Joe Blumka - Accordionist

Music For All Occasions

A native of Chicago, Joe studied with the late great jazz accordionist Leon Sash, as well as with accordionists Bob Gray, Frank Yakoubek, and Tony DiVito.

Since the 1970's, Joe has played in various locations in Chicago and Washington, including the Chicago Stadium, Kennedy Center, U.S. Capitol, National Gallery of Art, the Corcoran, and for three Presidential Inaugurals. 

For nearly twenty years Joe performed regularly with The Strolling Strings in the Washington DC area.  He also has performed in the opera "Naked Revolution," in community theatre productions of "Fiddler" and "Zorba," and with the Reston Chamber Orchestra.

Joe's repetoire includes standards, broadway show tunes, light classical, jazz, rock, French, Italian, Russian, German, Jewish and other ethnic music.  He is also an accomplished strolling accordionist, playing either solo or with violins.

Joe is a member of the American Federation of Musicians Local 10-208 Chicago, the American Accordionists Association, the Accordionists and Teachers Guild International, and the Washington Metropolitan Accordion Society.

Joe lives in Chicago, Illinois.