Thursday, September 11, 2003

By Nate Guidry, Post-Gazette Staff Writer

Dominic "Dom" Trimarkie Jr., an accomplished accordionist and bandleader whose imaginative musical style helped broaden the range and vocabulary of the accordion, died Monday of lung cancer at his home in Mount Washington.

Just last Thursday, a spirited Mr. Trimarkie celebrated his 84th birthday with family members and friends.

During his party, Mr. Trimarkie spoke briefly about his music and career, which began in 1929 at a speakeasy atop Mount Washington. He was only 10.

"I made twenty-five bucks a night," he recalled with a chuckle. "That was big money at that time."

For more than 70 years, Mr. Trimarkie could be heard at the Ankara nightclub on Route 51, carrying on in the Fiesta Room at the old Roosevelt Hotel or performing on the "Buzz 'n' Bill Show," a weekday program carried on WDTV-TV -- now KDKA -- in 1954.

"I was fortunate because I always made out," he said, choking back the tears. "Sometimes I had to be a vagabond and hit the road to make it, but music is all I've done. It's been my life, totally. The happiest times I've had were the times I was playing music."

Mr. Trimarkie was born in 1919 in Calabria, Italy. In 1926, he and his mother, Maria, moved to Pittsburgh to be with Dominic Trimarkie Sr., who had arrived a few years earlier. The elder Trimarkie encouraged his son to pursue his interest in music, initially purchasing a concertina for him.

In short order, Mr. Trimarkie graduated to the accordion, taking lessons from Louie Vallie. He demonstrated the same amount of virtuosity on accordion that he had on concertina.

At age 14, Mr. Trimarkie started playing in groups around town. Two years later, he performed at the El Chico Club, a famous Miami nightspot.

In 1940, Mr. Trimarkie married Marianne Magnotti, a childhood sweetheart from the neighborhood. The couple, who celebrated their 63rd wedding anniversary in February, had three children. Their son, Dominic Trimarkie III, died in 1986 of a brain tumor. He was a classical musician.

For five months in 1945, Mr. Trimarkie served in the Army. He was drafted the same day that World War II ended.

After his discharge, Mr. Trimarkie returned to Pittsburgh and went to work with his quartet in the Fiesta Room at the old Roosevelt Hotel. The group was scheduled to be there for a short period but remained for 89 consecutive weeks.

"We made a recording there called 'To Each His Own' that became a huge hit on the popular charts," said William Condeluci who played vibraphones and drums in the quartet. "Dom wrote most of the charts for the band, tunes like 'Twinkle Little Star' and 'Dance of the Hours.' He was a prime technician with an incredible sense of swing."

In 1953, Mr. Trimarkie played accordion with the Joe Negri Trio each evening on KDKA-TV's "Buzz 'n' Bill Show." It was also around that time that Mr. Trimarkie released an extended play album called "Comes the Dom."

"Dom stands out as one of the best musicians I've ever worked with," said bassist Lou Mauro from his home in Orlando, Fla. Mauro performed on the recording and was also a member of the trio on the "Buzz 'n' Bill Show."

"He was a joy to work with and challenged me musically. He had incredible technique and knowledge of music. He took the accordion beyond it's normal literature."

After the "Buzz 'n' Bill Show" ended, Mr. Trimarkie toured the West Coast with the Andrini Brothers, a group that featured popular vocalist Vikki Carr.

Back in Pittsburgh, Mr. Trimarkie taught accordion lessons and became music director of Pittsburgh's WIIC-TV where he regularly performed on "Kay Calls" with Kay Neuman and Alice Weston's "Spotlight 11." It was around that time that Mr. Trimarkie wrote the music for "The Desert Sun," an Italian western.

When Mr. Trimarkie wasn't scoring music, he could be found performing at the old Ankara, Bon Ange, Viking Lounge and other area night spots.

In the 1970s, Mr. Trimarkie placed the accordion aside and began playing piano and organ exclusively. But in the early '90s, he picked up the squeeze box again to accompany Luciano Pavarotti during a concert at Mellon Arena.

"He was a master musician and one of the best to ever come from Pittsburgh," said Oscar "Ozzy" Carlson from his home in Lamar, Colo. "He was a creative person and great bandleader."

In addition to his wife, Mr. Trimarkie is survived by two daughters, Nancy Connors, of Atlanta, and Janet Daniele, of Donora, and five grandchildren.

Visitation will be today and tomorrow from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 at William Slater & Sons Funeral Home, Virginia Avenue and Kearsarge Street, Mount Washington.

A Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday in St. Justin Church, 539 Boggs Ave., Mount Washington.

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