This beautiful (11"x 8.5") coffee table style book celebrates the remarkable legacy of four generations of an immigrant Italian-American artisans who have been hand-making accordions for one-hundred years.  It chronicles American Accordion history, the musicians, and their unique place in American culture. 

A family’s fulfillment of the American Dream is a footnote in the history of the contemporary accordion, whose development began in Europe in the 1800s. The “squeezebox” came to America with European immigrants, found a place on the Vaudeville stage, and enjoyed a wave of growing popularity in the first half of the twentieth century – until the arrival of rock ‘n’ roll caused the accordion’s “fall from grace”.

“An American Accordion Story” is an informative and well-illustrated historical account of how the accordion earned a special place in our American musical culture. It is also a celebration of the fulfillment of the American Dream by a talented and hard-working Italian-American immigrant family that figured prominently in the early twentieth century (and still figures prominently today) in American accordion culture.

Many of America’s leading accordionists, past and present, are honored in this book created by an artisan family that has been lovingly making accordions for the last century. I recommend we all raise a glass in a toast to the publication of “An American Accordion Story!”

--Henry Doktorski, American concert accordionist, educator and author

I’m very honored to have an association in your book with my cartoon. By the way, and I hope I’ve expressed this before, let me take this opportunity to say what great memories I will always have of hanging around your store on 45th, goggling at all the gear and getting to know your dad who was always so generous and supportive of Tom and me. I can still see Julio in the back, who always had some “patient” up on his bench.  I definitely remember you and your brothers were still just young boys and running around the place when we first started acquiring gear, although I imagine you were all pretty savvy to the family biz even back then. Good memories, to say the least. And how cool it is to know you’re now carrying the torch. 

All best with this book project, Joe! (Wow — 100 years!) 

--Gary Larson (The Farside) 

This centennial publication makes an important contribution to accordion history, telling not only the Petosa Accordion story but also a parallel account of how the beloved instrument came to America and became embedded in our musical culture.  

--Pete Barbutti 

Joe Petosa Jr. has produced both the must-have resource to a celebrated musical instrument and an ultimate tribute to America’s top Accordion company.

--Mike Grady

Hard cover book 8.25" x 10.5" landscape

Published by American Accordion Press

Limited First Edition, signed & numbered

Coffee Table format, 128 pages, hardbound, 380+ photos

Now Available 

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