Pete Kunovich Inducted - Pittsburgh 1988
	Pete Kunovich was born on May 19, 1919, in Youngstown, Ohio, to the late Louis and Mildred (Lackovic) Kunovich of Plesivica, Croatia.
	Next to the youngest of nine children, he completed his elementary education at Sts. Peter and Paul Parochial and Stambaugh schools.  At the age of 12, Pete started to take lessons on the Hawaiian guitar, but times being very difficult, the family could not afford to have him continue.  In April of 1933 he joined a Croatian club with some other teenagers with thoughts in their mind of organizing a tamburitza orchestra.  They did, and with twelve others, they were being instructed by Professor John Rozgaj.  In his third year at Chaney High School, Pete's father passed away.  Being the oldest child at home, he had to leave school and go to work in the federal WPA program for two years.
	In 1939, Pete went to work for the Carnegie Illinois Steel Company.  He retired in 1980 as a motor inspector with 41 years of service.  Due to a physical disability and unable to enter military service in World War II, he played the prim and taught the group Javor of Warren, Ohio.
	In 1953 and 1954 he played second brac with the Joe Marmilich orchestra.  He joined Musicians' Local 86-242 on October 22, 1954.  Pete, with his brother Lou on the cello, and Gus Rogan on first brac, played together for many of the 54 years he has played the tambura.  They have played for three tamburitza Extravaganzas, various radio programs in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and a Caribbean cruise in 1980.
	They have cut eight LP albums over the years and have performed at many clubs, weddings, picnics, parties and many other affairs.  They have not forgotten many older friends in nursing homes and hospitals and still entertain the elderly giving them many happy hours to brighten their remaining days.  In 1983 at the Tamburitza Extravaganza in Chicago, Illinois, Pete and Gus Rogan were awarded the '50 Year Achievement Award' and were given a standing ovation.
	In October of 1941, Pete and Louise (Cvetan) were united in marriage.  They had two children, Dr. Robert Kunovich of Columbus, Ohio, and a daughter Dianne, now deceased.
	Pete and his wife sing in the choir at Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Youngstown, Ohio.  In 1979, Pete began to compose music and has many copyrights to some of his songs.  He composed the theme song for the senior Od Srca Tamburitzans, 'Od Srca Mi Sviramo'.  Pete and Louise are members of this group also.  He has written 13 other numbers, two of which are on their last 50th anniversary album.  He has also arranged countless numbers for the tambura music.
	Pete conducts a group of 25 adults and also a beginner's class of nine who meet once each week.  He plays all tambura instruments except the bass.  At the present time, he plays the bugarija along with his brother Lou on the cello, Charlene Harrison on second brac, Ralph Filek on the bass, and Gus Rogan on first brac.
	Pete hopes that his 55 years of playing, composing, and arranging have helped in some small way toward the preservation of our beautiful tamburitza music.  He has been one of the few people willing to give assistance to the newer groups of tamburitzans and has truly shown the spirit of preservation of our great tamburitza music.
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