“It’s the second hardest instrument to play next to the violin,” said Panto, 80, a Thousand Oaks resident. “Had I known that, maybe I wouldn’t have started playing. But my brother played, and so did my father, so I guess it was a monkey-see, monkey-do type of thing.”

Panto’s career as an accordionist has played out more like a lion than a monkey: he’s traveled the world playing the accordion, recorded music, and appeared on, scores of TV commercials, shows and films, and played private parties for entertainers ranging from Dom Deluise to a guy named Frank Sinatra.

The octogenarian shows no signs of slowing down. In May this year, he played in a 20-piece band backed by a 1,000-member youth orchestra in Thousand Oaks and he will appear on the fourth episode of Larry David’s HBO-comedy, “Curb Your Enthusiasm “which airs October 13.

Panto will soon be entertaining audiences at “The Big Squeeze, “ the 1st Orange County Accordion Festival slated for Sunday, October 11 at the Orange County Market Place in Costa Mesa, the outdoor weekend swap meet at the fairgrounds. He will be joined during one set with a few fellow members of the Accordionaires Club of North Hollywood including Shari Osen of Norwalk who will sing , Zandra Cousins of Santa Clarita, a former opera singer, who will sing and play the spoons and Father Ignatius Militello, 86, of Sun Valley, on the accordion.

Panto, a Syracuse, N.Y. native, says among his earliest memories are watching his father’s fingers dance over the buttons of his accordion. That fascination sparked his interest in the accordion, which he began learning at the age 16. His first teacher was his brother, Tommy, a professional jazz accordionist.

In 1954, Panto moved to Southern California to pursue a music career in earnest.

Known as the “Accordionist Extraordinaire,” Panto can play in a myriad of styles, but favors pop standards songs and folk music, particularly French, German and Italian. Most of the 1,000 songs he knows from memory are pop standards ranging from George Gershwin and Cole Porter to “Volare,” and “That’s Amore.”If I’m asked to play something else I could do one or two, but it’s not my style,” he said. “I’m more of a commercial entertainer than a classical accordionist.”

“I enjoy playing and singing but I’m not like one of these musicians who gets on-stage, plays his or her set and then walks off,” Panto said. “I challenge myself to arouse the audience to participate, whether they’re singing or dancing. I like to work the crowd, give it to people and make sure they’re having as good a time as I am.”

“The accordion really is a tool of happiness, and it has a lot of soul. That’s why the most important part of playing is the bellows, because that is the soul of the instrument, and it’s where you most express yourself.”

Panto will be performing from 2:15 p.m. to 4 p.m. at “The Big Squeeze.”

More information on Panto can be found at www.normanpanto.com.

Along with Panto, more than 40 accordionists and musicians, ranging in ages 8 to 91 will showcase a variety of music styles on four stages to demonstrate the squeeze box’s versatility and cross cultural appeal including Cajun, zydeco, folk, jazz, gypsy, French, German, tango, Russian, Tex-Mex, Latin, blues, rock and much more.

The Festival, which runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., also includes free dance lessons and a section for music related and specialty vendors along with the regular base of Market Place vendors, food operations and other attractions.

Though the talent is rich, the Accordion Festival will not put a squeeze on your wallet. All activities including entrance to the swap meet are included in the price of Market Place admission, which is $2 or FREE with a canned food item to help the Orange County Food Bank. Children 12 and under are free. A complete schedule for “The Big Squeeze” is available at the website www.ocmarketplace.com.

All attendees will have the opportunity to win a FREE Hohner Bravo 48 II accordion donated by Hohner USA. Free sign up to win the accordion, which is ideal for beginners, will be available from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Big Squeeze information booth. The winner, who must be present to win, will be announced at 2:30 p.m.

In its 40th year the Orange County Market Place is held every weekend (except during the Orange County Fair) at the O.C. Fair and Event Center in Costa Mesa. Hours are 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. More information on these events may be obtained by visiting www.ocmarketplace.com or calling 949-723-6660.