Accordionist Puts Squeeze on The Timbers

Frank Rossi will entertain residents and the public from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Saturday at , 1100 N. River Road, .

Rossi plays a Roland RD 300 SX digital piano and both an Italo American and an Imperial accordion. His favorite accordion players are Manny Quartucci and Mike Alongi.

Recently, Rossi was named the 2010 recipient of the Order Sons of Italy Leonardo da Vinci Award of Excellence in Performing Arts.

At the age of 7, he began his studies on the accordion under the late Al Rush at Symphony School of Music in Chicago Heights. Then he won a first place trophy at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield, and he’s been hooked on the accordion ever since.

After graduating with a double major in Finance and Management from Eastern Illinois University, he decided to continue his passion — music studies. Rossi began private lessons from the late accordion and piano great Ed Baldacci, from whom he learned harmony training as well as advanced technical studies.

The Timbers of Shorewood is a rental retirement community. The Timbers provides independent and assisted living apartments as well as a full schedule of activities and services. Furnished apartments are also available for a short-term stay — a weekend, a week, a month or longer.

The public is invited, and admission is free. For more information call Shelly Goggins at 815-609-0669 or visit The Timbers website.