Daughter of late Detroit jazz artist wants to restore his 1889 Steinway grand piano
Southfield woman seeks to repair her late jazz composer father s piano
When Ed Nuccilli passed away 10 years ago, one of his prized possession was this 1889 Steinway grand piano which he used to compose and arrange. He highlighted the Detroit Jazz Festival, said Alicia Nuccilli, his daughter, who is now on a mission to keep her father’s legacy alive. He played for lots of the stars that came into town, he would go on and on, like Ella Fitzgerald, Sammy Davis, Jr., she said.
When Nuccilli passed away 10 years ago, one of his prized possession was this 1889 Steinway grand piano which he used to compose and arrange.
Photo by Patricia O’Blenes
Southfield woman seeks help in restoring historic piano
New, custom strings will need to be outfitted onto Nuccilli’s Steinway piano to complete the restoration process.
Photo by Patricia O’Blenes
The Piano Place is located at 1307 E. Maple Road.
Photo by Patricia O’Blenes
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SOUTHFIELD For as long as she can remember, the sound of a Steinway piano has been a part of Alicia Nuccilli’s life. Her father, Ed Nuccilli, was a well-known jazz artist in Detroit who worked with several Motown superstars, like Smokey Robinson.
“My dad used that piano. It was his work,” Alicia Nuccilli said about the piano, built in 1889. “He was a lifelong musician. All I remember every day is hearing him on the piano. There wasn’t a day that went by where that piano wasn’t played.”