The absolute BEST!
http://www.accordions.com

It is rather suprising that I couldn't find this story on major news outlets??

He made the accordion as cool as it could be!
A real innovator.


Russ

Hi Don , it's very sad news .
I've had the good fortune to meet and talk to Art many times at the Las Vegas Accordion convention and also I'm proud to say acted as his driver and collected him from the airport on his last visit to the Uk 3 yrs ago . a fine man and a true gentleman ...he will be sadly missed , but remembered with great fondness !! and his recordings will live on !!

Giovanni

Hi Giovanni, Long time no see!

I too met him briefly at the Las Vegas accordion convention, the first and only time I attended.

Some of my favorites of his come from the album he recorded with Jo Stafford.

Don't stay away so long, us accordion guys gotta stick together.

Don P

One of my IDOLS !!! Was fortunate to see him a number of years ago here in RI ... one of the GREAT accordionists ... http://www.spaceagepop.com/vandamme.htm

and playing what perhaps is my favorite song of all time "All The Things Your Are" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpYDmfXF_M8&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWzxtFiivzs&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0NzP8OqHYA&NR=1

May he swing forever with the Great Jazz Band in the Beyond ...
t.

These are really sad news. I realize that he was 89, but still...
His renditions of Wave, to name just one tune, is one of my favorites; before listening to him I thought it impossibile to play Bossa Nova with an accordion.
May he rest in peace.

I saw him demonstrating a cordovox at a Holiday Inn in Rochester about 1980.
http://www.namm.org/library/oral-history/art-van-damme-0

It was sponsored by Roxy's Music Store where I bought my Cordovox. I also had the Iorio Accorgan, which was the "arranger of the times".
http://www.syn-cordion.com/museum8.htm

Jerry

[This message has been edited by Jerryghr (edited 02-17-2010).]