Stefano Langone signed to 19 Management ‎

[Miguel]

I did not know Stefano came from a musical family.

Ernie Langone wrote special music for Stefano Langone when he started to teach him to play the piano at age 6 because he couldn't reach certain keys.

"His hands were not big enough to play an octave," said Ernie Langone, of Kent, during a phone interview last week about his son, a finalist on "American Idol."

...Music plays a large role in the Langone family history. Stefano is the grandson of the late Don Langone, who owned Langone's Music Store for three decades in San Jose, Calif. Don Langone sold instruments as well as gave music lessons.

"I lived in an apartment above the music store with my father, mother and two brothers," Ernie Langone said. "But my brothers did not pursue music."

Ernie Langone started to play the trumpet at age 7. He has played in numerous bands over the years.

"My father was a music teacher but he farmed me out," Langone said about learning to play instruments. "Music came naturally to me. I played trumpet in my first concert at age 10. I started to play guitar at age 9 and played bass at 13 in a band and started making money."

Langone and his wife, Carrie Langone, have lived 21 years in Kent. Stefano Langone was born in Bellevue.

While Ernie Langone introduced his son to music, he credited the many music teachers Stefano has had over the years for helping his son reach the national spotlight.

"I got to work with him but he's had great teachers," Langone said as he watched his son sing at Emerald Park Elementary School, the then-Meridian Junior High, Kentwood High School and Bellevue College.

Langone also took private voice lessons from Berith Ballard, of Covington.

Shortly after Langone graduated from junior high, he told his parents he wanted to become a professional singer.

"He wants to share his God-given gift with the world and wants to inspire people," Langone said. "He is a young, budding professional. This is not fly-by-night thing for him."

http://www.kentreporter.com/news/118807619.html

His father playing trumpet: