Sam entered the American Accordionists Assoc's.  Annual Competitions held in NYC Nov. 26, 1950, age 18, to compete with accordionists from all over the world of all levels and ages. Sam was awarded 1st place honors in  the "Open Soloist Senior Division", an international recognition. This accomplishment  then attracted the entertainment world. The N.J. Italian Tribune newspaper, Ace Alagna, Publisher Emeritus, published a full front page picture and centerfold spread of the event as he did for all Sam's boyhood classical accordion concerts. 

Ace, Presidential White House Staff Reporter, was instrumental in having Sam chosen for The N.J. Columbian Foundation's "Italian Of The Year Award" a traditional N.J. Columbus Day  parade/banquet  annual celebration Nov.12, 1965. 

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As accordionist with 'Joe Maize And His Cordsmen' an opening act touring with stars Tony Martin, Cyd Charisse and The Xavier Cugat Show with Abbe Lane , Sam was featured in "Flight Of The Bumblebee" and other fast paced music sensationalizing accordion speed for audiences and then  had to play it through a turkish towel 1951, Civic Auditorium, Waikiki Beach, Hawaii.

Featured with The Xavier Cugat Show and Abbe Lane,1953, after the turkish towel little 'touch', as a final encore, Cugie would dare Sam to play "Bumble Bee" backwards with the famous Chiuahua on shoulder. Sam would accept the challenge after audience applause encouragement and did so by turning around and playing it with his back to the audience. It always got the laugh.  

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After the years of touring, in 1953, Las Vegas became home.

In the earlier first years in Las Vegas, a 21-year-old transplant  from Newark, N.J., newly married, his first endeavor was the start of the "Melchionne School Of Accordion". In a short few years it boasted a one hundred piece accordion student orchestra which appeared on the first Las Vegas-televised show, "The Chrysler Show", done live in those days, from the Royal Nevada Hotel (now part of The Stardust) starring Art Mooney and His Orchesta with Sam as a featured accordionist. (IMAGE)

During the same years, he appeared nightly (IMAGE)on a long engagement at the original El Rancho Vegas Hotel commencing that record group run as is the history depicted here in these pages.

El Rancho Vegas

(image)

The innovating of music with other visionaries for airport VIP redcarpet-welcoming receptions and music for the ensuing entertainment functions of the first small conventions to Las Vegas having started in 1954 when the McCarran  Field air terminal building was all of 4,000 square feet with a one single gate. The forerunner events of the mammoth convention business existing today promulageted by those visionaries such as the late Herb Macdonald, Ken Ormsby, Pappy Walsh and the like setting the stage for those of the present-day Clark County Convention Authority.

usic convention

Being an avid golfer, the quartette became a major attraction for the touring golf world and was invited guest in pro-amateur status to many nationally-known PGA events encouraged by the hotel/casinos' publicity staff. This prominence gained gaming casino demand adding another criteria for engaging this group for long runs over all those years. Casinos were few then and highly competitive for the affluent major golf world crowds. Writing, singing, playing accordion or piano in many of his singing jingles and record productions attracted name stars of the day to use his styles and creativeness as is seen in photos and newsprint throughout this historic essay