Peter Aldighieri - A brief history

Peter Aldighieri was born July 1, 1925 in Ridgefield Park N.J.
At the age of 13 his professional piano life started and it never stopped until he did on January 12th 2010.

The son of Jerry Aldighieri and Elsie Darwin Aldighieri, his maternal grandmother played a vital part in his life by selling hen's eggs to raise money for piano lessons. When he reached 13 years old, his father died, his mother went to hospital, and he went to work playing piano in local bars.
He served in the Navy and tested Torpedos in Maryland during the Korean War. With a G.I. scholarship he studied at the New York Conservatory of music until they realised he had not graduated high school. Many years later after raising a family he returned to Felician College and earned a Batchelor of Arts degree in Teaching.

Peter was an inventive genious of the piano who worked in many clubs and restaurants in Passaic County and Ocean County. He gave private piano lessons to young and old throughout his long career in music. His first wife Joan bore him 2 daughters. His second wife Eleanore passed before him and in gratitude for his wife's final care he gave concerts and lead choral singing for seniors at the Baylee Nursing Home, and played for services at the Forked River Methodist Church and a Methodist Church service at the Tim Ryan Funeral Home.

He composed music for his daughter Merrill's documentary films which aired on PBS, earning an Emmy Award. Some excerpts are posted on the above right.

His daughter April produced one recorded CD of his piano playing.
You can hear some audio clips here.

He loved telling jokes, studying counterpoint, and improvisation. He enjoyed many good years of health and remained active til his last days

I hope this blog can reunite the precious souvenirs, photos, music and video he appeared in. All are welcome to contribute their thoughts. An inspirational musician who gave generously of his talent and love, he will be dearly missed. As he loved to say, "Have a Musical Day".