Trustees Honor Roll

Ujcich, Rudy Vincent

Vocalist and Musician (1911-1993)
Inducted on November 27, 1993

With his dual Slovenian-Croatian heritage, Rudy Vincent Ujcich bridged the gap between traditional Croatian melodies and Cleveland-Style Polkas. Best known for his rich Croatian vocals, Rudy was also a talented guitarist, leading his own Cleveland-Style orchestra for nearly 20 years and working with many of Cleveland’s finest. Comfortable in either musical setting, Rudy recorded one vocal album backed by Tamburitzans and two with Cleveland-Style bands. Immortalizing his most popular hit, Rudy sang "Blues Eyes Crying in the Rain" on a 1965 Columbia recording with Frank Yankovic. An accomplished classical musician, Rudy won a scholarship to the Cleveland Institute of Music and performed with the Men’s Singing Club at Severance Hall, the Cleveland Tamburitza Symphony at Blossom Music Center, the Cleveland 500, and the company at Karamu House