Jerry Banina Inducted - Reno 1998
	My father, Joe Banina, was born on Veli Iz, an island in Dalmatia.  He never heard a Tambura until he settled in East Chicago, Indiana.  The first time he heard Tamburitza music he fell in love with the sound and decided he wanted to learn and to play with a group.
	He talked a few other guys in the area to join with him.  They bought "Farkas" Tamburitzas, hired an instructor, John Rozgoj. They called themselves "Tamburaski Zbor Zvijezda" and that was the beginning.
	So, of course I heard that sound from day one.  The "Old Timers" called us the "Scrap Gang".  In 1940 we made our first official debut.  I was 12 years old.
	In grade school I joined the band.  Learned to play the trumpet, trombone, and baritone horn.  I became interested in American music and learned to play the guitar and bass.  In high school I had a 12-piece dance band, and also played with a Polka band for awhile.  I also played with a Romanian orchestra for a number of years.
	In 1950 I was drafted into the Army and played with the 28th Division band.  When I returned home, the "Zvijezda" name was changed to "The Star Serenaders" -- that's another story.
	The four of us, Deak Raffkin (my uncle), Harry Zuvich, and Steve Deanovich began a fantastic musical association that lasted for nearly 40 years.  After Deak passed away, we chose Dave Nanista to take over for him and we are still strumming away.  In the 80's, I was an instructor for the Indiana Harbor Junior Tams for five years.  I wrote my own arrangements.
	Now I am an assistant director for the Hoosier Hrvati Tamburitza Orchestra of Northwest Indiana, under the capable leadership of Edo Sindicich.
	With all my experimenting with different music forms, I never gave up on my tamburitza music ... I love the sound, just like my Dad.
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