Trustees Honor Roll

Champa, Frank

Accordionist (1908)
Inducted on: November 28, 1992

Frank Champa is one of the few musicians who can boast of a career lasting eight decades. Starting with the button box at age five, Frank went on to teach himself the chromatic accordion and was soon making the musical rounds throughout Cleveland. The distinctive Slovenian-style polka sound he brought to weddings and parties was later captured on records he made with his son, Ray. For nearly 30 years, Frank's tavern was a lively meetingplace for dancers and polka personalities, with live music every weekend. Frank and Ray were honored as 1977 Musicians of the Year at their neighborhood Collinwood Slovenian Home.