Born Domenico Santo Maida on November 1, 1914 in Satriano, Province of Calabria, Italy. As a teenager he immigrated to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where as an adolescent, he shined shoes at City Hall while perfecting his artistic skills.  In 1934 he began painting, at first as a commercial artist in order to make a living. 

He later married Theresa Curcillo, with whom he fathered three children.  After educating his children Domenico redirected his artistic talents fr (showing 500 of 909 characters).