Trustees Honor Roll

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Kristoff, Tony

Accordionist and Bandleader (1910)
Inducted on November 24, 1990

After moving to Cleveland from Thomas, West Virginia, button box and piano accordionist Tony Kristoff formed his orchestra in the early 1930s, along with brothers Frank, Benny and John. Among the real pioneers of Cleveland-style polka music, the Kristoff Brothers played without amplification in local Slovenian homes and dance halls, and traveled to West Virginia and Pennsylvania for engagements. In his later years, Tony became a member of the Holmes Hall Buttonaires.

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