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Al DiNero, who began entertaining people with his accordion at age 10, died Oct. 1 at 87.

Even in recent years he was visiting local nursing homes in Pueblo “to play for the old people,” as he put it, said his daughter, Deborah DiNero Francies of Pueblo.

For years, DiNero had a band, Al DiNero and the Esquires, which played all over the state for crowds ranging from wedding guests to the well-heeled at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs.

He began playing at age 5, started lessons at 10 and by 12 “was teaching the teacher,” said his daughter.

By 14, he went to local “beer gardens” to play in the evening and came home with $2, which he gave to his family.

His mother, Mercedes DiNero, jestingly threatened to beat him with a macaroni stick if he didn’t practice – there was no need.

DiNero was fairly shy; he let others do the talking and selling, Francies said. He felt most comfortable behind his accordion.

“His love was the accordion,” said Frank Caruso, who played in bands with DiNero off and on for 10 years.

Sometimes they got “a hamburger and $3 a night” for playing. “Big money” was $35 a night, said Caruso, who went on to lead his own band, The Serenaders, which played for 50 years.

Al “was a great guy with a nice personality,” said Caruso, whose band concentrated on the Lawrence Welk sound.

DiNero liked the big-band sound and loved Tony Bennett numbers and Italian serenades, Francies said.

“But he’d play polkas when he was asked. He read music but could also play by ear,” Caruso said.

DiNero was “very proud, stubborn and strong-willed,” said his daughter. He loved to tell stories, always embellishing them a little, and to play practical jokes on people.

Particular about his own appearance, he expected boys coming by to pick up his daughters for dates to be dressed well. If they arrived in jeans and a T-shirt, they were told to leave, Francies said.

Alfonso A. DiNero, was born in Pueblo on Dec. 21, 1919, and graduated from Central High School. He had his own orchestra in high school.

In addition to music jobs, he toured with the USO, with Rex Allen and Roy Rogers.

For years, he owned a music store in Pueblo, Al DiNero Accordion and Music.

He worked at the CF&I steel mill in Pueblo, was a jeweler and trained racehorses. But at nights it was the accordion.

DiNero was married three times. In addition to his daughter, he is survived by three other daughters: Jeannie DiNero Trujillo of Pueblo, Louann Sekul of Ocean Springs, Miss., and Angie Beckman of Texas; two sons, Kenneth DiNero of Biloxi, Miss., and Stephen Epp of Texas; 15 grandchildren; and eight great- grandchildren.

Virginia Culver: 303-954-1223 or vculver@denverpost.com