Anthony DeLucaÂ…the comedian, barber, musician, father, brother, grandfather, handyman, etc. There are many things that describe his life. Overall, Anthony was a loving and big hearted man who meant so much to so many people.
Mr. DeLuca was born on Jan. 8th, 1941Â…or as he would tell everyone, "I was born on the same day as Elvis Presley". As a young child, he knew he wanted to be a musician and entertain people. At the age of 9 or 10, his father let him take accordion lessons. His talent at an early age was obvious. As a result, Mr. DeLuca began performing on local TV shows including the "Auntie Dee Show" at age 12 and "Meet Mr. Callaghan" at age 16. At the age of 14, he also played in a wedding band called Jimmy Cramer & the "C" Notes. Shortly after starting this band, they dropped the trumpet player, became a trio, and called themselves "The Melodies". Anthony was the front man in the group. He was an entertainer in the truest sense and knew how to keep his audience engaged.
At the age of 17, Anthony DeLuca's godfather convinced him to enroll into Green's Barber College. He found yet another talent that became a lifelong career. He started by learning the ropes at Jake Kasbrick's Barber Shop in Harper Woods, MI. After cutting hair for a while and feeling a little burned out, Mr. DeLuca went back to his first love, entertaining. During a 7 or 8 year period, he played the accordion and sang in local establishment's full time. Initially, Anthony was a one man act. He had the charisma and talent to pull it off. Mr. DeLuca said people would tell him he wouldn't be able to keep an audience entertained with an accordion, but as everyone knows he was an amazing musician with a great voice and wonderful talent on the accordion. The one man band eventually became a duo when his friend Jim Kowalew (drummer) joined the group calling themselves the Tony Dell Duo. They played many shows together and eventually recorded an album together with the songs, "Sweet Gypsy Rose" and "The Most Beautiful Girl in the World". After marrying my mother, Laura VanAssche, she took Jim's place on drums and brought the band to a new level by including harmony and lead vocals.
After a good 7 – 8 year run as a full time entertainer, Anthony realized he had to settle down and go back to barbering. He still performed here and there on the weekends, but came to the realization that he had a family to support and had to give his liver a break. "Tony the barber" put his hair-cutting-cap back on and on Sept. 1st, 1979, he decided to take over Chapoton Wood's Barber Shop. Mr. DeLuca spent 33 years cutting hair there. He was a staple in the community and developed a large business. Everyone in St. Clair Shores knew him...or if they didn't know Anthony DeLuca, they knew someone that knew him. He made a lot of friends there and lifetime customers.
Everyone knew of Mr. DeLuca as a barber, but the family knew him more for his talent as a musician. He was the life of the party. Whenever we had a get-together, family and friends would always ask, "Did you bring your accordion Tony?" Although he stopped entertaining for a living as he got older, you would always expect to hear him play at family gatherings. Everyone loved hearing him perform and expected it. Although he will no longer be with us, the great memories of this part of our life will never be forgotten.
Anthony DeLuca was known as a funny manÂ…always cracking jokesÂ…always making light of things in life. He was a positive part of many people's lives, very generous, had a magnetic personality, fun to be around, a caring person, always there to give advice, and had a "huge heart" as Janet, his significant other would always say. He was a wonderful father. Our family loved him so much. He will be missed by so many people. I am so grateful you were a part of my life, dad. We all have so many great memories and stories that will be with us forever.
Dedication website: https://sites.google.com/site/tonydelldeluca/home/audio-recordings
Mr. DeLuca was born on Jan. 8th, 1941Â…or as he would tell everyone, "I was born on the same day as Elvis Presley". As a young child, he knew he wanted to be a musician and entertain people. At the age of 9 or 10, his father let him take accordion lessons. His talent at an early age was obvious. As a result, Mr. DeLuca began performing on local TV shows including the "Auntie Dee Show" at age 12 and "Meet Mr. Callaghan" at age 16. At the age of 14, he also played in a wedding band called Jimmy Cramer & the "C" Notes. Shortly after starting this band, they dropped the trumpet player, became a trio, and called themselves "The Melodies". Anthony was the front man in the group. He was an entertainer in the truest sense and knew how to keep his audience engaged.
At the age of 17, Anthony DeLuca's godfather convinced him to enroll into Green's Barber College. He found yet another talent that became a lifelong career. He started by learning the ropes at Jake Kasbrick's Barber Shop in Harper Woods, MI. After cutting hair for a while and feeling a little burned out, Mr. DeLuca went back to his first love, entertaining. During a 7 or 8 year period, he played the accordion and sang in local establishment's full time. Initially, Anthony was a one man act. He had the charisma and talent to pull it off. Mr. DeLuca said people would tell him he wouldn't be able to keep an audience entertained with an accordion, but as everyone knows he was an amazing musician with a great voice and wonderful talent on the accordion. The one man band eventually became a duo when his friend Jim Kowalew (drummer) joined the group calling themselves the Tony Dell Duo. They played many shows together and eventually recorded an album together with the songs, "Sweet Gypsy Rose" and "The Most Beautiful Girl in the World". After marrying my mother, Laura VanAssche, she took Jim's place on drums and brought the band to a new level by including harmony and lead vocals.
After a good 7 – 8 year run as a full time entertainer, Anthony realized he had to settle down and go back to barbering. He still performed here and there on the weekends, but came to the realization that he had a family to support and had to give his liver a break. "Tony the barber" put his hair-cutting-cap back on and on Sept. 1st, 1979, he decided to take over Chapoton Wood's Barber Shop. Mr. DeLuca spent 33 years cutting hair there. He was a staple in the community and developed a large business. Everyone in St. Clair Shores knew him...or if they didn't know Anthony DeLuca, they knew someone that knew him. He made a lot of friends there and lifetime customers.
Everyone knew of Mr. DeLuca as a barber, but the family knew him more for his talent as a musician. He was the life of the party. Whenever we had a get-together, family and friends would always ask, "Did you bring your accordion Tony?" Although he stopped entertaining for a living as he got older, you would always expect to hear him play at family gatherings. Everyone loved hearing him perform and expected it. Although he will no longer be with us, the great memories of this part of our life will never be forgotten.
Anthony DeLuca was known as a funny manÂ…always cracking jokesÂ…always making light of things in life. He was a positive part of many people's lives, very generous, had a magnetic personality, fun to be around, a caring person, always there to give advice, and had a "huge heart" as Janet, his significant other would always say. He was a wonderful father. Our family loved him so much. He will be missed by so many people. I am so grateful you were a part of my life, dad. We all have so many great memories and stories that will be with us forever.
Dedication website: https://sites.google.com/site/tonydelldeluca/home/audio-recordings
Anthony DeLucaÂ…the comedian, barber, musician, father, brother, grandfather, handyman, etc. There are many things that describe his life. Overall, Anthony was a loving and big hearted man who meant so much to so many people.
Mr. DeLuca was born on Jan. 8th, 1941Â…or as he would tell everyone, "I was born on the same day as Elvis Presley". As a young child, he knew he wanted to be a musician and entertain people. At the age of 9 or 10, his father let him take accordion lessons. His talent at an early age was obvious. As a result, Mr. DeLuca began performing on local TV shows including the "Auntie Dee Show" at age 12 and "Meet Mr. Callaghan" at age 16. At the age of 14, he also played in a wedding band called Jimmy Cramer & the "C" Notes. Shortly after starting this band, they dropped the trumpet player, became a trio, and called themselves "The Melodies". Anthony was the front man in the group. He was an entertainer in the truest sense and knew how to keep his audience engaged.
At the age of 17, Anthony DeLuca's godfather convinced him to enroll into Green's Barber College. He found yet another talent that became a lifelong career. He started by learning the ropes at Jake Kasbrick's Barber Shop in Harper Woods, MI. After cutting hair for a while and feeling a little burned out, Mr. DeLuca went back to his first love, entertaining. During a 7 or 8 year period, he played the accordion and sang in local establishment's full time. Initially, Anthony was a one man act. He had the charisma and talent to pull it off. Mr. DeLuca said people would tell him he wouldn't be able to keep an audience entertained with an accordion, but as everyone knows he was an amazing musician with a great voice and wonderful talent on the accordion. The one man band eventually became a duo when his friend Jim Kowalew (drummer) joined the group calling themselves the Tony Dell Duo. They played many shows together and eventually recorded an album together with the songs, "Sweet Gypsy Rose" and "The Most Beautiful Girl in the World". After marrying my mother, Laura VanAssche, she took Jim's place on drums and brought the band to a new level by including harmony and lead vocals.
After a good 7 – 8 year run as a full time entertainer, Anthony realized he had to settle down and go back to barbering. He still performed here and there on the weekends, but came to the realization that he had a family to support and had to give his liver a break. "Tony the barber" put his hair-cutting-cap back on and on Sept. 1st, 1979, he decided to take over Chapoton Wood's Barber Shop. Mr. DeLuca spent 33 years cutting hair there. He was a staple in the community and developed a large business. Everyone in St. Clair Shores knew him...or if they didn't know Anthony DeLuca, they knew someone that knew him. He made a lot of friends there and lifetime customers.
Everyone knew of Mr. DeLuca as a barber, but the family knew him more for his talent as a musician. He was the life of the party. Whenever we had a get-together, family and friends would always ask, "Did you bring your accordion Tony?" Although he stopped entertaining for a living as he got older, you would always expect to hear him play at family gatherings. Everyone loved hearing him perform and expected it. Although he will no longer be with us, the great memories of this part of our life will never be forgotten.
Anthony DeLuca was known as a funny manÂ…always cracking jokesÂ…always making light of things in life. He was a positive part of many people's lives, very generous, had a magnetic personality, fun to be around, a caring person, always there to give advice, and had a "huge heart" as Janet, his significant other would always say. He was a wonderful father. Our family loved him so much. He will be missed by so many people. I am so grateful you were a part of my life, dad. We all have so many great memories and stories that will be with us forever.
Dedication website: https://sites.google.com/site/tonydelldeluca/home/audio-recordings
Mr. DeLuca was born on Jan. 8th, 1941Â…or as he would tell everyone, "I was born on the same day as Elvis Presley". As a young child, he knew he wanted to be a musician and entertain people. At the age of 9 or 10, his father let him take accordion lessons. His talent at an early age was obvious. As a result, Mr. DeLuca began performing on local TV shows including the "Auntie Dee Show" at age 12 and "Meet Mr. Callaghan" at age 16. At the age of 14, he also played in a wedding band called Jimmy Cramer & the "C" Notes. Shortly after starting this band, they dropped the trumpet player, became a trio, and called themselves "The Melodies". Anthony was the front man in the group. He was an entertainer in the truest sense and knew how to keep his audience engaged.
At the age of 17, Anthony DeLuca's godfather convinced him to enroll into Green's Barber College. He found yet another talent that became a lifelong career. He started by learning the ropes at Jake Kasbrick's Barber Shop in Harper Woods, MI. After cutting hair for a while and feeling a little burned out, Mr. DeLuca went back to his first love, entertaining. During a 7 or 8 year period, he played the accordion and sang in local establishment's full time. Initially, Anthony was a one man act. He had the charisma and talent to pull it off. Mr. DeLuca said people would tell him he wouldn't be able to keep an audience entertained with an accordion, but as everyone knows he was an amazing musician with a great voice and wonderful talent on the accordion. The one man band eventually became a duo when his friend Jim Kowalew (drummer) joined the group calling themselves the Tony Dell Duo. They played many shows together and eventually recorded an album together with the songs, "Sweet Gypsy Rose" and "The Most Beautiful Girl in the World". After marrying my mother, Laura VanAssche, she took Jim's place on drums and brought the band to a new level by including harmony and lead vocals.
After a good 7 – 8 year run as a full time entertainer, Anthony realized he had to settle down and go back to barbering. He still performed here and there on the weekends, but came to the realization that he had a family to support and had to give his liver a break. "Tony the barber" put his hair-cutting-cap back on and on Sept. 1st, 1979, he decided to take over Chapoton Wood's Barber Shop. Mr. DeLuca spent 33 years cutting hair there. He was a staple in the community and developed a large business. Everyone in St. Clair Shores knew him...or if they didn't know Anthony DeLuca, they knew someone that knew him. He made a lot of friends there and lifetime customers.
Everyone knew of Mr. DeLuca as a barber, but the family knew him more for his talent as a musician. He was the life of the party. Whenever we had a get-together, family and friends would always ask, "Did you bring your accordion Tony?" Although he stopped entertaining for a living as he got older, you would always expect to hear him play at family gatherings. Everyone loved hearing him perform and expected it. Although he will no longer be with us, the great memories of this part of our life will never be forgotten.
Anthony DeLuca was known as a funny manÂ…always cracking jokesÂ…always making light of things in life. He was a positive part of many people's lives, very generous, had a magnetic personality, fun to be around, a caring person, always there to give advice, and had a "huge heart" as Janet, his significant other would always say. He was a wonderful father. Our family loved him so much. He will be missed by so many people. I am so grateful you were a part of my life, dad. We all have so many great memories and stories that will be with us forever.
Dedication website: https://sites.google.com/site/tonydelldeluca/home/audio-recordings
