National Cleveland Style Polka Hall of Fame and Museum
605 East 222nd Street
Euclid, OH 44123
USA
E-mail: Polkashop@aol.com
Phone: 216-261-3263
Toll Free: 1-800-66POLKA
Fax: 216-261-4134
The Cleveland-style polka is rooted in the folk music and language of Slovenia, and
Ivan Zorman cultivated this heritage more than any other American. Young Ivan performed
in the bands and choruses his musician father started in Minnesota, Michigan, Colorado
and, finally, Cleveland, Ohio. Ivan's immigrant experience and love of his mother
tongue inspired him to write a book of poetry in 1919--the first in the U.S.--followed
by five others and a songbook. Classically trained, he led his own concert orchestra
in the 1920s and was organist at St. Lawrence Church for 40 years. He wrote music
and arranged and translated many songs and poems as choral director of Glasbena Matica,
Triglav, Planina, Zvon and other groups. Ivan was respected by his fellow Americans
and in Slovenia. He was the only Slovenian-American honored with a bust in Cleveland's
Cultural Gardens.
Inducted in 1989
www.polkafame.com © National Cleveland Style Polka Hall of Fame and Museum, 605
East 222nd Street, Euclid, OH 44123, USA.
