A Sicilian immigrant family’s American dream came true in Waco a century ago: They filled the air with their music from 1908 through 1919.

Known as Alessandro’s Band, the family brass ensemble got its start overseas but moved to the United States in the early 1890s to seek its fortune.

After living in New Orleans for a few years, the patriarch, Nicolo M. Alessandro (1855-1910), and his wife, Anna (1858-1924), took their brood to Pueblo, Colo., for a time before settling in Waco in 1908.

Nicolo M. Alessandro died May 26, 1910, at age 54 and was buried in Holy Cross Cemetery in Waco. The family band was taken over by his son Victor Alessandro Sr. (1881-1971) and employed Victor’s brothers Mike (1890-1969), Tony (1896-1989), Joe (1894-1936), Jack (1886-1929) and Alex (1888-1977).

The band was a fixture at local private parties and civic celebrations for more than a decade. It performed at the Cotton Palace, on Brazos riverboats and at semiweekly concerts at city parks in the summer.

Alessandro’s Band also played in Baylor University’s first homecoming parade, in November 1909.

In addition to leading the band, Victor Alessandro Sr. taught music. He and his wife, Josephine Cecilia Kemendo (1894-1975), welcomed a son, Victor Nicholas Alessandro Jr., on Nov. 27, 1915. The Alessandros moved to Houston in 1919.

Victor Alessandro Jr. was introduced to music when he was young — he reportedly made his conducting debut at age 4 when he led a children’s band — and studied horn with his father.

In 1932 he began studies at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, N.Y. He also studied music at the Salzburg Mozarteum and the St. Cecilia Academy in Rome.

In 1938, he became conductor of the Oklahoma City Symphony Orchestra. He became conductor of the San Antonio Symphony Orchestra in December 1950. His musicians described him as an exacting, often irascible taskmaster of high musical standards. Victor Alessandro Jr. died in San Antonio on Nov. 27, 1976, his 61st birthday, shortly after his retirement.

Sources: Texas Collection at Baylor University, Tribune-Herald files and Jeri Bawden of Port Angeles, Wash., an Alessandro descendant