Ciao:

Monday, June 1 marks the beginning of National Accordion Awareness Month (NAAM).

Were you aware the accordion was recently named the musical instrument most likely to put a smile on your face or that since 1990, the accordion has been San Francisco’s official musical instrument?

As the sponsor of National Accordion Awareness Month and the accordionist for the Italiano band Bella Ciao, I am pleased to announce that during the month of June, Bella Ciao is donating 50% of the profits from the website sales of its two CDs (Legends of the Italian Lounge and Festivus Italiano) to earthquake relief efforts in L’Aquila, Italy.

As a member of the Sons of Italy branch 1198, donations will be made to the Sons of Italy Foundation (http://www.osia.org/public/foundation/earthquake-relief.asp).

I will also be encouraging other Italian-music-playing bands that have accordionists in them (which is probably all of them) in America to make similar pledges.

So, during the month of June, let’s all raise the roof with great accordion music and raise some money for a good cause.

Grazie!

Tom Torriglia

415 440 0800

San Francisco