John Serry, Sr.

John Serry Sr. (b. Giovanni Serrapica 29 January 1915; d. 14 September 2003) was an accomplished concert accordionist, arranger, composer, organist and music educator who performed on the CBS Radio and CBS Television networks and elevated the use of the accordion in concert with orchestral ensembles of his era. Born Giovanni Serrapica in Brooklyn, New York to Italian-American parents Pasquale Serrapica and Anna Balestrieri of Castellammare di Sta... more

John Serry Sr. (b. Giovanni Serrapica 29 January 1915; d. 14 September 2003) was an accomplished concert accordionist, arranger, composer, organist and music educator who performed on the CBS Radio and CBS Television networks and elevated the use of the accordion in concert with orchestral ensembles of his era. Born Giovanni Serrapica in Brooklyn, New York to Italian-American parents Pasquale Serrapica and Anna Balestrieri of Castellammare di Stabia, Italy, Serry pursued an artistic career which spanned seven decades. As an exponent of Latin American music and the free-bass accordion, he attained recognition through live radio and television performances on the CBS radio and television networks which were broadcast throughout the United States. He acquired additional recognition as the featured soloist on the radio music program Viva America, which was broadcast live to South America under the United States Department of State's Office for Inter-American Affairs' (OCIAA) cultural... less