Accordionist · Singer · One-Man Orchestra
Chicago’s Italian American
accordion legend,
live at your party.
Joe Martino has played Festa Italiana stages across America, performed for Presidents Reagan and Bush, and appeared on The Steve Harvey Show. From Sinatra to Volare, the Tarantella to the tango, he brings back the songs your family loves.
A familiar melody.
A real connection.JOE MARTINO
A lifetime in music
It starts with a song.
It becomes a memory.
Born to Italian immigrant parents with family roots in the Campania region near Naples, Joe grew up in a home where music was part of everyday life. He began playing accordion at seven, took lessons for nine and a half years in Elmwood Park, studied in Italy, and earned a music degree from the University of Illinois Chicago, where he also studied voice.
Decades later, he still plays for the people in the room: a quiet melody at dinner, a sing-along everyone joins, a Tarantella that fills the dance floor. Those are the moments guests remember.
A career few performers can match
Presidents, celebrities
and Festa stages nationwide.
Joe started playing at seven, studied accordion in Italy, and won both the Chicago Tribune Music Festival and the American Accordion Association competition. Since then he has entertained presidents, movie stars and festival crowds across America and Italy.
- Performed for President Ronald Reagan
- Performed for President George H.W. Bush and First Lady Barbara Bush at the NIAF Convention in Washington, D.C.
- Private event for actor Roberto Benigni
- Performed for Mayor Rudy Giuliani
- Performed with Al Martino and the Henry Mancini Orchestra
- Featured on The Steve Harvey Show
- Performed an original song in the film Alex/October
- SAG-AFTRA member with film and TV credits
- Two CDs and a DVD of performances, plus commercials for Barilla, Ruffino, American Airlines and Fifth Third Bank
Stages Joe has played
- Festa Italiana Milwaukee, 25+ years
- Festa Italiana Chicago, 11+ years
- Festa Italiana on Taylor Street
- The Governor’s Mansion, Springfield
- Hollywood Casinos, Aurora and Joliet
- Sardi’s, New York
- Festas in Naples and Florence, Italy
- Festa Italiana Houston, Las Vegas, San Francisco and more
Weddings
Welcome your guests, honor family traditions and carry the evening from cocktails to dancing.
Festivals & Cultural Events
Italian American favorites, stage programs and strolling music with a welcome for the whole community.
Parties, Private & Corporate Events
Birthdays, anniversaries, family reunions, galas and company celebrations, with music that fits the room.
Live Music + DJ
Live tradition with Joe. Requests and dancing with Peter. An evening that flows.
From a happy bride
“Joe is a natural talent and provided the best possible tone for our wedding. His ability to be a one-man orchestra was perfect for setting the mood for our magical night.”
— Jane, Bride
More than one sound
The one-man
Italian American
orchestra.
The intimacy of acoustic accordion. The character of a voice. Electronic keyboard and carefully arranged orchestration that let the music open up.
Joe’s wireless setup lets him stroll up to 200 feet with accordion and vocals, reaching every table and corner of the room. He moves easily from cocktails to dinner, sing-alongs and a featured stage show.
- Acoustic accordion
- Vocals
- Electronic keyboard
- Arranged orchestration
Joe + DJ Peter
Two generations.
One celebration.
Joe’s live music and Italian American favorites. His son Peter’s DJ entertainment. An evening planned as a whole.
One possible evening · choose a moment
Joe welcomes guests with accordion, vocals and familiar melodies. Begin with strolling music or a relaxed cocktail set, shaped to leave room for conversation.
Make room for dinner selections, a dedication or a family tradition. Plan the timing together so featured moments sit naturally within the evening.
Peter carries the celebration into DJ entertainment, requests and dancing. Share your musical preferences and the mix of generations joining you.
The Volare Dancers
Bring the
Tarantella
to life.
An optional addition
The Tarantella is a tradition, and the Volare Dancers bring it to life. They perform it with Joe, then teach it to your guests so everyone can join in.
For weddings, festivals, cultural celebrations and selected corporate events—with guest participation where appropriate.
Any song, any style
From Sinatra to the Tarantella.
He plays them all.
Italian American music is Joe’s heart, but his repertoire goes far beyond it: French, German, Polish, Irish, Greek and Spanish favorites, plus the polkas, waltzes, tangos and swing tunes that get every generation dancing. Ask for the song that means the most to your family.
- Italian American classics
- Sinatra & the standards
- Bocelli & Pavarotti favorites
- Tarantellas
- Neapolitan songs
- Polkas
- Waltzes
- Tango
- Cha-cha
- Swing
- French
- German
- Polish
- Irish
- Greek
- Spanish
Listen before you book
Two recordings.
Two sides of Joe.
The standards
Accordion
to Sinatra
Released in 2015: 19 of Sinatra’s most famous songs, with accordion and vocals by Joe.
The Italian American collection
Positano
With Love
Released in 2016: 15 beautiful Italian American classics with accordion and full orchestration.
See the performance
The sound is only
part of the story.
See the accordion, the voice and the connection with an audience. Continue to Joe’s public video channel, or explore photographs from the performance collection.
Out & about
Catch Joe live.
See where Joe is performing next, and come hear him live.
Joe handles every booking personally
Let’s make your celebration
unforgettable.
Call Joe directly to check your date. He’ll talk through your guests, your traditions and the songs that matter most to your family. DJ Peter, the Volare Dancers and a live band of 4 to 10 musicians are available too.