Who are you related to? Any Musicians?

Subject: RE: Who are you related to? Any Musicians?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 03 Apr 01 - 02:41 PM

My great-grandfather was a well known Swedish composer who came to the US where he headed up the Northwestern University Music Department. My father's uncle was president of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association early on, did the brain surgery that saved the life of Cook County (Chicago) Sheriff Richard Elrod, and was a pal of Mayor Daley's (the elder). My father's cousin is a well known french horn player who had been (and maybe still is) in the CSO and has recorded solo. All these I already knew.

What I did not know was that a one-page article I wrote as a sort of infomercial when I was an in-house technical and copy writer for a local company is listed under my name as a publication. I had no idea I had a credit out there as a "published" writer until Amos suggested I look myself up!

~Susan

Subject: RE: Who are you related to? Any Musicians?
From: GUEST,Matt_R
Date: 03 Apr 01 - 02:16 PM

My uncle is Joe Soprani, the accordion player. He won the U.S. accordion championship, and came in second in the World accordion championship (should have won first!). He's played with everyone from Jon Bon Jovi (he said Jon's a great guy) to Pavarotti (he said Pav's a "pompous ass").

A personal discovery I made was that the tiny town of Castelvetere Sul Calore, in the mountains near Naples, was where my great grandparents came from before immigrating to the U.S., and that the village was settled in 1000 A.D. by Longobard tribes. It was also the scene of many medieval feudal conflicts.

Subject: Who are you related to? Any Musicians?
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 03 Apr 01 - 01:52 PM

Yes, you're right. Since I've started about five threads in the last two weeks (just out of general springtime curiosity), I threw in the "Any Musicians?" bit to keep myself on the straight and narrow.

I have to admit the thread about "ego surfing" has really got me thinking. Has anyone discovered relatives, famous ancestors, INfamous ancestors, or just interesting family things strictly through the internet. You know, on those long long nights when you can't sleep, you've exhausted Mudcat, you're "all porned out", and you're sick of being asked "are you Yahooed?"

I've discovered a family connection with Henry Fielding and (because of it) a slight connection to Charles Dickens. I found that my great great Grandfather was a pretty high ranking Mason, and that on my Mother's side if you go back a bit you'll find a couple of Irish politicians. Gawd! I've dragged the family name down quite a few notches!

Also that my father-in-law was an inventor, footballer, and seemingly VERY modest about his accomplishments.

Any personal discoveries?

Rick