Guido Deiro

Count Guido Pietro Deiro (1 September 1886 – 26 July 1950) was a famous vaudeville star, international recording artist, composer and teacher.

He was born into a family of rural Italian nobility[citation needed] that were involved in raising dairy cattle, growing wine grapes, tending orchards, and operating general stores to sell their produce.

His uncle Fred noticed Guido’s unusual musical ability on the ocarina, and decided to get him a more sophisticated instrument, a diatonic button accordion.

[1] Deiro left his home to avoid an arranged marriage, and defying his father's wishes that he manage the family businesses, he became a professional entertainer and took engagements in France and Germany playing the chromatic accordion.

In addition to playing the popular hits of the day and light classical and operatic fare, Deiro composed his own original compositions.

The records were enormously popular, and, along with his vaudeville stardom, helped to propel Deiro to the status of a minor celebrity in American culture.

Deiro continued to play vaudeville shows until at least 1935 and performed on two world tours, although after 1929, he traveled less and focused his career on the west coast of the United States.

1, 2, 3 and 4, Archeophone Records 5012, 5014, 5018 and 5019) (2007-2010), and (4) edit and publish The Complete Works of Guido Deiro Printed Music Anthology, Mel Bay Publications (2008).