Office of Budget and Management 121 N. LaSalle, Room 604 Chicago, IL 60602
To Whom It May Concern:
bltioft- , Alderman of the Ward, hereby authorize the
Office of Budget Management to withdraw the funds associated with the cost of
installation for this honorary street designation for SfrrA F/cLftMCQ
from my: 5105 ~5 2.00 H ■ CLfrte ("o^T
□ Ward's annual menu program budget
)K Ward's aldermanic expanse allowance
upon passage of this designation ordinance, pursuant to Section 2-8-040 of the Chicago Municipal Code.
Sincerely,
Alderman
6/1/2017
November 29, 2018 40th Ward - Alderman O'Connor 5850 N. Lincoln Avenue Chicago, IL 60659
RE: Honorary Street Name Designation - Sam Franco
Dear Alderman O'Connor,
This letter is to propose a Designation for Sam Franco, for the block of 5105 - 5200 N. Claremont, 60625.
I would like to introduce you to a musician, an artist and a true Chicagoan, Sam Franco. Sam was born in Chicago in 1924. For 63 of those years Sam lived at 5105 N Claremont.
As a young man he studied from the master musician who immigrated to Chicago from Italy. During his service in WWII at the age of age of nineteen, Sam was the lead musician and band leader for his Army Air Corp Division. Upon his return from service, Sam began teaching and continued to the end of his life this year in 2018.
His knowledge of music is unsurpassed having dedicated his life to both the technical study of music as well as music theory. His influence is far reaching as many of his students have gone on to music careers themselves.
Sam has been featured on NPR's This American Life in The Chicago Reader, and Fra Noi, a Chicagoland Italian Magazine. In 2013 Sam was inducted into the Senior lllinoisans Hall of Fame for his contributions to the Arts.
In addition to his musical teaching knowledge, Sam worked with the Old Town School of Folk Music for many years assisting with accordion repairs, which is almost a lost skill, and other musical contributions.
While following his musical dream, Sam also worked for many years at Kemper Insurance while raising a family of 4 children, all who grew up at the family home at 5105 N Claremont and attended Chappell Elementary and Amundsen High School. Sam also attended Amundsen many years ago when it offered adult college classes.
His legacy is carried on as students from years past have sent their children to learn as they did. For this proposal to be approved would be a true honor for our family as we continue to call Claremont our home.
Thank you for your time and consideration and please feel free to visit Sam's website at www.accordionchicago.com
Sincerely,
Barbara A. Franco & Family
Sam Franco
( October 19, 1924 - October 05, 2018 )
Sam Franco age 93 born on October 19, 1924 passed away on October 5, 2018 at his home Chicago, Illinois. Sam, beloved husband of the late Rose, loving father of Dave (Mary) Franco, Barbara Franco (John Roberts) and Angela Franco (Michael McCafferty); cherished grandfather of Anthony and Dawn. Sam served in WWII in the Army Air Corp Division for 4 years. In 1955, after the war, Sam went to Italy and met his beautiful wife Rose of 60 years.
Sam was a prominent accordion player and musician for over 80 years. In 2013, Sam was honored by being inducted into the Senior Illinoisians Hall of Fame in the Arts Category. He was also featured on National Public Radio's This American Life, in The Chicago Reader and the Italian magazine Fra Noi for his many musical accomplishments. His legacy is carried on as students from years past will continue to play and carry on his knowledge of music. In lieu of flowers, contributions to The National Kidney Foundation, www.nkfi.org
Visitation Friday 4:00 - 9:00 p.m. at Kolbus-John V. May Funeral Home, 6857 W. Higgins Ave. Chicago. Funeral Services and Entombment Private. For information, call 773-774-3232 or www.kolbusmayfh@gmail.com
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snogs Here suited for the accordion," Franco says. "This was also:true or the Italian tangos, which are slower and more soulful than the Argentinean tangos."
Theaccoidlon thus became an integral part of the "sound or Naples." In the early 19110s, many Neapolitans began arriving in Chicago's. Taylor Street area. This is'how Franco first became acquainted with the instrument.
"At First, I didn't like il, but my father kept telling me to practice," says l-'ranco. whose par-ents arc from the region of Calabria. "I have made a living from ii most of my life so I guess yuu can say he was right."
Although he grew up during the (treat Depression, Francos father, who worked as a carpenter at the World's Fair, was. able to afford lessons for Franco In what is now the Fine Arts Building.
"My father worked at rhcWorkft Fair in 1933 and 1934." Franco says. "I remember he used to lake me there and I thought how lucky I was to be going for free. It was the Depression of course, so I was even I ucller that he had enough money
As the Hz-yrar-nld owner ol the Italian Acourdiun Studio mi Uitcagos North Side, Sam Franco has seen the landing or Iraki Dalbo. Chicago's Cenmry o( Progress, Iho (irea! Depression and World War IIThrough 70 years of both playing and teaching, this Taylor Street native has also seen ihe popular-ity of his instrument rise, and fall with (he changing times.
"If you walked down "Hijlor Stnr^i when I was growing up. most of the tills would either | hp outside playing street games' nr inside practicing the accordion." says I'ranco. who was horn on Garibaldi Street, "in the old days music" meant sheet music played n» the piano. Hut must ofthe people in my neigh-horhood cither couldn't alTtind a piano or did-n't have mom for uric, so everybody playod the accordion."
Voting people liliu Franco grew up idollz. Ingaccnrdlon players, who appeared.on trio radio or ai In-siorc.prumulious In sell she*i music.
"I used to listen tolbmmy Gamlnn. who was one of the great jazz accordionisls, and Charles Magnwiie. who had a No. I hit with 'Mounlight Sonata." Franco says." I was also fortunate enough to be Inspired by two great leathers. AtKly Ktao and Paul Minors."
Like Franco, these Italian-American urtists were carrying on a storied marriage between the accordion and Italian culiine. I The tools of the Inurnment go buck to 3,000 &C. when the Chinese Hinpcior I luanj; Ti designed a hcltuwsand reeded bo* to try tu imitate the sound ofthe phoenix bird, llowcvci, the instrument did not make its way to Fuiopc until thousands of years later. The first accordion ivas patented in Austria in 182ft. In those days, most complex music was produced by piano or organ, so the idea of u ponablc Instrument caught on quicldy, Il did-n't take long, for the instrument to make its way to Italy.
"Legend has it thai a sailor from Austria came lo the port of Caste) Fidurdo, on the Ionic Sea,' Franco says, "lie left a harmonica for a kid and the Italian* attached it to n bellows which was later developed into the full-fledged accordion,"
Prom thai lime until today, the region of Caslcl Fidardo is known for producing Italy's greatest accordionist. Ii was during this same peri-od (between 1070-IS 10! thai Indian composers were writing songs like "O' Sole Mlo." and other classic love songs.
"Because of their deep, romantic sound, many of the great Italian, and especially Neapolitan, love
by David Winer
to send mu to music school."
Franco soon became ao proficient auric Instrument thai he began to give lessons . himself, " There arc two types of accordion players." he points nut. "Those, who play ' many notes unit who arc highly technical, and those who are natural players who play : good music, t always aspired to be the see- : ond."
As word of his talent spread, he began to ! got regular jobs or "gigs." Many of these were ai Ferrari I till, which was above the original i Ferrari Italcry on Taylor and Halsted.
"Oh, I remember (hose weddings at Fcrrara Hall," Franco says, "Some of them were big ones, but you have lo remember most of us were still poor, so a tot ofthe limes they would Just bring up a tray- of beef sand-wiches and some folding chairs and tables Wc would play while the people danced."
Franco was drafted at the age of 18. He served in die U.S. Army Air Corps during Wnrld Mr II, where he worked us a clerk, and entertained the troops with his accordion on weekends, After the war. he re|oined civilian life, giving lessons and selling accordions. Yet he noticed that post-war America was chang-ing as the ethnic enclaves were rapidly disap-pearing in ravur of a "new America" in the suburbs,
'Much of my job was going Into people's homes io both give lessons and sell accor-dions," Francu says. "Wc realized that the home market was moving to the suburbs, and I was able tu build ;i house anil raise my child ten by develop-ing a clientele in the now suburbs like Niles, Franklin Park and FJmwood Park.*
Iloih Franco and the accordion continued in prosper ihniugh ihe 1950s and Into the '80s- In 1963, both ihe world of music and the entire nation watched as a' group from England changed American popular culture.
"As far as iho accordion goes, everything stopped in 1964," Franco says. "Thiogs slowed down a little bit with Elvis, hut when the Beatles came, il was over — caput!"
At that time Franco began to teach (he Instru-ment or Iho Beades, the guitar. Today, at tiie age of 82, he continues to gjvo lessons from his home on Chicago's North Side.
"I like the guitar, but if I had ray way I would still (each only accordion* Franco says. "The instrument has been very good to me, and I sl31 love playing and hearing its warm, romantic tones* The Italian Accordion Studios can be contacted al 773.561.2115.