Trustees Honor Roll

Bassist (1921- 1996)
Inducted on November 30, 1996

Rising to the highest levels of musical achievement, Stan Slejko never lost touch with his Cleveland-Style roots. Rated the nation's sixth best bassist by "Downbeat" magazine, Stan won a scholarship to the Eastman School of Music from Paramount. In the Navy, Stan survived the bombing of the U.S.S. Franklin to wind up in Ray Anthony's band in the South Pacific. Returning to a local career in 1947, Stan performed with the Cleveland Philharmonic, Suburban Symphony, and Lakeland Community Orchestras; jazz gigs at the Alpine Village; behind stars such as Roger Williams, John Denver, and Carol Channing; with the New York Metropolitan Opera Company; and before four U.S. Presidents with the Johnny Singer Orchestra, Interspersing doses of Cleveland-Style music, Stan cut the "Blue Skirt Waltz" with Frank Yankovic; appeared and recorded with Bob Timko, Georgie Cook, Johnny Pecon, Kenny Bass, and Eddie Platt, among others; repaired and restored bass viols; and taught.