Jörg Wolters, Ticino’s Most Famous Accordionist, Passes Away

A legend in Lugano streets for the past 30 years. RIP

[EN Article Translation]:
Accordion player Jörg Wolters has passed away. RSI reports that police visited his trailer in Taverne yesterday, Saturday. His death is believed to have occurred from natural causes.
Jörg, originally from Germany, was born in 1959 and was a well-known figure in Ticino, recognized by his top hat and red beard. He had been active as a street artist for nearly 30 years.
Corriere del Ticino recalls that in 2018 he was chosen as the “face” of Lugano’s autumn festival.
In 2014, he made headlines when he was playing in Via Nassa during Christmas and was asked to leave by the manager of a luxury boutique. This led to a wave of solidarity and, eventually, an intervention from the city council, allowing him to perform again on that street.
In 2021, Jörg explained to the magazine Cooperazione the reason behind his choice to live in a trailer at the Taverne campsite: “A minimalist and essential decision. I don’t have a conventional job, and I don’t know how much I’ll earn when I go out in the morning. Living at a campsite is affordable, and I like the idea of not having financial worries,” he said.
He went on to add: “In my ‘previous life,’ I was in a relationship, living in a regular house. Now, I’ve turned the page: living in a trailer helps you detach from the hustle and truly live in the moment. I don’t even mind the inconveniences. Too much snow? Fine, I just won’t go to work that day.”