Kevin Solecki: GRAMMY Nominated Accordionist, Owner of Carnegie Accordion Company
 

Kevin was born and raised in Warren, Michigan.  He started taking accordion lessons at the age of 6, studying under the tutelage of renowned guitarist Eligio DiBerardo.  At the early age of 10, Kevin started playing solo accordion performances.  A few of Solecki’s earlier highlights include performances on some of Detroit’s radio and television stations.

At the age of 17, he joined a nationally known polka band from Pennsylvania, the Polka Family Band.  After several extensive months of traveling the country with this band, Kevin decided to relocate to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where he currently resides.  Solecki was a full time member of the Polka Family Band for a total of 10 years while maintaining an active solo career before deciding to end his tenure with the band and focus solely on his solo endeavors.

Over the past two and a half decades, Kevin has performed all over the United States as well as internationally.  He has also done numerous radio and television shows, and had the opportunity to perform at some of the country’s top polka festivals, state fairs, county fairs, hotels, and cruise ships.

 

In 2005 Kevin recorded and released "Solecktions”, an album consisting of different styles of polka and waltz from around the world.  “Solecktions” was nominated for a Grammy Award during the 2005-2006 season.  His follow-up recording is a project called “Solecktive Sounds” which was released in September 2007.  It once again features different styles of music which includes polka, waltz, tango, and accordion novelty favorites.  Kevin’s latest release “Romantic Melodies” debuted in 2010 and continues to be a favorite among the elderly demographic.

Some of Solecki’s numerous career highlights include performances on some of the world’s top cruise ships, a PBS Television documentary on the polka, a GRAMMY nomination for his debut album "Solecktions" followed by multiple visits to the GRAMMY Awards since, performances at some of the nation’s top Accordion Conventions, a personal invitation from Harry Connick Jr. to help him perform at Pittsburgh’s historic Heinz Hall in June 2013, and an appearance on a January 2022 episode of Emmy Award Winning Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood.  This #1 rated children’s PBS Television show is viewed by over 65 million children and adults in the United States and hundreds of millions worldwide.  Kevin's latest television appearance took place in February 2024, when CBS TV/KDKA Pittsburgh's hit morning show Pittsburgh Today Live (PTL) visited his Carnegie Accordion store.  KDKA reporter Katie O'Malley interviewed Solecki about his Solloni brand accordions, and also sang her original Pittsburgh-style rendition of the PTL Polka (Pennsylvania Polka).  One month later, Kevin was invited to perform at the Pittsburgh Penguins hockey game on St. Patrick's Day, performing at the Main Gate as fans entered the arena, on the pre-game zamboni ride just before puck drop, as well as numerous jumbotron and television stints.  Kevin's Irish music brought the Penguins some Luck of the Irish, as they beat the Detroit Red Wings.

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Kevin enjoys being one of the country's most versatile and busiest accordionists.  He can be heard performing at a wide range of events around the Pittsburgh area and beyond, including Oktoberfest celebrations, house parties, casinos, riverboat cruises, resorts, weddings, colleges, rehearsal dinners, graduation parties, birthday events, anniversary celebrations, restaurants, church functions, senior citizen homes, accordion club concerts, and more.

 

Kevin is also the owner and operator of a Pittsburgh, PA based accordion repair and sales shop, Carnegie Accordion Company, where he is an Authorized Roland accordion dealer and owns his own accordion brand called Solloni, 100% Italian built top quality acoustic accordions.  For any accordion related needs including sales and repair, please visit carnegieaccordion.com