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
Mary Champa led an all-female Cleveland-style orchestra for nearly twenty-five years,
at a time when women were not considered to play in polka bands. She was self-taught
and learned to play the accordion by listening to tunes on the radio. She did play
in jam-sessions at street festivals. She left the Mary Bass Polka Queens to form
the Mary Champa Trio. The Trio played for local events and the polka nightspots.
Mary was a union musician for 36 years. Her catchy rendition of "Annabelle," inspired
Al Tercek to record his hit recording of the song in 1950.
Inducted in 1995
National Cleveland Style Polka Hall of Fame
Trustees Honor Roll Recipient
MARY CHAMPA
1910 - 1987
www.polkafame.com © National Cleveland Style Polka Hall of Fame and Museum, 605
East 222nd Street, Euclid, OH 44123, USA.
