Artist Info: Pete Jolly

Pete Jolly—born Peter Ceragioli Jr. June 5, 1932, in New Haven, Connecticut; died November 6, 2004, in Pasadena, California—was an American West Coast jazz pianist and accordionist, likely best known for his performance of television themes and various movie soundtracks.

He began playing the accordion at age 3, and appeared on the radio program Hobby Lobby at age seven.

His composition "Little Bird" was nominated for a Grammy Award in 1963 (a minor hit on Fred Astaire's Ava label), and he formed the Pete Jolly Trio in 1964. [read more...]