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Belli among hall of fame inductees

WEIRTON – Dino Belli has been accepted as a member of the Class of 2014 of the Weirton Hall of Fame in the category of music and fine arts.

Music was Belli’s gift to the Weirton area for more than 50 years as he traveled, sharing his talents and abilities doing what he loved best – teaching and playing the accordion.

Belli began to study music in the Quatrocchi Music Studio in Steubenville, and by the time he was 15, he began entertaining at weddings and dances. In addition, he joined the Steubenville-Wheeling-Pittsburgh Musician’s Unions.

Before joining the Army, Belli crisscrossed the country several times performing various musicians playing at Biltmore Hotel in Miami, Fla., Havana, Cuba and Nassau, Bahamas. He entertained on the Cunnard Star Line cruise ship.

At one point, Belli worked at WWVA Radio Station as a staff musician playing the “Reichart Hour.” In Washington, D.C. on Radio WRC, he aired a daily program “The Hurdy Gurdy Man.” He also performed several times with other local musicians.

While on active duty, he was assigned to special services to entertain 14,000 soldiers during World War II in combat zones and hospitals and was later assigned to General Mark Clark’s personal band in Vienna.

Belli is known for his ability to play varied requests and his extensive repertoire of music, which included his original compositions, classics, pop, show tunes, country, polkas and ethnic tunes. He spent time in New York City, Cleveland, Chicago and Detroit judging in music contests.

During his career, Belli donated many hours of his musical talent for the Knights of Columbus, Lions Club, the Weirton Steel 25 Year Club, Starvaggi 25 Year Club, church functions, United Way, PTA, Boy Scouts and many other civic and fraternal organizations in the Weirton area.

The sixth-annual Weirton Hall of Fame induction ceremony is set to take place at 2 p.m. May 4 at Undo’s in Weirton.

Tickets are available for $25 each at Marsh Pipe and Supply, R.E. Saxon Jeweler and the Weirton Municipal Building. Approximately 250 tickets are being sold and will not be available at the door. The event is open to the public.

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