Proctor Journal

John R. Copiskey, who grew up and lived his life in Proctor, posthumously received the International Accordion Hall of Fame Award. The prestigious recognition was awarded to his daughter Dana Copiskey.

This was only the fourth time the award has been presented during the Accordion Teachers Guild’s 66-year history.

In honor of her father, the Accordionists and Teachers Guild International asked Dana to conduct its official march “The Paragon March” during its 66th Annual ATG Competitions and Festival Orchestra program in Bloomington, Minn. earlier this month.

The award was presented during the five-day event in recognition of an inspirational lifetime of musical achievements and dedication to the accordion world.

Copiskey’s start in music was on the piano, but a teacher told him he had no musical talent. At the age of 14, he heard an accordion for the first time and he knew he had found his instrument. Within two years, he was performing professionally.

At 17 he did what many young people were doing at the height of World War II, he quit school to enlist in the Marines. He participated in three beachheads, including the invasion of Iwo Jima.

He received a presidential citation for going behind enemy lines. He was awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star after being wounded by hand grenades during the fourth day of battle on Iwo.

When he returned at the age of 19, he opened his music store – Johnny’s Music. There were few people who grew up during the 1950s and 60s that if they didn’t play the accordion knew people who played in the Duluth Accordionaires under the direction of John Copiskey.

He became an outstanding teacher and admired conductor who blended trumpets, percussion instruments, guitars, and even a marimba player to produce a unique sound.

Copiskey quickly began capturing awards and trophies in music competitions.

He performed in front of 80,000 at Soldiers Field in Chicago and appeared on the NBC-TV “Tonight Show” starring Johnny Carson. Without government direction or funding, he went on goodwill missions with the Accordionaires to Japan, England, Ireland, Yugoslavia, Hungary, Poland, Finland, Romania, Sweden, Denmark, New Zealand and Australia. He was one of the first U.S. entertainers to perform in the former Soviet Union schools and in a Moscow television special.

He died Jan., 10, 1987 after a courageous battle to cancer. His wife Eleanor passed away a year later.

An ATG spokesperson said, “John Copiskey died far too soon long before we could present him with its International Accordion Hall of Fame Award. However, it is confident John would like nothing better than to have his daughter Dana, accept it for him, especially since she grew up to play in many, if not all, of his accordion bands of varied levels.”

The Copiskeys had another daughter, Susan.

Next year, the ATG will hold its annual festival in conjunction with the AAA festival as co-hosts of the CIA Coupe Mondiale in Washington DC, from October 18-22, 2006.