Oh boy, another musical soldier has left us. His name was Dick Contino, and he was a true "rock star" of his day. Many times in this column, you have read about '60s folk icons, '70s classic rockers or '80s hair band heroes. Not this time, however. This time, it's about a guy who made his way to superstardom with an accordion strapped around his neck, and chest hair protruding through his shirt.

Dick Contino was a West Coast heartthrob after he won a talent show in the 1950s. He then went on tour, piling up swooning female fans along the way. While appearing on "The Ed Sullivan Show" about 50 times, he became a national sensation, selling out concert halls all over the country.