ArtistInfo

Roko Abramovich

*1909
Arranger of Folk

Tamburitza [Brac ] Roko Abramovich, musician, technician, and arranger, was born in Eureka, Utah, on August 15, 1909. He spent the next 18 years of his life with relatives back in Yugoslavia, and came to the Chicago area around 1927. In Chicago, Roko mastered the farkash brac, and played with the "Selacka Stranka" orchestra, under the direction of Aloise Jaksa. All of the other tambura instruments were added to his credits in the next years to come, and for a time Roko played with the Rotkovich family, filling in on bugarija. During the war, Roko also filled in a number of times on bugarija for Louie Kapugi. For a few years he was a member of the old Yavor Orchestra, and played with the likes of the late Vaso Bukvich, and people like John Krilcich, Steve Vucinic, Tom Stefancic, and Elizabeth Plasay. Later in the forties and fifties, Roko played with the Dave Zupkovich Orchestra, where he was featured on the prima. For those avid collectors of the old 78 records, it is Roko who plays lead on unforgettables like Daniela, Cudo Jada, and the note-perfect Caralama Kolo. In those years, Roko played with Ernie Maty, Carl Schutzman, and Steve Paulich in the Neven Orchestra. Later in the fifties and sixties, Roko merged with Nick Skertich to form the ever popular Veseljaci Orchestra, whose members included Mickey Kusecek, Ray Jankovich, Bucky Bukvich, and Ray Ratz. Roko was married to the late Mary Bertovic in May 1934, and from that marriage they were blessed with two beautiful daughters, Ann Marie and Marlene. Retired from the steel mills but not from music, Roko continues to contribute to the tamburitza field by teaching two junior groups, the Chicago Juniors of the CFU and the Sacred Heart Juniors of South Chicago. He continues to fill in with the Veseljaci Orchestra from time to time, and enjoys spending most of his time with his six grandchildren. Roko has and will always be known to Chicagoans as 'Mr. Brac'.

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