Pawlo Humeniuk

Pawlo Humeniuk was one of the great Ukrainian fiddlers of the early-twentieth century. Although he emigrated to the United States in 1902, he continued to preserve the musical traditions of his homeland. A favorite of immigrants from eastern Europe, Humeniuk provided the musical backdrop for Ukrainian, Polish, Slovak and Hungarian communities. His best-known recording, "Ukrainske Wesilie (Ukrainian Wedding)," released in 1926, sold close to 150,000 copies. Its follow-up, "Chrestyny (Christening)," was nearly as successful. Humeniuk, who began to study violin at the age of six, continued his studies, after moving to the U.S., at the St. Petersburg Conservatory in Florida. A tanner and instrumental builder in his homeland, Humeniuk devoted his full time attention to music in the United States. Together with his band, he performed regularly at concerts, festivals, weddings and the vaudeville stage. Between 1926 and 1940, Humeniuk produced more than one hundred recordings. ~ Craig Harris