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Smith, Chuck

Accordion and Piano (1911)
Inducted on November 27, 1993

A self-taught accordionist, pianist and organist, Chuck Smith teamed up with musician Jim Kozel in the 1940s to lead a popular Cleveland-Style band with its own weekly radio shows. Chuck joined Ernie Benedict’s Polkateers in 1953, and made significant contributions in the recording studio, on radio and television and in live performances. Throughout Cleveland’s competitive heyday, Chuck also led his own orchestra, jobbed with the town’s biggest names and worked as a soloist. In the prime of his career, Chuck died on the bandstand on New Year’s Eve, 1963. He was a gifted composer, counting among his musical creations, "Walking Hand in Hand," "Disc Jockey Polka," "One for the Road," "Red Barn Polka," "So Long, Darling," "Marlene Waltz," "Beautiful Eyes," and the pop favorite, "It’s You."

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