Vaso Crlenica
Inducted - Niagara Falls 1978

The colorful career of primas Vaso Crlenica spans some 68 or more years of entertaining.  Considered by those in the know to be the most outstanding, accomplished technician in the field of tamburitza.  This fact can be substantiated and verified by this recordings.  Who can forget his renditions of "Hora Stacato" and "Hedje Kati" or the difficult "Flight of the Bumble Bee" as performed on the prima with the accompaniment of his brothers Steve and Paul with an outstanding cello player whom some say was Vaso himself dubbing in the difficult part.

Mr. Crlenica's achievements are so vast one doesn't know where to begin.  The music of Vaso and his brothers had them playing at prestigious events such as the Hollywood Bowl and the Laguna Art Festival to name a few.

A very impressive list of movies are also to the credits of Vaso.  Starting with Storm at Daybreak, and followed by Cat People and a long list of movies with the late Nelson Eddy, Balalaika and Chocolate Soldier among the few.  The Razors Edge with Gregory Peck and Song to Remember with Cornel Wilde followed by several Walt Disney films and The Patton Story.  Blood and Guts and Lawrence of Arabia and who can forget the haunting theme of Dr. Zhivago as played by Vaso on the prima and backed up by a 150-piece orchestra.

At age 74, when most men are out to pasture and retired, Vaso Crlenica continues his love of playing the prima and ardently pursues his love of tamburitza.  Along with his two brothers and two nieces, Stephie and Linda, the daughters of brother Steve, the Crlenicas continue in the tradition of past tamburasi guided by the melodious strains of Vaso Crlenica's prima.
 
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