Joe Zegarowicz
Hall of Fame – 2004
Joseph Zegarowicz (1926-2007) of South Milwaukee, Wisconsin played the concertina for over 60 years. He started performing with the concertina at the age of 16 in Barlin, France. He took lessons for one year in 1942 and managed to play during the war from 1942 to 1945.
Joe played every weekend for three and a half years with a group called El Paradiso. From 1949 to 1952, Joe lead a group called Joe et son Ensemble and played dance halls, balls, weddings, and other events. In 1952, Joe left Europe and settled in South Milwaukee and started playing with Melvin Gartmann and Harry Dombrowski playing parties, weddings, anniversaries, bars, and dance halls.