NICOLA DOMENICO PIZZUTI, the youngest boy in an Italian family who found his way from Carpinone, Italy (Molise Region) to Columbia, SC via the ocean, Ellis Island, NY; Detroit, Michigan; and the US Army and decided to stay. He’s been living here for the past 59 years, during which he has contributed to Columbia’s and South Carolina’s marriage statistics, population growth (11 children), spiritual enrichment, industrial economy and last but not least, night time music entertainment. Here, we take a glimpse at Nicola’s music entertainment niche, which became his second standing career.

Nicola’s music experience began at an early age. After settling in Detroit, Michigan, Ma-Ma and Pa-Pa wanted their youngest to learn the English language in the public schools and teach it to the rest of the famiglia, and to learn how to play a musical instrument. At age 10, he learned to play guitar from his cugino Nick Clemente but, when he moved away, that ended any further guitar lessons. At age 12, he and the clarinet teamed up, with lessons taught by a musician. Shortly after lessons began, appendicitis and surgery followed. Ma-Ma said it was such an effort to blow the horn and "if he continued he might blow his insides out." Thus, the clarinet lessons ended. Finally, at age 13, someone recommended he try the accordion. Eventually, he took lessons at the music studio where he and the accordion met with success. The old squeezebox -- as then affectionately labeled, became his sidekick for 42 years!

One of his most memorable moments occurred at age 16 when Nicola landed his first real gig. An MC from a floorshow at a local club in downtown Detroit called the studios for an accordion player. When asked if he wanted the job, he was encouraged to take it because it was possibly a paying job. With Ma-Ma and Pa-Pa’s blessings, he rode a streetcar all the way from the East side to the West side to do the "evening" gig. When he arrived the MC took one look at him and nearly fainted, as what he saw before him was a young Italian boy, hardly old enough to shave. Given the labor laws, and that the club was an adult establishment, the manager winced. Thinking quickly and in the spirit that the "show must go on", the MC borrowed an eyebrow pencil from a woman at the club, drew on a moustache and some thicker looking eyebrows, and even penciled in a few "crows feet" at the outer corner of his eyes to make him appear older. The show went on without a hitch! The manager, MC, and all the patrons loved his music and asked him to stay and do the second show, which began at 1 am. He did! Needless to say, Ma-Ma and Pa-Pa were up all hours worried sick and were about to call the police when finally the doorbell rang and there this young fellow stood, grinning from ear to ear.

Over the next few years, and before departing from his home in Detroit for a stint with Uncle Sam, Nicola played for Italian, Polish and Slovak weddings, engagement parties, and even played send-off wedding marches, often playing alongside a violinist. While stationed at the US Army/Air Base in Florence, SC, he played the accordion live on the Florence radio station "Wings over Carolina", representing the base. In Florence, he met his wife (the late Virginia Ruth Miller Pizzuti). In 1949, he moved his family to Columbia permanently.

Music entertainment was lively in Columbia during the late 40s and 50s. These were happier times and local musicians were hungry for the opportunity to play live. There never seemed to be a lack of bookings for small combos, and there was always need at the last minute to "grab a musician and go". Public and private clubs about town were rocking and reeling in those post-war days. Nicola was right in the thick of it and, you may have been in the audience when he played! Throughout the years, he played at various popular public and private clubs, where big band dance music was the "music of the day." He teamed up with other local musicians, all of whom either played to fill in where called upon or were members of a combo. Nicola played with local musicians Jay Pace, Greg Bissell, Don Davis, Tom Isbull, Neal Alltee and Sam Cantrell. Occasionally, he filled in and played with combos where the late Paul LaRosa crooned. He also filled in a time or two with the late Jimmy Farr’s small group. In those days, most musicians in Columbia booked gigs anytime and anywhere and many times actually did "grab a musician" en route to a booking. He played many times at the El Roco Club, and Ft. Jackson Officers’ and NCO clubs, Retired Officers’ Club, Columbia Country Club, and Forest Lake Country Club.

Nicola’s longest stint was with Bill Lougee and The Serenaders, a 5-piece combo featuring Bill on sax, L. Basemore and L.C. Burgess on trumpet, Dick Moyer on bass, and himself on the accordion/keyboard. They played on a regular basis for the Local VFW, Syrian-Lebanon Club, Elks Club, German Club, Laurel Hill Supper Club, and Saluda Country Club. Private parties were booked all around town, with some of the most exciting held on the roof top of the Claire Towers apartments, one of Columbia’s first and oldest high-rise apartment buildings. Before retiring, Nicola formed his own group The International Combo and they played a variety of music, with Cope Veronee on drums, Teddy Orban and John Tosh on trumpet and, occasionally, Jack King on trombone.

Nicola says "the old combos and organized bands are gone now, and the older musicians have long since put away their instruments...some have passed on, while others are still among us to recall and share the memories."