Johnny Pecon

Johnny Pecon (February 3, 1915 - February 28, 1975) was one of the prime polka bandleaders in Cleveland from 1950 to 1975. Instead of a piano accordion, he played the chromatic. He joined Frankie Yankovic's band in 1946. He left in 1949 and shortly started his own group afterwards with Lou Trebar, which lasted until 1974. His son Jeff Pecon has kept the legacy alive by leading his own orchestra since the late 1970s.



Career
Johnny played locally around Cleveland starting in the 1930s, meeting Lou Trebar in 1935. During World War II, he was a Navy Seabee. After the war, him, Trebar, and Yankovic owned the Metropole bar which was located in Euclid. After the bar closed in 1946, he joined Yankovic's band and together they made many recordings. Most notably the two million-sellers, "Just Because", and the "Blue Skirt Waltz".