The Villages - May 2022 - 42

{ FOR THE
OF MUSIC }
VILLAGER JOE MANKOWSKI
KEEPING IT CLASSY
STORY BY JOSEPH SIRIOTIS | PHOTOS BY ROB WILKERSON
There are just some things that technology can't replace,
especially in the world of music. From the days of Wolfgang
Amadeus Mozart to the present, the piano has added a
touch of elegance to any scene, something that can't be
achieved simply by pushing a button.
" Out of this one instrument, you can get all these
different sounds because it's very personal, " Villager Joe
Mankowski said.
Joe started playing the piano
when he was 10 years-old at the
suggestion of his mother, who was
an expert pianist and organist.
He originally planned on playing
the clarinet, but the orthodontist
changed that when it was time for
Joe to get braces. He was determined
to play music, however, so he decided to
give the piano a try. It was when Joe grew
frustrated with the instrument that he
got his best inspirations from a unique
solution his parents had. They took Joe
out for a good time.
" When I was taking lessons, " Joe said, " my mother and
father would say, 'Joey, this Friday night, we're going to
take you to one of the clubs. Mom and I are going to dance,
you sit here. We're going to buy you a sandwich and a soft
drink, and you watch that lady play.' "
The piano players looked like rock stars in Joe's eyes, as
the music they created made the whole club come to life.
" When I heard that smooth jazz and those standard
tunes, " Joe said, " my mother always would laugh and she
said, 'Joey's in heaven.' "
Joe's list of inspirations kept growing as time went on,
from Errol Garner and Carmen Cavallero all the way to Fats
Waller. One of Joe's biggest influences, however, was master
pianist, Carlo Annibale, who imparted his knowledge of
crucial piano skills to him. One of these skills
was transposing, the ability to adapt the
tune of any song to the piano in a
matter of seconds.
" It's a totally lost art today, "
Joe said. " People do it now on
their electronic keyboards with
the touch of a button. "
THIS HAS BEEN
THE BEST JOB
OF MY LIFE. I'VE
NEVER HAD
ANYTHING BETTER
THAN THIS.
- Joe Mankowski
42
MAY 2022
Love
The Villages - May 2022

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