Arthur Kropaj Inducted - Detroit 1985
	Arthur Kropaj was born October 27, 1919, in Cleveland, Ohio.  He is the oldest of two children of Stephen and Anna Kropaj.  His father was born in Koprevnica, Yugoslavia, and his mother was born in Cleveland, Ohio.
	Music has been a part of Art's life for more than 50 years, starting with lessons on the violin when he was eight years old, at which time he also started to play brac.
	The first band Art became involved with was 'Jadran' in 1932 led by Rudy Kapps and later with 'Zagreb'.  They played at the Great Lakes Exposition in what they called the 'Streets of the World' in Cleveland's lake front.
	Art went to work at Republic Steel Corporation in 1937 and retired with 40 years of service as a carpenter.  World War II found the army drafting Art in 1941 and he served until 1945.  While in the service he was involved in a band, playing saxophone and clarinet.  Two weeks after his discharge he was back at work and playing bass with Milan Poncevac and the 'Zvonimir Orchestra'.
	At this time, Art met Dorothy Pallone of Pittsburgh.  They were married and blessed with three children, two daughters and a son.
	Art was a member of the Cleveland Tamburitza Symphony and played second brac for the Croatian Radio Hour directed by John Birek and later by Jim Kovacevich.
	Rearranging the group, the 'Zvonimir', John Halek performed on the violin, Emil Monroe on the bugarija, Steve Katalenac on the cello, Art on the bass, with vocals by Vinka Ellison and later Angelina Velkovich.  John Halek soon retired and Julias Peskan joined them.
	In 1965, Art began playing with the 'Mirko Roknich Orchestra' of Massillon, Ohio, playing brac and cello.  With Mirko on the accordion, Rudy Kolich on bugarija, Louis Vuich on bass, they have entertained lovers of Yugoslav music throughout the United States and Canada and have been the featured orchestra on Caribbean cruises.
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