Guy Klucevsek (February 26, 1947 – May 22, 2025) was an American accordionist and composer known for his fusion of polka, minimalism and experimental music. He began playing accordion at age five and later studied at the California Institute of the Arts. Klucevsek taught at Glassboro State College before emerging as a figure in the Downtown New York experimental scene. Over his career, he composed over 100 works, released more than 20 albums, and collaborated with artists such as John Zorn, Tom Waits, Laurie Anderson, and Bill Frisell. He was also active in cross-cultural collaborations and contributed to several John Williams film scores. In 2010, he received a United States Artists Fellowship. He stopped touring in 2018 due to illness and died in 2025.
Life and career
Klucevsek, who was of Slovenian heritage, was born in New York City on February 26, 1947, and raised in New Jersey and outside of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. At the age of five he began playing the accordion after seeing a performance by Dick Contino on television. He studied accordion with Walter Grabowski who eventually introduced him to the more difficult free-bass accordion. This allowed Klucevsek to play straight from piano music without transcription. In high school he formed a Slovenian polka band and played tuba in the school band. With a string quartet and Renée Fleming, he performed “Danny Boy” at John McCain's funeral at the Washington National Cathedral.