Two Italian immigrants, Gaspare Guttovergi and his wife Carmela Collura, left their
small Sicilian village of Prizzi for New York City in 1905. On October 10th of the
following year, Mrs. Guttovergi gave birth to a son, who was baptized Giuseppe
Guttovergi. Although the spelling of the family name was later changed to Guttoveggio, it
was as Paul Creston that Giuseppe rose to prominence. The family lived at several East
Side locations; however, they considered their residence on East 17th Street to be their
New York home. Its environment typified that of many Italian immigrant families:
conservative, unpretentious, industrious, and devoted. ¹

Gaspare Guttoveggio ( 1883-1965) was a short, slender, blue-eyed, handsome man
of immaculate appearance, a man of strength and self-discipline with an infinite capacity
for work. In his efforts to provide well for his family, he did not limit himself to his field of
painting and plastering, but also worked as a butcher and a traveling salesman. ²

Carmela Collura ( 1886-1947) took in sewing from time to time when the family
needed extra money, but she never told her husband for fear of hurting his fierce pride in
being able to support her and the children. She was a beautiful woman with dark eyes and
hair, and was tender, understanding and devotedly concerned with the health and happiness
of her family. ³

Charles Guttoveggio was three years older than his brother Giuseppe (Paul) and had
been born in Italy. He resembled Gaspare in facial features, except that his eyes were
brown rather than blue. ⁴

In his reflections upon his childhood, Creston acknowledged his parents' influence
on his musical development. ⁵ He was introduced to music at an early age, because his
parents appreciated music and were aware that their son was musically inclined. When Paul

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