Art Verdi Biography
Short Personal Background & History
Art Verdi was born on March 19, 1945 in Orange, NJ where he spent his entire childhood. Art got married on September 20, 1975 to Joanne whom he had met at a club where he was playing. Art & Joanne’s first son, Gary, was born on September 22, 1976 & their second son, Artie, came along on February 5, 1979. Art currently has 2 granddaughters, Nicole and Samantha.
Art’s Family (This section was written by Art in the first person.)
Parents
My father was a talented jazz violinist. He played the big clubs in New York and even had a radio show under the name “Art Verdi and Ten Commanders”. My mother (Judy) and aunt (mom’s sister Diane) had a dance and singing act in nightclubs around New York when they met. My folks quit the clubs after they were married and dad became a cabinet refinisher.
My father passed away many many years ago and my mother passed away April 3, 2010.
Siblings
I only have one sibling, my sister Patricia. However, no one calls her Patricia, because we all call her Patty. Patty is a very successful woman who owns two seperate and thriving businesses. Patty also has a husband, Dave, who has 3 grown children from a previous marriage.
My Sister Patti
My Children
I have two sons, Gary & Artie.
Gary, the oldest of the two, has given me 2 granddaughters. He lives in the Philippines and teaches ESL (English) over the internet to students from Korea and China mostly.
Gary played the guitar for a little while between the 4th and 5th grades but in my excitement to see my first born follow in my footsteps I may have pushed him a bit too hard at too young an age because he soon gave it up and never took up any instruments after that.
My Son Gary
My youngest son, Artie, not married but he has been with the same girl for a while now. I may have pushed Gary too hard but I learned my lesson and Artie has become quite the musician in his own right. Unfortunately, he has taken up guitar instead of the drums like his old man. I am still very proud of him though and he has quite a bit of talent. Artie taught himself how to play the guitar left handed (even though he is a right handed person). When I discovered his interest in the guitar I started paying for him to take lessons from a professional. Artie has progressed to the point now where he now teaches lessons part time.
My Son Artie
My Grandchildren
Nicole Amber, was born November 13, 2006 and Samantha Ashley was born May 1, 2011. I’ve never had the opportunity to see either child in person because, as I mentioned earlier, my son and his children both live in the Philippines.
Nicole is a very bright child who excelled in school at the age of 2 and a half. My son put her in pre-school early so she would have the opportunity to interact with other children and he was not concerned with whether or not she would actually learn anything because that would come later. Nicole surprised us all by doing very well in class both socially and academically. She is now 4 going on 5 and she is enjoying being a big sister.
Samantha is getting bigger day by day and I am told she is a milkaholic. She loves to be held and sung to and she is a very alert baby.
My two granddaughters Nicole Amber and Samantha Ashley
