Lifetime Achievement Award Recipients

Trebar, Lou

Lou Trebar has authored one of the Cleveland-Style Polka's most impressive careers. A true dean of Cleveland-Style music, Lou's credits include over sixty quality years of professional performance beginning at age 13; over forty as a composer, arranger, and adapter of Cleveland-Style music; leading his own orchestras from 1936-1950; twenty-five years as the co-leader, featured accordionist, and business manager of the Johnny Pecon-Lou Trebar Orchestra; co-owning the Metropole Cafe, Cleveland's first significant polka establishment; six years with the Mis-Tre Orchestra led by Joey Miskulin; leading polka tours; and teaching music.

Lou Trebar was a pioneer in adapting and assimilating Slovenian folk music into America's musical mainstream as the first Cleveland-Style bandleader to extend instrumentation beyond the traditional accordion and guitar. The Lou Trebar Orchestra presented multi-part harmony arrangements featuring the trumpet, trombone, piano, saxophone, and vibes along with a "big band" rhythm section beginning in 1936. With their ability to play all kinds of music, the Trebar Orchestra forever set a standard of versatility for Cleveland-Style orchestras.

During his partnership with Johnny Pecon, Lou created a unique obligato style of accordion accompaniment that defies description. Bypassing typical "fills", Lou wove an exhilarating combination of leading musical "escorts"; contemporaneous counterpoint-driving rhythm; and trailing musical "afterthoughts" that added rich dimension and delightful excitement to Cleveland-Style music.

More than any Cleveland-Style musician, Lou Trebar took the initiative and played a leading role in developing the waltz companion to Cleveland-Style Polkas. Lou adapted and arranged Cleveland-Style Waltzes drawing from the portfolios of Strauss, famous American composers such as Victor Herbert and Vincent Youmans, and Dr. William J. "Doc" Lausche, thus earning the title of "Waltz King" during the late 1930s.Lou Trebar has authored one of the Cleveland-Style Polka's most impressive careers. A true dean of Cleveland-Style music, Lou's credits include over sixty quality years of professional performance beginning at age 13; over forty as a composer, arranger, and adapter of Cleveland-Style music; leading his own orchestras from 1936-1950; twenty-five years as the co-leader, featured accordionist, and business manager of the Johnny Pecon-Lou Trebar Orchestra; co-owning the Metropole Cafe, Cleveland's first significant polka establishment; six years with the Mis-Tre Orchestra led by Joey Miskulin; leading polka tours; and teaching music.

Lou Trebar was a pioneer in adapting and assimilating Slovenian folk music into America's musical mainstream as the first Cleveland-Style bandleader to extend instrumentation beyond the traditional accordion and guitar. The Lou Trebar Orchestra presented multi-part harmony arrangements featuring the trumpet, trombone, piano, saxophone, and vibes along with a "big band" rhythm section beginning in 1936. With their ability to play all kinds of music, the Trebar Orchestra forever set a standard of versatility for Cleveland-Style orchestras.

During his partnership with Johnny Pecon, Lou created a unique obligato style of accordion accompaniment that defies description. Bypassing typical "fills", Lou wove an exhilarating combination of leading musical "escorts"; contemporaneous counterpoint-driving rhythm; and trailing musical "afterthoughts" that added rich dimension and delightful excitement to Cleveland-Style music.

More than any Cleveland-Style musician, Lou Trebar took the initiative and played a leading role in developing the waltz companion to Cleveland-Style Polkas. Lou adapted and arranged Cleveland-Style Waltzes drawing from the portfolios of Strauss, famous American composers such as Victor Herbert and Vincent Youmans, and Dr. William J. "Doc" Lausche, thus earning the title of "Waltz King" during the late 1930s.

As the business manager and promoter of the Pecon-Trebar Orchestra, Lou's talents were never more evident than in conceiving the famous "Janez and Lojze" duo. After persuading Johnny to record some "button box" tunes on Capitol, the skit became standard fare in the orchestra's TV and personal appearances. This gem of creative genius rekindled an interest in button boxes that grew through the 50s and 60s, and has virtually exploded since.
Among Lou's original compositions are the "Question and Answer Polka", '"Jeffrey's Polka", "Blue Eagle Polka", "My Ann Waltz", and "Snappy Fingers", as well as "City Hall Polka", "Number One Polka", and "Pleasant Valley Waltz" done in collaboration with Johnny Pecon. In addition, Lou and Johnny jointly composed, arranged, and adapted literally hundreds of famous tunes based on the work of Doc Lausche and Matt Hoyer, commercial "pop" tunes, traditional Slovenian melodies, and modem European composers.
As the business manager and promoter of the Pecon-Trebar Orchestra, Lou's talents were never more evident than in conceiving the famous "Janez and Lojze" duo. After persuading Johnny to record some "button box" tunes on Capitol, the skit became standard fare in the orchestra's TV and personal appearances. This gem of creative genius rekindled an interest in button boxes that grew through the 50s and 60s, and has virtually exploded since.
Among Lou's original compositions are the "Question and Answer Polka", '"Jeffrey's Polka", "Blue Eagle Polka", "My Ann Waltz", and "Snappy Fingers", as well as "City Hall Polka", "Number One Polka", and "Pleasant Valley Waltz" done in collaboration with Johnny Pecon. In addition, Lou and Johnny jointly composed, arranged, and adapted literally hundreds of famous tunes based on the work of Doc Lausche and Matt Hoyer, commercial "pop" tunes, traditional Slovenian melodies, and modem European composers.