Lou Le Brun was born in Los Angeles, CA in 1930 to Paul and Almina Le Brun. At seven years old her uncle Emery bought her first accordion and lessons. When 12 years old she joined a Los Angeles-based USO troop that traveled on weekends to military bases and hospitals in California and adjoining states. Starting in 9th grade she took monthly lessons from Anthony Galla-Rini for about three years. Under Galla-Rini she became interested in interpreting classical accordion music.
After graduating from high school, she became associated with Prosper Studios in Glendale, CA. She eventually transferred to the Ferraro Accordion Studios which was more lucrative and demanded more of her time.
In the late 40s, the era of the Women's Clubs, Lou began playing in beautiful homes where meetings convened. Often her clients paid $5 which was a lot of money. This is where she discovered her love of the sound of applause and performing. She even learned to tap dance while playing the accordion!
At 23 years young, she moved to Columbus, OH where she taught at a big studio and also played for "dignified" stag parties. A few years later she switched to a long and successful career as a computer programmer in California and eventually settled down in Springfield, MO.
Lou retired by 2001 and resumed entertaining and delighting many audiences with her return as a professional accordionist. She directed the “Accordion Connection,” a local group of 5 accomplished accordionists, in Springfield, MO during 2003-2005. She joined numerous accordion clubs and attended accordion conventions and festivals. Lou is known for strolling/dancing/flirting while performing boogie-woogie tunes. In 2018 one of the highlights of her accordion career was being invited as a guest on a Springfield TV interview show called, “The Mystery Hour.”
You can find Lou Le Brun’s “The Mystery Hour” interview and YouTube performances that were posted by various fans. She was known sometimes as the “Charming Octogenarian Badass Accordion Player,” and now has the honor of being the “Nonagenarian Accordionist.” In 2020 she was honored as an inductee into the American Accordion Hall of Fame of the Federation of American Musicians, Singers and Performing Artists (FAMSPA). She was featured as a cover page guest artist on the April 2021 special edition of “Accordion Stars Illustrated” magazine.
The San Francisco Accordion Club, SFAC, is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt charitable organization whose purpose is to enhance, promote and stimulate an appreciation for the accordion within the membership and throughout the general public.
SFAC in its present form was founded in 1990 as the Bay Area Accordion Club (BAAC) by five accordion enthusiasts. From its 5 original founders, it has grown to currently include over 150 members and families, all with a common interest to enjoy and appreciate fine accordion music. The San Francisco Accordion Club holds many area events featuring wonderful accordionists from their club as well as guest performers.
Lou Jacklich has been a professional accordionist
for 75+ years. He started accordion lessons at the age of 7 under the guidance of his father, Louis G. Jacklich and his uncle, Rudolph Jacklich, who both played the instrument. In 1940, at the age of 10, Lou played solo accordion with the National Institute of Music and Arts annual junior musicians’ concert, comprised of 5000 pupils from the West Coast and Canada, at the Golden Gate International Exposition.
He got his union card at the age of 17 in order to tour with the Vaudeville Orpheum Circuit, and he taught for the Meni-Ketti studio. Lou studied music at San Francisco State College. He joined the U.S. Navy and served during the Korean War.
In the 50's Lou founded the “Lou Jacklich School of Music” with 450+ students and 9 teachers. In the late 50’s he was a pioneer on the electronic accordion and was in high demand with his virtuoso artistic arrangements. In 1959 Lou-Rich Publications was formed by Lou Jacklich and Richard Whitmire in San Lorenzo.
Lou has received local and international acclaim. In 2014 the Accordionists and Teachers Guild recognized Mr. Jacklich in honor of his lifetime dedication to the accordion profession. That same year the San Francisco Accordion Club presented him with the Club’s first lifetime achievement award in recognizing his distinguished teaching and performance career. He was also the Cotati Accordion Festival Honorary Director in 2016.
Currently, Lou Jacklich teaches and is an active member of several local accordion clubs in the San Francisco area. He performs his own jazz arrangements to the delight of audiences.