April 6, 2000 .
Polka veteran Lou Trebar will be the man of the hour May 3 when the National Cleveland
Style Polka Hall of Fame holds its spring fund-raiser. The Polka Hall, located at
the Shore Cultural Center, 292 E. 222nd St. in Euclid, will hold its tribute in the
midst of the original home of the Slovenian community, the Slovenian National Home,
6417 St. Clair Ave. in Cleveland. Approximately 15 bands and several additional polka
musicians will be on hand at the event, which will also benefit the Slovenian Home.
The event's main purpose is to serve as a tribute to the Johnny Pecon Orchestra,
of which Trebar was a member for 25 years. The event has special meaning for a number
of people, including polka radio show host Tony Petkovsek. "They were really amazing,"
Petkovsek said of the Pecon-Trebar musical collaboration and friendship. "It was
25 years ago when Johnny was in Euclid Hospital with cancer and five days before
(his death) there was a celebration in his honor, on Feb. 23, 1975. Believe it or
not, there were 3,000 people at Recher Hall (on Recher Avenue in Euclid) that day.
Trebar threw that event in honor of Pecon." Another quarter-century anniversary taking
place is that of the Pecon band that continued on in the wake of its founder's death
— a band led by his sons Jeff and Johnny, Jr. It is a band with which Trebar sometimes
plays. "Pecon (Sr.) and Trebar were one of the greats at the beginning of it all,
along with Yankovic and Vadnal," Petkovsek said. "And Lou has his own inimitable
style. He's known as 'The Waltz King' because he'll play everything from Strauss
waltzes to polka stuff." Trebar, who lives on Neff Road, said he met Pecon in 1935
at the old Spelko's picnic grounds, which were located in Euclid along East 260th
Street. "I knew of him at the time, Trebar said. "He was playing at the picnic. I
was 15 years old." Shortly after, Trebar, an accordionist, put together a trio in
which he also played banjo. When he was 16, he took over the band of Eddie Sims,
a fighter and band leader who went on to fight Joe Louis. "We played together, but
(Pecon) had his own band and I had mine before (World War II)," Trebar said. "He
was a Navy Seabee and I was in the Army." After the war, Trebar, Pecon and Yankovic
opened the Metropole bar at East 55th Street and St. Clair Avenue. "We had that for
two years, then Johnny had the chance to go with Frank Yankovic and he did. That's
when they recorded 'Just Because.' Johnny was with Yankovic for six months or a year
and then he left and we got together. It was a partnership, he took care of the music
and I did the booking." Both Pecon and Trebar are members of the National Cleveland
Style Polka Hall of Fame, but the honor coming May 3 is still an honor to be treasured
by Trebar. "I can't find words to express it," he said of his feelings about the
event. "It's going to be a big thing at that hall. I was born and raised in that
neighborhood, and so was John, in fact." Pecon, 85, was raised on the Lausche property
near East 62nd Street. For Trebar, the May 3 celebration will also serve as a birthday
party. He will turn 80 on May 1. The event will feature strolling musicians and a
performance by the Pecon-Trebar band from 2-3 p.m. The tribute program will begin
at 7:30 p.m., and will feature the likes of Fred Ziwich, Joe Fedorchak, Joey Tomsick,
Force of Habat and Bobby Kravos. Buses bringing fans are expected from Canada, Pennsylvania
and the Greater Youngstown area. Thinking about Pecon, Trebar said, "We were bosom
buddies. He was the best friend I had in my life. It was a musical wedding."
