Guy Klucevsek born 26 February 1927

Guy Klucevsek (February 26, 1947 – May 22, 2025) was an American accordionist and composer known for his fusion of polka, minimalism and experimental music. He stunned audiences around the world with his mastery of the unwieldy instrument in jazz- and world-influenced avant-garde concerts.

Guy Allen Klucevsek, was born in New York City to Godfred Klucevsek and Alyse Hamilton, parents of Slovenian immigrant heritage. He spent part of his early childhood in Saddle Brook, New Jersey, before moving to western Pennsylvania near Pittsburgh at the age of nine following his parents' divorce in 1956, where he was raised by his aunt and uncle in a close-knit Slovenian-American community. This environment deeply immersed him in the traditions of Slovenian folk music, including lively polkas and melancholic minor-key waltzes, which were staples at family gatherings and local events. 

At the age of five, Klucevsek became captivated by the accordion after watching a television performance by virtuoso Dick Contino on The Horace Heidt Show, prompting him to coax his father into purchasing a 12-bass accordion. His initial lessons began soon after with a door-to-door teacher named Joe Macko, who instructed him in polka-style pieces and basic techniques suited to the instrument's popularity in mid-20th-century America. This early exposure laid the groundwork for his technical foundation, blending popular ethnic repertoires with the accordion's expressive capabilities. 

                            Here’s The C&M Waltz” from above CD

                                   

He studied accordion with Walter Grabowski who eventually introduced him to the more difficult free-bass accordion. This allowed Klucevsek to play straight from piano music without transcription. In high school he formed a Slovenian polka band and played tuba in the school band. After graduating from high school, he matriculated to Indiana University of Pennsylvania where he earned a BA in 1969. He pursued further studies at the University of Pittsburgh and graduated with an MA in 1971. He then attended the California Institute of the Arts where he was a pupil of Robert Bernat, Harold Budd, Gerald Shapiro, Morton Subotnick, and James Tenney. 

In 1972, Klucevsek joined the faculty of Glassboro State College now (Rowan University) where he taught until 1976. He was a member of Relâche, a chamber ensemble based in Philadelphia, from 1980 through 1990. He moved to Manhattan in the 1980s where he was involved in the Downtown experimental music scene and first met his long time collaborator John Zorn. His first album, Blue Window, was released in 1986. 

Over his career Klucevsek composed more than 100 pieces, released more than 20 albums and collaborated with Dave Douglas, Bill Frisell, Laurie Anderson, Maureen Fleming, Tom Waits and others. He was also a founding member of the international group Accordion Tribe. Klucevsek also participated in cross-cultural collaborations including with Basque accordionist Kepa Junkera, oud player Rahim AlHaj and Japanese composer Teiji Ito. 

Klucevsek worked on John Williams's scores for several Steven Spielberg films, including The Terminal, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, and The Adventures of Tintin. In 2010, Klucevsek won a United States Artists Fellow award. With a string quartet and Renée Fleming, he performed “Danny Boy” at John McCain's funeral at the Washington National Cathedral. 

While Klucevsek's music sometimes fits within traditional polka styles it moves far beyond this into experimentalism and minimalism. Klucevsek was influenced by Flaco Jimenez and Nathan Abshire which led him to look to integrate his Slovenian-American heritage into his avant-garde music. His polkas would often be in minor keys and played at great speed rather than the genial pace and major key of traditional polkas. Klucevsek was reluctant to label himself and his style but thought of himself as a composer rather than an accordionist. His music was unique in employing the accordion in jazz and improvisational music. 

In 2018, Guy Klucevsek ceased touring and largely stepped back from public performances due to declining health, including faltering eyesight from cataracts. His book, Vignettes (Short Pieces for Accordion), was published in 2020 and he last publicly performed in 2022, but continued making music, issuing Hope Dies Last in 2023. Little Big Top, with Volker Goetze, was released in 2024. Klucevsek died at his home in Staten Island on May 22, 2025, at the age of 78, after battling neuroendocrine cancer for nearly ten years. 

(Edited from Wikipedia & AllMusic)