Valentino "Val Eddy" Decastris

Valentino E. DeCastris "Val Eddy", 88, of Rockford died Monday August 4, 2014. He was born at home in south Rockford on July 3, 1926 to Orlando and Amalia (Ludovici) DeCastris. His parents and grandfather immigrated to Rockford in the early 1920s from Ferentino, Italy, Rockford's Sister City. His father was a leader in Rockford's Italian community and died when Val was in high school. His mother didn't speak, read or write English, nor drive or work outside the home, so Val became the man of the family and was strongly family and faith-oriented. Val graduated with the first graduating class from West High School in 1944. He was a WWII veteran of the United States Army and performed music with the Army's Dance Band and Marching Band. Val was a professional musician for over 70 years, first nailing together a broken mandolin given to him by his Godmother Ida Calacci and performing his first concert at age 12. Self-taught, he learned mandolin by listening to his next-door neighbor Gabriel Giorgi (father of the late E.J. Zeke Giorgi) playing on his back porch on Cunningham Street. He married Patricia Macaluso, an Arthur Murray Dance instructor at St. Anthony of Padua Parish in 1949 and she was largely responsible for his success, traveling on the road with him and chronicling his career. He was the consummate entertainer and also played the bass and banjo and was a vocalist, band leader and music instructor. He was happiest when he was playing music, a "musician's musician." He performed regionally, nationally and internationally with or alongside such notables as Boyd Raeburn, Tommy Dorsey, Woody Herman, Del Courtney, Bob Vincent, Louie Armstrong, Lawrence Welk, Les Brown, Stan Kenton, Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Dizzy Gillespie, Lionel Hampton, Danny Thomas, Jack Benny, and Martha Raye. With Rockford pianist extraordinaire Homer Carlson, they formed the Val Eddy Duo and were together for nearly 50 years, recording on the MCA label. Dave Pitts (Lamond) joined them in the 1950's as the Val Eddy Trio and they performed live nightly for years on the TV show "The Song Shop" on WTVO. In the area, his bands had extended engagements at the Town Lounge, Times Lounge, Red Garter, Playroom, Carriage House, Cart, Faust Ballroom, Stockholm Inn, Riveria Ballroom in Lake Geneva, Manor and Gun Club in Beloit, Maxson Manor in Oregon, Stan Hack's Landmark in Grand Detour, and Brandywine in Dixon. Val could play unrehearsed with any musician and on any string instrument and he partnered with scores of musicians at various venues. He knew thousands of songs and remembered everyone's favorites. He was beloved by everyone and his many fans followed him throughout the years and miles. Val was passionate about progressive jazz and always said that jazz was America's native music and its legacy to the world. He felt that his talent was a God-given gift and that he pleased God by making people happy with his music. Val was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Rockford Area Music Industry organization, a Special Recognition Award from the Greater Rockford Italian American Association and an Illinois State House Resolution. He was Father of the Year at the Ethnic Heritage Museum and he and Homer Carlson were awarded a Rockford Sesquicentennial Medal for their outstanding artistic contributions to the city. Survivors include his daughter Valeri DeCastris; son-in-law David Beccue; sister Mary Zandonatti; brother-in-law Jimmy Capicotte; nieces, nephews and cousins here and in Italy and ex-wife Marian Lauer Bieser. Predeceased by his wife Pat in 1979, her twin sister Connie, his parents and in-laws and brother-in-law Richard Zandonatti. Special thanks to the caregivers at Lincolnshire Place, Hospice Care of America and the VA. Visitation from 5-9 pm Wednesday August 13 at Fitzgerald Funeral Home & Crematory, 1860 S. Mulford Road. Catholic Mass at 11:00 am Thursday August 14 with visitation from 10-11 at Holy Family Church. Burial in Calvary Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please make memorials to Val DeCastris c/o 918 Cunningham Street, Rockford, IL 61102 to fund music scholarships for underprivileged youth. Share condolences and memories at www.fitzgeraldfh.com.