Inducted - Niagara Falls 1978
Joseph Loncarich was born in Bukovac, Dolnji, Croatia, in 1925 and came to Canada in 1928 at the tender age of three.
Joe first joined a tamburitza group in 1933, a group formed at the Croatian National Home, playing a prim. As the group's capabilities improved, they entertained at weddings, picnics, dances, concerts, christenings, etc., in the Hamilton, Ontario area. In 1937, they became the official Croatian National Home Tamburitza Orchestra.
In 1942, Joe performed with the combination dance and concert tamburitza band Zagreb and traveled extensively throughout Ontario appearing at many of the Croatian affairs throughout this area.
Joe Loncarich Night was a sell-out of 600 individuals who had gathered to pay homage to an individual who had spent untold hours bringing enjoyment to so many individuals. Honors were bestowed on Joe by the local government officials.
Joe is a representative of the Croatian Community of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada Folk Arts Council where he made tamburitza music an integral part of any ethnic presentation. He is also active in an executive capacity in the Croatian Folklore Federation of Canada.
One must ask himself where does an individual such as Joe find the time and energy over such a long period of time to contribute so much to the enjoyment of so many people. We are all fortunate that he has.
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