939.
Accordionism 1 year ago
What a wonderful accordianist this man was. His touch was always so impeccably smooth.
uccmmcpo 1 year ago
GREAT! Thanks for sharing these videos of Magnante!
DebraPeters 1 year ago
Bellissimo!
WILLOWAB62 2 years ago
Charles was one of the best!
RangerRob2009 2 years ago
Just stumbled upon this video, I am very impressed. I admire those brillant musicians. I wish I could be at their live concerts.
AnnieGong1 2 years ago
Eugene Ettore composed a fantastic concerto, Manhattan Concerto. Is there a video of it anywhere? Magnante was good, but Frank Gaviani was great.
BostonRimini 2 years ago
Just a bit of trivia re: this Soundie: the sound track was recorded separately. The guitar sound that you hear is actually played by Tony Mottola. He was unavailable for the filming, so Johnny Smith stood in for him. Bass player is Eugene Ettore, a wonderful accordionist. Organist is the great George Wright, one of the alltime supreme organists, just as Magnante was to the accordion.
alrossi123 2 years ago
Thank you so much. I always loved Charles Magnante and his band growing up and he inspired me to play at the age of 4 years old. Have a splendid day!
outbackdakota 2 years ago
@alrossi123 Thanks for pointing out George Wright- I'd have never recognized him. He's practically in diapers!
OrganCat 1 year ago
ok bello!!!!
waltribel 3 years ago
Comment removed
fabiolas4 3 years ago
correction: my dad played all magnante and dipippo's songs from the 70s on, and i do nowadays as well.....
fabiolas4 3 years ago
Thanks TACTAC21. I am from Northern Ohio, near the PA line.
ADDSL9 3 years ago
tactac21, where did your recital take place? I accompanied Charlie under similar circumstances as yours. This was in 1953.
ADDSL9 3 years ago
In Nazareth,Pa at the high school auditorium.However just to make it clear Magnante played solo. He certainly needed no help from me or any of my accordion teachers students.
tactac21 3 years ago
I am a drummer and when I was 16 years old I played a concert with Mr Magnante, I still play but Charles is gone. A great memory for me as I am now in my early 70s.
ADDSL9 3 years ago
total magic!
jkenny12 3 years ago
Great accordinist, proper right and left hand tecnique, unlike many of the ones today in these push pull honkey polka bands, I sure dont hear magnate slurring and dragging the notes like that gomlka guy does.
derail14 3 years ago
It is a great pleasure to see the fantastic guitar work by Remo Palmeri! Wonderful stuff
woodjump1 3 years ago
That's Jack Smith on guitar
snavoyosky 3 years ago
Fantastic *****
dromedario66 3 years ago
Super
sandorszollosy 3 years ago
I might be able to get a copy of "Tantalizin" for you. I think it is the same arrangement as the one in the video.
I went to your post of the two accordions playing "Flight of the Bumble Bee" and I like it.
Leave a message here for me and Your Tube will send me the message. Let me know the best way to contact you.
PaulR22 3 years ago
One of the greatest accordionists who ever lived!
robbystlace 3 years ago
I couldn't agree more. IMHO he was the greatest.
tactac21 3 years ago
great style... this acordionist should be on the jazz world records!
shnaps
roxti 3 years ago
Have You got a score to this song??? Please answer this is very importaint for me
FavoriDuo 3 years ago
Sorry,I don't have the score. The recording was done sometime in the nineteen forties probably at the radio station that Charles played on a daily basis.
tactac21 3 years ago
These were "Soundies" made during WWII---They only did about 6 but these are the only ones available.
snavoyosky 3 years ago
Zajebiście nawijają :D Gość na Hammondzie jest the best :) Brawo Panowie :D
s1cobra 3 years ago
Those of us that took accordion lessons were brought up on Magnante arrangements. I still like to play them.
It is nice to actually see him play. I have a couple of his records, but is nice to see him play on these films.
Rbigraff 3 years ago
Too bad there aren't more films or videos of Magnante. I was on stage with him when I was very young and he was amazing.
At least we have his recordings and they show his real skill and artistry.
PaulR22 3 years ago
I was also fortunate enough to be on stage with Magnante,in 1958,when I was eight years old. My accordion teacher had a recital for all his students and Magnante was there as the featured artist. I remember him telling us he practiced up to eight hours a day.
tactac21 3 years ago