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Jovo Crljenica Inducted - Youngstown 1973 |
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Jovo Crljenica, the father of the famed Crljenica Brothers, had just completed a concert and vaudeville tour with his "Gorski Vienac" (Mountain Wreath) Tamburitza Orchestra in 1910. He was joined by his wife Mara and two sons, George (age 8) and Vasil (age 6), who had just arrived from Europe. The two sons were soon to begin their musical training. Soon the boys began playing jobs with their father. After many hardships the orchestra wound up entertaining in a hotel resort in Hot Springs, Arkansas. |
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George, the oldest son, was playing brac with the combo in addition to his violin studies. He went on with his studies in New York and was replaced in the group by his sister, Mildred, and brother Steve was being groomed for the bugaria. In 1924, while teaching at the South Bend Conservatory of Music, George suddenly became ill and died at the age of 22. He was laid to rest in the Oak Hill Cemetery in Gary, Indiana. |
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The heartache of having lost his first born was more than Jovo could bare. The entire family moved to California with the exception of Vaso, who stayed in Gary and taught in addition to playing with the Soko orchestra. |
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Vaso, then joined the family in California and after a short while the Crljenicas made a breakthrough in the movie industry. 1937 saw Jovo Crljenic retire from active playing. His sons continued by playing in such movies as "Balalaika" and "The Chocolate Soldier" and many others. The orchestra was disbanded for the duration of World War II, but by 1946 they were back at it, with such movies as "Lawrence of Arabia", "Dr. Zhivago", and "Patton". |
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Jovo Crljenica, during a Christmas party in 1968 sat in with the orchestra in his old spot on bass. |
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Jovo passed away on May 14, 1969, and was followed by his wife, who died only a few short hours later. |
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