Violinist, Orchestra Leader. Ziggy Bella, born Julius Margitza, came from a family with deep musical roots. Many of his people used stage names to avoid drawing attention to themselves and their families. At ten years of age, he was giving recitals, and at sixteen, he led his own orchestra. He became famous in Detroit playing at weddings and parties, was a musical director for hotel chains, then in the 1950s he started his Gypsy Picnic Concert. Within a few years, the concerts were attracting national attention and hundreds of people were attending, to see him lead as many as fifty to sixty Romani musicians. He invited musicians from all of the Romani communities to play. This went on for more than twenty years and became one of Detroit’s best known events. He also became a respected classical violinist in the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. He and his orchestra, known as “Bela Ziggy and His Famous Gypsy Orchestra,” released two albums of classic Hungarian Gypsy music, Dreams of Budapest, and Csardas.
Violinist, Orchestra Leader. Ziggy Bella, born Julius Margitza, came from a family with deep musical roots. Many of his people used stage names to avoid drawing attention to themselves and their families. At ten years of age, he was giving recitals, and at sixteen, he led his own orchestra. He became famous in Detroit playing at weddings and parties, was a musical director for hotel chains, then in the 1950s he started his Gypsy Picnic Concert. Within a few years, the concerts were attracting national attention and hundreds of people were attending, to see him lead as many as fifty to sixty Romani musicians. He invited musicians from all of the Romani communities to play. This went on for more than twenty years and became one of Detroit’s best known events. He also became a respected classical violinist in the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. He and his orchestra, known as “Bela Ziggy and His Famous Gypsy Orchestra,” released two albums of classic Hungarian Gypsy music, Dreams of Budapest, and Csardas.
Bio by: Pete Mohney
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