Dennis grew up in St. Joseph, MI and began taking accordion lessons when he was nine years old. He started on a 12-base accordion, then went up to a 48. He competed in weekly talent contests held between the cartoons and the Roy Rogers movie at a local theater. He was a member of his music teacher's accordion band (with 30+ students). This band often played on stage at The House of David Amusement Park in neighboring Benton Harbor on warm summer evenings. Dennis soon lost interest in the accordion when he learned he couldn't join the marching band, but now, 55 years later, he has regained his joy of accordion music.
