Trustees Honor Roll

Fortuna, Tony

Accordionist and bandleader,Tony Fortuna did not have to look very far for inspiration to be a polka musician.  His mother Valerie was the only sister of the legendary Vadnal brothers Johnny, Frankie, Tony, and Richie.  But it was Tony’s father Tony who brought home two button accordions from a visit to Slovenia in the 1970s. Tony, his father, and brother learned to play the accordions and the bass.  The three men joined the Holmes Hall Buttonaires in Cleveland.  In 1984, Tony joined Al Markic’s band.  After a four-year stint, Tony put together his own orchestra, and performed until 2004.  Tony is a founder of the National Cleveland Style Polka Hall of Fame.  His major contributions were designing the former Museum and the interior design of the Museum at its present location. Tony also designed the stage sets for the initial Awards Shows.