His father was an accordionist and bandleader. He is a classically trained pianist and self-taught accordionist. He participated in an accordion orchestra and was named "premier" accordionist. Billy Liebert, a first-rate accordionist, copied Welk's accordion playing. The noted jazz accordionist/composer John Serry Sr. A person who plays the accordion is called an "accordionist". Gianni Coscia is an Italian jazz accordionist. Tena is the lead singer and accordionist of Molotov Jukebox. Appearing with Brown were his wife, Jean Pace, and the Brazilian singer/accordionist Sivuca. The first accordionist to appear and perform at the Newport Jazz Festival was Angelo DiPippo. John Serry Sr. collaborated as the orchestral accordionist. John Serry Sr. often augmented the orchestra as the lead accordionist during the 1950s. In late 1968 Candelario Villareal joined as the third accordionist for the band. In addition, John Serry Sr. performed as the orchestral accordionist. In 1953, CBS' own orchestral accordionist John Serry Sr. made a cameo appearance.