Duke Marsic

Bandleader, Clarinetist and Saxophonist b. 1925, Kamnik, Slovenia d. December 27, 2020 Introduced a new style of Slovenian dance music to North America with his band, the Happy Slovenians. He was one of the few Cleveland-style polka artists to build a professional career in music, touring and recording as a saxophonist with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra under Warren Covington. Excelled on the sax but could also play the clarinet and flute and arrange music. That versatility made him valuable to legendary Cleveland-style polka bands led by Kenny Bass and Johnny Vadnal at the height of their national popularity. Studied music at the school of the Glasbena Matica Society during the wartime occupation of the city. In 1941, joined a dance band led by classmate Pavel Kroupa playing jazz and popular music. The group appeared on the radio and competed in a battle of the bands opposite the orchestra of Bojan Adamič, soon to become a leading figure in Slovenian pop, jazz and big-band. Emigrated in 1949 to the United States to Cleveland, Ohio, and enjoyed a long career as musician, restauranteur, TV personality, and radio broadcaster.