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Telethon 2021: The day Joe Spagnolo’s accordion solo made it onto Telethon

Joe SpagnoloThe West Australian
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The Sunday Times’ Joe Spagnolo is handy on the squeezebox.
Camera IconThe Sunday Times’ Joe Spagnolo is handy on the squeezebox. Credit: evasilchenko - stock.adobe.com

Most West Australians would have some memories of Telethon. It’s WA’s feel-good, annual event — a time when you pause to think about someone other than yourself.

So, as I’m sitting here at my laptop a la the Little River Band and doing some reminiscing, my mind goes back to my most significant Telethon memories.

They involve Tony Barber, a piano accordion and a $5 cheque.

Most kids get an electric guitar or drums from their parents when they show any aptitude for music.

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Joe Spagnolo.
Camera IconJoe Spagnolo. Credit: Matthew Poon

I got a piano accordion.

My uncle was a piano accordion maestro and could play this thing like no one else I’ve seen. And so, he taught me to play the squeezebox.

To cut a long story short, my uncle played in a band and one year, when Telethon was on, he got me a gig playing a piano accordion solo on Telethon.

On that memorable occasion, I went to the GWN studios in Bunbury, where they live recorded me and my accordion for Telethon.

This is big, for a boy from Brunswick Junction.

As far as big moments in my life go, this still rates right up there with the best of them.

Mum bought me this check shirt and new pants with a star on the back pocket to commemorate the big moment (think Woody in Toy Story).

And, of course, all the relatives and friends of our family were told to tune in for the big moment.

What I remember most about that major event, was me drowning in sweat just before the big solo and praying to God I could deliver when needed.

I knew my mother would never recover, if I mucked this up. The family’s reputation was on the line.

I stood in this studio, accordion strapped on, sweating profusely, and was told to look into the camera.

Barber introduced me, which for starters, was a big, big deal.

There was only one other person I would have loved more than Tony Barber to introduce me that day — Abigail from Number 96.

Anyway, the little green light came on and some guy signalled me to start playing.

Dear reader: I delivered big that day.

It was an “exclusive” performance.

And he’s still playing today.
Camera IconAnd he’s still playing today. Credit: Supplied

I belted out a rendition of Tom Jones’ Delilah like there was no tomorrow.

I took no prisoners in those few minutes of fame.

Barber was blown away.

I was the talk of Bunbury and Brunswick Junction that day.

For months afterwards, I basked in the glory of that piano accordion solo and wore a pair of toy sunglasses whenever I was in public to further enhance the celebrity persona.

My piano accordion solo aside, Telethon was somewhat of a family institution for us.

We would always watch it on television and I remember Mum and Dad always making a donation on the day and then us kids being glued to the TV waiting for our names — as donors — to appear on the bottom of the screen.

Again, for my mother, public kudos was always important. Making a donation, to help children less fortunate than us, was a big deal for our family.

Getting our names on television, as donors, was the icing on the cake.

And so a $5 cheque was written for Telethon.

That was a significant amount of money for us, back in the day. Occasionally, on a good year, the cheque would be bumped up to $10.

Every year on this weekend, I am significantly proud of our State for holding, and supporting such an event.

I am always staggered at the generosity of West Australians.

Right now, WA seems to be getting a bad rap from the east coast because of our unwillingness to open our borders to NSW and Victoria and expose our State to COVID-19.

Somehow, we are being painted as a selfish State.

This could not be further from the truth. Telethon is proof of that.

The WA community, pound for pound, is perhaps the most generous in the world.

Now, where’s that accordion. I’m ready for a comeback.

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