Encyclopedia Dubuque
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Affiliated with the Local History Network of the State Historical Society of Iowa, and the Iowa Museum Association.
ZAHINA, Clarence
ZAHINA, Clarence. (Dubuque, IA, June 5, 1911--Apr. 1986). Zahina left high school at the age of sixteen to work in a shoe factory. He had taken trumpet lessons as a child and at the age of eighteen added the accordion to his instruments. He took a few lessons from a future brother-in-law at RENIER MUSIC HOUSE, but was mostly self-taught.
Zahina began working at clubs around Dubuque when he was nineteen. In 1933 he joined "Harv Cox and His Cowboys" and was the first live musician to play over Dubuque radio in November that year. His accordion country western melodies were heard three times each week. Between 1933 and 1934 Zahina also played with the "Kostle Hawaiians." In August 1934 WKBB expanded its programming schedule and Zahina played daily from 11:45-noon. In 1935 he joined "Mouller's Accordion Band" which traveled around the Midwest. By 1936 Zahina was featured on the "Musicians' Union Variety Hour."
Zahina's marriage in 1936 influenced his decision to leave the road. He formed "Clarence Zahina's Oldtime Band" (later known as "Clarence Zahina and His Barnstormers") which broadcast from WKBB every week through the year. He also taught accordion at Renier's Music Store and wrote arrangements for the instruments in the band.
From 1945 to 1948, "Clarence Zahina and the Barnstormers" were featured on a weekly radio show on Sunday afternoons over KDTH. During these programs, he began featuring his daughters who studied piano, violin, and voice. The band also performed at MELODY MILL.
In 1950 Zahina opened his own music store where he was joined by some of the band members in teaching accordion and guitar. He also began his own DJ show on KDTH. Within a few years, Zahina's two youngest daughters joined the band which worked seven nights a week.
Zahina's decision to hire a manager in 1956 proved a wise decision. He was soon featured on WISC-TV from Madison, Wisconsin. The show was a great success; he was soon working thirty days a month. The band's audience grew to include television shows on WMT from Cedar Rapids, Iowa and KWWL from Waterloo, Iowa. There were also county and state fairs. Dance hall performances became standing-room-only.
In the late 1950s and early 1960s the band became a regular feature at Tommy Bartlett's Water Show. Zahina liked the Wisconsin Dells so much that he moved his family there and bought property on Lake Delton. He formed a trio and worked various clubs in the area. He also performed on the organ at Ishnala Resort.
(Photograph and information courtesy--Stevens Orchestra Project-http://stevensorchestra.tripod.com/id40.html)