Biographical Information Ron Pivovar Ron grew up within the environment of ethnic music in Western Pennsylvania; this influence began a life-long interest in music. As a youngster Ron studied music on several instruments and began playing in polka and wedding bands at the age of 14. After discovering the unique sound of the button box, Ron bought one through a mail-order catalog and taught himself to play by “ear”. At a music festival some years later Ron met Joe Smiell, a conservatory-trained musician from California. He attended Joe’s Button Box Camp where the instrument was studied formally including the reading of traditional music notation. Since that time Ron has produced 8 recordings of button box music, is active with the Pivovar Trio, and has composed over 100 songs including boarischers, landlers, waltzes and polkas. Ron’s recordings are an original hybrid of European button accordion music styles with a strong influence of Cleveland Style button accordion polka music.