Daniel J. Perrino Papers, 1966-1977 | University of Illinois Archives

Daniel J. Perrino (1921-2012) was a music educator, saxophonist, and both a faculty member and Dean of Students at the University of Illinois. Born on April 15, 1921 to Dominick and Pietrina DiVincenzo Perrino, Daniel Perrino grew up in the South Side of Chicago. After graduating from Kelly High School in 1939, Perrino started his own jazz band called 62 Inches of Swing. After he was accepted to the University of Illinois as a music major, he became a captain in the Army, serving as a communications officer during WWII. Following the war, Perrino earned his bachelors degree in music in 1948. One year later, he earned his masters degree. Following this, he and his wife, Marjorie Aileen Galutia, moved to Macomb, IL, where Perrino directed the high school band. Following this, Perrino became the director of bands at Quincy High School (IL) and then Urbana High School (IL).

In 1960, Perrino became an assistant professor in the School of Music. In 1967, he became Dean of Student Programs and Services, a role which he held until 1976. In 1969, Perrino established the dixieland band Medicare 7, 8, or 9 (named for the number of band members that may or may not show up for each performance), as a means of establishing a dialogue between faculty and students during the Vietnam protests. In 1971, he helped found Quad Day, which provided space for student organizations to advertise during the first week of classes.

From 1976 until his retirement in 1988, he served as the Associate Dean of the College of Fine and Applied Arts. During his time as Dean, Perrino continued to perform with Medicare 7, 8, or 9, touring across the United States and performing over 2,000 concerts. Perrino died in Urbana on August 17, 2012.