Earl P. Schmidt (1929-2008)
Jerry Schuft (1936-2004)
Inducted 2004
Earl Schmidt began his musical career playing trombone in his high school band in Norwood-Young America, Minnesota. He organized a little German Band, playing at school functions and other engagements in the area. That same year he played his first professional job with Ivan Kahle. While in The Marine Corps he was accepted into the United States Marine Band in San Diego. In 1960 Schmidt and Jerry Schuft organized the Earl Schmidt Orchestra featuring Jerry Schuft, and the band played ballrooms, on radio and TV, and on tours.
Jerry Schuft of Brownton, Minnesota was widely known throughout the Midwestern United States as a prominent concertina musician. His interest in music began at an early age. He preferred the sound of a concertina over the sound of the button accordion his brother played. The first band with whom he played was with Ivan Kahle. He joined and co-owned the Earl Schmidt Band from 1960-1970, at which time he purchased Schmidt’s interest. Jerry operated the band for the next fifteen years, until he retired in 1985.
