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Born July 28, 1915, accordionist Frank Yankovic grew up in the Slovene-Italian section of Collinwood, Ohio. His parents were Andy Yankovic and Rose (Mele). He began playing the accordion when he was 9, and his mother bought his first "piano-accordian" when he was 16. Frank's first band consisted of Albert Naglitch (piano), Johnny Hokavar (bass), Bill Dunlavey (sax), Frank Skufka (banjo), and Lee Novak (drums). They became the most popular band in Cleveland performing at weddings and all sorts of parties.
In 1938 23 year old Frank asked Columbia and RCA to record for them. Both companies turned him down. So Frank decided to produce two 78rpm records under his own "Yankee" label. Heinie Martin took Frank and his band to the Cleveland Recording Company Studios, in Downtown Cleveland. Fred Wolf owned the studio. Since Frank was not thinking of a music career yet, he used "Slovene Folk Orchestra" for his band name. Frank put up all the money for his first records. All 4,000 copies were sold by Mervar's Music Co. of Cleveland in just a few weeks.
The success of these records led to the recording and release of two 78rpm discs in 1939, but this time, they were on the "Joliet" label and the name of the band was "Joliet Jolly Jugoslavs". The band members were the same as for the first releases.
Again, these records were quickly sold out.
Although Frank had achieved some success, he still was short of cash (since he also had a family to raise). Because of this, Frank opened the "Yankovic Bar" in November 1941 and joined the tavern business. He bought a tavern at 528 East 152nd Street. Frank's sister, Rose, and her husband, Tom Milakovich, were his business partners. Everyone thought he was crazy and predicted that his music career would soon end. Because of the uncertain situation Frank Skufka and Lee Novak quit the band. That is why in 1942 Frank had a recording session with Albert Naglitch (piano), Johnny Hokavar (bass) and Joe Miklavic (banjo). The drummer was not replaced.
Frank's band recorded 10 tunes which were released only five years later, in 1947 that was, and the label was Don Gabor's Continental label.
Frank had joined the army in 1943 and when he was on leave for two weeks in the following year he decided to make a few more recordings. On the afternoon of Wednesday, February 2, 1944, Frank called in Miklavic, Naglitch and Hokavar to do a marathon recording session for the "Jolly" label. He recorded 32 songs on 16 78rpm discs at Carnegie Hall Studios of the Cleveland Recording Company Studios. These records were also the first Yankovic recordings with the solovox (electric organ). These recordings were produced by "Heinie" Martin Antoncic and Fred Wolf (who also owned the studios). There was no time for rehearsals and no time to fool around. If they hit a wrong note they just kept on playing. In fact, Frank even brought in Seagram's "to keep the boys happy". If you listen to some of these recordings, they do sound like everyone had a good time! These are the 16 Jolly 78rpm records, which give credit to "Frankie Yankovic's Slovene Orchestra":
Fred Wolf sold all the copyrights and some masters from the 1942 and 1944 cuts to Don Garbor for $3,000. He began re-releasing these from 1948-1949.
Many of these recordings had either the beginnings or the ends chopped off . On the majority the annotation "Arr.: Don Gabor" in between brackets was printed below the song title. Did Gabor mean that he really had arranged the music or just did arrange for the release? In most cases it was Frank himself who wrote the songs. Manipulation was another Gabor's trademark. He even had vocals dubbed in by Scotty MacGregor and Patsy Garrett who of course were not on the original recordings. I am not sure if Gabor did this himself.
Soon after the introduction of the 45rpm disc by RCA, Gabor transferred several titles to 45rpm Continental records in 1949-1950.
Frank Yankovic achieved national fame and was crowned "America's Polka King". He released countless amounts of recordings and hits. After the Remingtons and Masterseal reissues, he recorded several Columbia stereo discs like 'The All-Time Great Polkas' and 'The All-Time Great Waltzes'.
In 1986, Frank was the first polka star to win a Grammy Award. He is the only Slovenian polka artist to have a full length biography and a PBS documentary. Frank was inducted into the National Cleveland-Style Polka Hall Of Fame, and is a big legend in the history of polka music.
Frank passed away on October 14, 1998 at his home in New Port Richey, Florida.
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