Epifanio C. Campanella, 96, swing band trombonist
June 18, 1912 — Dec. 22, 2008
Epifanio C. “Epi” Campanella of Kenmore, a trombonist who played the leading Buffalo nightclubs during the golden era of swing bands, died Dec. 22 in Northgate Health Care Facility, Wheatfield, where he had been a resident for about six months. He was 96.
Mr. Campanella was on stage at opening night of the fabled Town Casino — he noted that “the plaster wasn’t even dry” — and played the club many times, backing headliners such as the Mills Brothers. He also accompanied vocalist Frankie Laine at Shea’s Buffalo.
With a group called the Madhatters in the early 1950s, he appeared in a weekly 15-minute TV show sponsored by Wildroot Cream Oil.
He also was a member of the Checkmates, a septet that played Dixieland jazz and classic pop tunes. They were featured at Kleinhans Music Hall in a Jazz vs. the Classics concert.
Mr. Campanella played with Freddie Hart’s Band at the Little Harlem and played at the Anchor Bar. He also played at the Connecticut Street Armory with the band led by Art Welte, at the Glen Casino with Dick Bono, at the Continental Inn with Pete Arnone and in the German-American Band. He continued playing with various bands into his 80s.
Born in Montedoro, Sicily, he came to the U. S. with his family as an infant. As a boy in the 1920s, he played French horn with his father, Mario, in Messore’s Band, which was featured at the Italian feasts at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church.
At Buffalo Technical High School, he studied commercial art and played baritone horn in the school band. After high school, he worked at Spencer Lens, then took a job at Bethlehem Steel in Lackawanna, where he worked in the electrical storeroom. He retired in the late 1970s.
He was a longtime member of Buffalo and Hamburg locals of the American Federation of Musicians. During World War II, he was a member of the National Guard.
Surviving are his wife of 73 years, the former Anne M. Tubolino, and a daughter, Mary Anne Falsone.
A Mass of Christian Burial was offered Dec. 27 in St. Andrew Catholic Church, Town of Tonawanda.
Log into MyBuffalo to post a comment
MyBuffalo is the new social network from Buffalo.com. Your MyBuffalo account lets you comment on and rate stories at buffalonews.com. You can also head over to mybuffalo.com to share your blog posts, stories, photos, and videos with the community. Join now or learn more.
Reader comments