Big-Screen Crescendo for Mr. Accordion
(By Jeff Krulik)
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Merv Conn has been a Washington fixture for 70 years, a "singing and strolling" accordion player once as famous for his accompaniment to Senators games and teaching the Nixon sisters how to play as he is for the countless bar mitzvahs and other family celebrations he has been part of. Even people who've never seen Conn play some of the 1,000 songs in his repertoire may know the name from the sign that adorned Merv Conn's Accordion School on 14th Street for 20 years.
Conn, who resides in Silver Spring and turns 87 on Monday, is still going strong, as is proven in "The Legend of Merv Conn," a documentary by local filmmaker Jeff Krulik.
Krulik, who made the cult film "Heavy Metal Parking Lot," started spending time with Conn a year and a half ago and has created a half-hour tribute to the musician that, while not exactly explaining why Conn's a legend, conveys his passion for the accordion and his contagious joie de vivre.
Rather than a straight-up biopic, the film simply eavesdrops on Conn as he performs at two longstanding regular gigs (his Central High School class reunion and a local Freemasons meeting).
"More than a documentary, this is a celebration of Merv and his life," Krulik explained during a recent phone conversation. "Will the film answer all the questions as to why he's a legend? Who knows?"
On Sunday, "The Legend of Merv Conn" will be the centerpiece of an afternoon celebrating Conn's birthday; Krulik has also arranged for a 21-accordion salute by way of the Washington Metropolitan Accordion Society, and Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett will present a decree to make Feb. 18 Merv Conn Day. "The big wild card now is getting cake for 300 people," said Krulik, who was on his way to edit more material into the film. "I'll be baking all weekend in addition to everything else."
$5. Sunday, 4:30 p.m. AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center, 8633 Colesville Rd., Silver Spring. 301-495-6700.
-- Ann Hornaday
