In 1948, 28-year-old Olindo Monaldi came to America from Pesaro, a small seaport town on the Adriatic coast of the Marche region of Italy. Olindo was an only child and decided to leave home to become a merchant seaman. However, when he got to Norfolk, Virgina and reached the land of plenty, he decided to jump ship. All he had in his pocket was three dollars, the name of an Italian friend in Baltimore (who had jumped ship in 1939,) and his trumpet.