Allegro
Requiem
Volume CIII, No. 5May, 2003
Matt Carnevale – Piano
Frank Cedrone – Piano
Joseph Colombo – Guitar
Sam Faso – Accordion
Tom Glazer – Guitar
Dave Harris – Saxophone
Joseph Losh – Trumpet/Conductor
Rusty Magee – Piano
Morris Mamorsky – Conductor
Eddie Martin – Saxophone
Christine Mc Ilwain – Viola
Ferris Salmaggi – Drums
Melven (Red) Solomon – Trumpet
David Storch – Trombone
Albert Weiner – Violin
Adam Zeich – Bass
Frank Cedrone
Frank Cedrone, 73, a pianist and an 802 member since 1962, died on Feb. 23.
Mr. Cedrone was born in Brighton, Mass., and attended the Boston Conservatory as a scholarship student, studying with Georg Fior. He also studied with Franz Wasner, director of the Trapp Family Singers.
He met his wife, Victoria Markowski, at the Boston Conservatory, who became his lifelong professional partner. They served as musical directors at the Weston Playhouse in Weston, Vt. and were the music supervisors for a national tour of Kiss Me Kate.
After they graduated, they taught briefly together at the conservatory before moving to New York. There, they honed what would become their signature concept: husband and wife performing concerts together.
In 1957, they won the Concert Artist’s Guild Award which earned them a concert at Carnegie Hall.
Soon after, Mr. Cedrone and Ms. Markowski toured all over the country. They were selected as cultural ambassadors for the state of Pennsylvania.
In 1969, they joined the University of Southern Colorado as artists in residence. There, they taught, gave workshops and organized the first-ever International Piano Ensemble Competition. Many years of performances and tours followed.
Mr. Cedrone wrote a book, “The Well Tempered Hanon,” and published three articles in the Piano Guild Magazine.
He was executive director of the Pueblo Symphony in Pueblo, Col. and was past president of the Colorado State Music Teachers Association. He was awarded the Baldwin Artist designation and was selected for Who’s Who in Music.
Mr. Cedrone and Ms. Markowski released a CD in 2000 called Two-Piano Magic.
He is survived by his former wife Victoria, sister Anita, and nieces and nephews.
Joseph Colombo
Joseph Colombo, 57, bassist, guitarist and singer, and a Local 802 member since 1965, died on Feb. 2.
Born and raised in Brooklyn, Mr. Colombo started guitar lessons as a young boy, and progressed to playing clubs as a teenager in the bars of Rockaway Beach.
He later had a lucrative club date career, playing for many bandleaders including Steven Scott, Jerry Kravat, Peter Duchin and Lester Lanin. He also played for the Neshoma Orchestra.
Mr. Colombo’s unique mark in the field was his ability to whistle jazz standards. He would do so with guitar accompaniment.
In the late 1980’s he pursued a college education and became a high school physics teacher.
He is survived by his wife Lorraine, daughter Elizabeth and son Michael.
Sam Faso
Sam Faso, 83, an accordionist and an 802 member since 1940, died on March 28.
Mr. Faso was well known as a bandleader and club date musician throughout New York City and South Florida. He performed with many celebrities, like Tony Randall, Cary Grant and Tony Bennett, to name a few.
He also played with Tommy Dorsey when both of them were in an Army band.
Mr. Faso played for weddings, bar and bat mitzvahs, parties, hotels and cruise ships. He was also known for performing for charity causes. He played in most of the major Palm Beach hotels and restaurants.
He is survived by his sons Sal and Vincent, stepdaughter Katherine, sisters Antoinette and Betty, niece Crystal, 11 grandchildren and one great-grandson.
Melven (Red) Solomon
Red Solomon, 90, a trumpeter and a former 802 member, died on Feb. 16.
Mr. Solomon grew up in Youngstown, Ohio where he was only the second one in his family to graduate from high school. His natural musical ability was soon noticed and he played to great acclaim in the school marching band. He left for New York City where he became a leading jazz trumpeter during the swing era.
He began playing with smaller names and quickly moved up to gigs with Benny Goodman and Perry Como.
Mr. Solomon held the much-coveted first trumpet chair in the CBS Orchestra for 15 years. He also worked in the bands of Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald and Bing Crosby.
He played in television studio bands, including a 14-year stint with the show “Your Hit Parade.”
Mr. Solomon played on at least 16 jazz albums that are now considered best-sellers, including albums by Louis Armstrong, Sarah Vaughan and Perry Como.
Mr. Solomon also enjoyed flying; he and his two daughters all earned pilot’s licenses.
He is survived by his daughters Deanna S. Kitay and Rita Sands.