Ray Budzilek
Living Category – Inducted 1973
Ray is the son of Frank and Lottie Budzilek, who
were both born in Warsaw, Poland. He played polka music at about 8
years of age on a toy piano. He then switched to accordion and began
playing at weddings.
 He
organized a musical aggregation in his late teens in his home town of
Cleveland. It developed into a big band sound with a huge following.
Ray’s vocals, his accordion, plus the band members’ versatility, soon
earned the group a reputation as far as the Eastern seaboard. The
out-of-town bookings soon outnumbered the Cleveland dates.
But, the Korean conflict interrupted the meteoric
climb to success. Ray was called to duty and was severely injured while
fighting with the Second Infantry Division. He sustained spinal
injuries. He returned to Cleveland in a wheelchair.
No longer able to play accordion, he learned to
play the clarinet and sax, and put together another orchestra. Bookings
poured in and a session with Capitol Records resulted. “Ice Cubes and
Beer” launched Ray on his way. Next, two albums were cut for Epic. More
records then followed for Roulette and other companies.
In 1966 he was in an auto accident, hit by a
semi-truck on the Cleveland freeway. A piece of glass lodged in his leg
and gangrene set in. Five operations resulted.
Sadly, he is no longer with us. |
