Don Weeda: Accordion

Despite his initial exposure to the accordion being limited to a babysitter who liked to watch Lawrence Welk, Don Weeda has come to spend half his life playing the accordion. His original music training was on the piano, but frequent moves made tracking down a piano in a new location difficult. His interest in international folk dancing led him to Washington DC for the summer long Folklife Festival in 1976 and there Don bought his first accordion.

Today Don Weeda is an in-demand accompanist for such groups as the Austin International Folk Dancers, the Austin Friends of Traditional Music, and Texas International Folk Dancers. Besides 1001 Nights, Don also performs regularly with his international folk dance band Slavadillo and Rubinchik's Yiddische Band.