Gypsy Markoff

Female accordion player who toured the world and performed for many world leaders such as Franklin D. Roosevelt, King Farouk, Queen Farida and King Gustav. In Feb 1943, on her fourth overseas tour, she boarded the ill-fated Yankee Clipper which crashed just outside of Lisbon. Of the 39 passengers aboard, only six survived. She was one of the six. She suffered permanent injuries to her hands but continued to play the accordion and tour.