Ray Dorschner
Ray Dorschner was born in the tiny village of Ziattau, Wisconsin, one of seven children born to Theodore and Berta Dorschner. Theodore owned and operated a sawmill and woodworking business in Zittau and was an old-time fiddler. Dad and sons occasionally played for local parties and dances. Ray started playing button accordion at about five years of age and later switched to piano accordion. Ray attended elementary school in Zittau, high school in Winneconne, Wisconsin, and college at UW-Oshkosh in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. He learned to play clarinet in high school and played in the high school band and the UW-Oshkosh band. While he was in high school, Ray and some friends formed a small band that played for weddings and other events in the area. The name of the group was The Jolly Musicians. He soon learned to play tenor sax, trumpet and tuba.