Slovene Folk Orchestra

Frank Yankovic's first enlarged polka group consisted of Albert Naglitch (piano), John Hokavar (Hocevar) (bass), Bill Dunlavey (sax), Frank Skufka (banjo), and Lee Novak (2) (drums). They became the most popular band in Cleveland performing at weddings and all sorts of parties. Already in 1938, then 23 year old Frank Yankovic asked Columbia and Victor to make recordings of his band; both companies turned him down, so Frank decided to produce two 78 RPM records under his own Yankee Record label. It was "Heinie" Martin Antoncic who took Frank and his band to the Cleveland Recording Company Studios, in Downtown Cleveland. Fred Wolf (3) owned the studio. Frank was not thinking of a music career yet, so 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, Ohio, in just a few weeks. #421 Zidana Marela / Oj Zmeraj Vesel #422 Zivlio Slovenci / Waltz Medley The success of these records led to the recording and release of two more 78 RPM discs in 1939, but this time, they were on the Joliet Recording label and the name of the band was Joliet Jolly Jugo-Slavs. The band members were the same as for the above releases.