Antonio V. "Tony" Sgro

Elmira:  Age 91, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving family, at St. Joseph’s Hospital Skilled Nursing Facility on Sunday, June 22, 2025.  Tony was born in Wellsville OH, son of Francesco and Felicia Gramuglia Sgro.  He was predeceased by his first wife Lucy DiNardo Sgro, second wife Dorothy Bartkowski Sgro, sister Josephine Sgro, brothers and sisters-in-law, Ralph and Beatie Sgro, Pete and June Sgro, sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Angeline DiNardo Sgro, Rose (DiNardo) and Gerald McLaughlin, Michael DiNardo, Margaret Estes, Donna Mashanic and Raymond Bartkowski.  Tony is survived by brother Dominic Sgro of Elmira; sisters-in-law, Annette Laveck of Pittsford NY and Gloria (William) Wright of Lawrenceville PA; nieces and nephews, Mary Angela (John) Mendonca, Dr. Madonna M. (Jose) Santos, Martha Anne (Jason) Macari, Patricia Samuels, Sean McLaughlin, Eileen (Rick) Robbins, Seamus McLaughlin, Marie, Michael, Mark and Annie DiNardo, Phyllis, Sherry, Christy Sgro, Linda, Marla and Gina Sgro; many great-nieces and nephews.

Tony Sgro was famous for being one half of the Fabulous Sgro Brothers harmonica

duo. With his brother Dominic, he had a musical career that spanned over 70 years.

It is impossible to write about Tony Sgro without writing about the collaboration he

had with his brother, who would often refer to him as “ Brother Antonio “ onstage.

Tony was a master on the 48 Chord harmonica, an instrument most people have

never heard of, let alone learned to play. Tony’s chord harmonica provided the beat and

the chordal structure while his brother played the melody on the chromatic harmonica.

At almost two feet in length, the chord harmonica easily captures the visual attention of

an audience. Tony Sgro also knew how to capture their ears. He was one of the

greatest ( it has been argued THE greatest ) to ever play the instrument .

The most influential chord harmonica players have been able to use the instrument to

play melodies, as well as chordal accompaniment. Tony Sgro was a master at this. He

recorded many of his own “chord solos” during his career and on many arrangements

he and his brother would go back and forth playing the melody line, with Tony playing

his part on an instrument that wasn’t designed to do so.

Born to Italian immigrants in Wellsville, Ohio, Tony did not grow up in the lap of

luxury. He did grow up in a loving family, rooted in the Catholic faith. His father played

mandolin, guitar and violin and music was an important part of their life. Tony

remembered listening to opera broadcasts on the radio Saturday afternoons in his

home.

The boys received harmonicas for Christmas when they were young and taught

themselves to play. When they became teenagers they saw the Harmonica Rascals in a

movie and decided to start a harmonica band with a friend, Ed Sedor . They soon

found that Tony had a gift for hearing the chords and Dom felt at home playing the

melody on the chromatic harmonica. Ed was given the bass harmonica. The three

young men called themselves the “ Harmaniacs “ and were soon playing talent shows

and dances around Wellsville.

An appearance on a radio talent show in Pittsburgh led to an invitation to try out for

the famous Harmonica Rascals. They had a brief stint with the Harmonica Rascals but

decided to leave the group so Tony could finish high school.

When Dom’s number came up in the military draft, the three of them auditioned for a

special forces slot with the United States Marine Corps. They all signed up to become

Marines, rather than break up their group. After basic training they were assigned to

the the Marine Air Wing Band at Cherry Point, North Carolina, where Dom played

clarinet, Tony played cymbals, and Ed Sedor played bass drum. During every concert

they were featured on their harmonicas as the “ Marine Corps’ Own Harmaniacs “.

While in the Marine Corps the trio traveled to Chicago where they recorded 52 radio

shows for the Marine Air Reserve, playing three new songs for each show. They also

appeared on many national TV shows, including the “ Ed Sullivan Show “, “ The Easter

Parade of Stars “ and the “Two For The Money “ game show with harmonica enthusiast

Herb Shriner, representing the Marine Corps in their uniforms.

The Harmaniacs were given a recording contract with RCA records after their

discharge but were not well promoted as RCA had set their sights on

something else - and that something else had a name - Elvis Presley.

Ed Sedor, the bass harmonica player, decided to leave the world of show business

and the Sgro Brothers decided to go on their own as a duo. They worked with Herb

Shriner and did recording studio work, recording a classic track with blues singer,

Dinah Washington, “ Cat On A Hot Tin Roof “. They also recorded with Herb Shriner’s

ten-piece harmonica orchestra on Columbia Records. One number, “ The Talk Of The

Town “, featured a new chord harmonica solo by Tony Sgro.

They were contacted by Johnny Puleo to join his new group, Johnny Puleo and his

Harmonica Gang. Johnny was the diminutive star of the Harmonica Rascals and had

struck out on his own. His group’s stage shows featured great harmonica music and

slap-stick comedy. And Johnny paid his musicians very well.

The Sgro Brothers’ first show with Johnny Puleo was at the Tropicana Club in ( pre-

Castro ) Havana Cuba . Later they enjoyed a booking at the Palladium Theater in

London, England. They appeared on TV shows like the “Tonight Show with Steve Allen

“, “The Dean Martin Show”, “The Perry Como Show” and many more. They played

State Fairs across the country and did a double booking with Spike Jones and His City

Slickers in Las Vegas.

At a performance in New Orleans, Johnny Puleo was approached by a man named

Syd Frey, who owned a record label in New Jersey called Audiofidelity Records. He

was looking for bands to record in the brand-new format of STEREO. It was arranged

that Johnny’s Gang would record after performing their shows at the Latin Quarter, a

night Club in New York. They would take their curtain calls, load up their cars and drive

to New Jersey to work in the recording studio.The entire album was recorded between

2 A.M. and 6 A.M. and it was all recorded LIVE with no over dubbing.

The release, entitled “ Johnny Puleo and His Harmonica Gang “, became the first

album released in Stereo and it featured nothing but the sounds of harmonicas. Tony

was the only chord harmonica player in the band, providing the rhythm and chords to

every track, as well as chord solos on selected tunes. The Sgro Brothers went on to

record five more albums with Johnny Puleo on the Audiofidelity label and Tony played

chord harmonica on every track.

While living in New York City the Sgro Brothers met the DiNardo sisters from Hornell,

New York. The DiNardo sisters were working as nurses in a New York City hospital.

One thing led to another ( as happens with love ) and the two brothers married the two

sisters.

When The Sgro Brothers had free time between tours with Johnny Puleo, they would

fly into the Elmira / Corning airport and then make the drive to Hornell ( before the

interstate was built ). They decided to rent an apartment in Elmira and, when they

finally decided to leave the life of the traveling musician and settle down, they moved

to Elmira.

They bought the old “Melody Gardens “ restaurant in Elmira Heights, renamed it

“Sgro’s “ and began their life as restaurant owners. They performed on stage at their

club almost every evening. They also kept performing locally for weddings, concerts

and dances. In their spare time they sold insurance.

Country music singer George Morgan, who had a hit with a song called “ Candy

Kisses “, sat down for a meal at Sgro’s restaurant and struck up a conversation with

Tony and Dom. After hearing them play he offered the Sgro Brothers a job performing

in a country music “package tour “ he was playing in.

That started the Sgro Brothers on their path in country music. They appeared on the “

Nashville Now “ radio and TV shows with Ralph Emery and were asked to perform on

the stage of the Grand Ol’ Opry, where they were billed as the “Italian Hillbillies “. They

recorded an album in Nashville and sold copies at their live performances.

They sold their restaurant and their agent contacted them to play on cruise ships,

which they did for an extended time.

In retirement the Sgro Brothers continued to perform locally and recorded an album

with a local bluegrass band , The Corning Grassworks, who introduced the Sgro

Brothers to the world of bluegrass festivals.

They also performed John Philip Sousa’s “Harmonica Wizard March “ as soloists with

many concert bands.

The Sgro Brothers always saluted their fellow veterans at performances and ended

every show with Sousa’s “Stars and Stripes Forever “. Tony Sgro loved his country and

was proud to be a United States Marine.

Time and space limit how much more can be written about the life of Tony Sgro. He

was a gentle man who loved a good joke and a good cigar. Tony was a man of faith

who practiced what he believed. He was a seasoned professional performer, a loving

husband and a good friend. To those who know about the 48 chord harmonica, he is

held in very high esteem.

To thousands of others he will simply be remembered as the Sgro Brother who played

the BIG harmonica and made them laugh with a joke or two.

The musicians who had a chance to play music with the Sgro Brothers will remember

Tony for his stories. He had 70 years of show business to use for material and he loved

taking the floor with a tale or two.

May you Rest in Peace Brother Antonio.

Written by Ken VanEtten, who performed with the Sgro Brothers for over 25 years.

Family and friends are invited to call at McInerny Funeral Home, 502 W Water Street, Elmira, on Thursday, June 26, 2025, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Patrick’s Church, 604 Park Place, Elmira, on Friday, June 27, 2025, at 1:30 p.m.  A livestream of the Mass will be available through the Facebook page for Most Holy Name of Jesus Parish (https://www.facebook.com/ElmiraCatholic).   Military honors will be accorded to Tony outside of church, after the Mass.  Committal prayers and interment will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Hornell.

Those wishing may remember Tony with a donation to the Chemung County Humane Society & SPCA, 2435 State Route 352, Elmira NY 14903.