Paul Maricic Inducted - New Orleans 2002
	Most of Paul Maricic's life has been devoted to his love of tamburitza music.  In 1937 he joined the Junior Tamburitzans of St. Louis (Hrvatski Pomladak) and learned to play the tambura (first brac) under the capable leadership of Ivan Lusisic, Sr.
	He went on to organize his first tamburitza group in 1939, called the "Happy Hearts” (Veselo Srce) Tamburitzans. After World War II, he joined the Balkan Serenaders playing tambura with them for approximately seven years.
	From 1960 through 1976, Paul played with the Jakovac Tamburitzans and touched the lives of many different people of many nationalities throughout the St. Louis area.  The Jakovac Tamburitzans produced four recordings, had a weekly tamburitza radio program on Station WEW in St. Louis, and entertained on the Charlotte Peters television show.  They had a 16-week engagement at the famous Chase Park Plaza Hotel in St. Louis with television commercials regarding their Chase Hotel engagement.  They also played for Harry Pope, a well-known restaurateur at his St. Louis Round Table Restaurant and had various engagements at the famous Gaslight Square and DeBaliviere Strip in St. Louis.  For a number of years, the Jakovac Tamburitzans played for the Annual St. Louis Art Museum Ball and had numerous engagements at many St. Louis country clubs.
	In 1980 Paul moved to Johnstown, Pennsylvania, and formed the tamburitza group "Nada”.  They entertained at the Croatian Home in Johnstown and played at a weekly Tamburitza Mass at St. Rochus Church.
	Paul Maricic's playing ability, long playing tenure and his broad appeal to people of various cultures helped to promote and expand the appreciation of our beautiful tamburitza music.
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