As a matter of fact, ma’am, some of us *do* give a damn about the accordion

It took me a while to post this, but I thought I’d save it for National Accordion Awareness Month, which is drawing to a close. Big thanks to Stacy “less art” Wong for sending this snippet from the America 24/7 photography project my way!

Luella Barber Wygant, 81, of Millcreek, Pa., plays the accordion for her dog Mitzi. “If I couldn’t play music, I might as well be dead,” said Wygant, who has been playing the accordion since she was four years old. She plays seven instruments and taught her husband how to play the bass viola. “Young people don’t give a damn about the accordion. All they care about is guitars and drums,” said Wygant whose favorite song is “I’m In The Mood For Love.”

I give a damn, ma’am. And so do a number of kids who were at the Om Festival last weekend.