Lifetime Achievement Award Recipients

Flaisman, Dick

Dick Flaisman appeared on hundreds of recordings as a featured player on the saxophone and clarinet. In his 56-year career, he performed with many Cleveland-Style polka greats, and is still in demand as a versatile side musician.

He first heard polka music as a child through the wall of his bedroom, behind his grandparents’ Flaisman Tavern, at East 64th Street and St. Clair Avenue, in Cleveland, Ohio. His older brother, Jack was an accordion player. Dick learned the saxophone and clarinet. At age 15, Dick joined Jolly Jack Flaisman’s orchestra. Accordionist Dick Sodja called young Dick about a job with Kenny Bass and His Polka Poppers. Dick performed and toured with Bass for twelve years, recording and singing with the band on Roulette Records.

In the late 1960s, Dick reunited with Sodja in the Almars Orchestra led by Al Markic. Dick was with the group for five years and recorded with Delta International. He also sang and played sax and clarinet on three albums with Cecilia Dolgan, featuring drummer Jack Ponikvar. Dick toured Slovenia in 1971 and in 1972 with the Eddie Buehner Band. He joined Jack in Dick Sodja's band, Fantasia, for 21 years. Dick also performed with bandleaders Bob Kravos and Art Perko and was a regular side musician with Eddie Rodick and Don Wojtila. Dick was honored as Musician of the Year by the Collinwood Slovenian Home.