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Representing the International Polka Association at Polish Night: White Sox & Yankees pregame parade on June 13th. Keith Pietranczyk, Laura Bruzdzinski Mateja and Dennis Mikolejeski.
Other officers and IPA members pictured.
Thank you Anna and Bob Borowski, Lindsey Mateja & Katie Krawisz for the photos.It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of IPA Hall of Famer Ray Dorschner. Ray was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1996. Our deepest sympathies to all of Ray's Family and Friends.
www.ipapolkas.com/blog/otw-portfolio/ray-dorschner-living-category-inducted-1996/
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.
In 1949 Ray started his non-musical career by becoming a laboratory technician at The Institute of Paper Chemistry in Appleton, Wisconsin. After 2-1/2 years there, he moved on to be a research and development laboratory technician at Marathon Corporation in Menasha, Wisconsin, which later became part of American National Can. He retired from American National Can Company in 1992 as a Senior Research Scientist.
On October 20, 1951, Ray married Donna Steffens. Ray and Donna have three sons, Randy, Steve and Jim. All of the sons play with the Rainbow Valley Dutchmen. Ray organized the Rainbow Valley Dutchmen in 1950, playing first full engagement at the Cinderella Ballroom in Appleton, Wisconsin. The band has played throughout the Midwest, plaving at all of the great ballrooms and all of the major polka festivals. The band had a weekly radio show in the 1950s, a weekly television show in the 1960s, and made tow performing tours in Europe in 1970s. The band was selected to play at the Minnesota State Fair for two years and recently have added the great Milwaukee German Feat to their annual schedule. They have performed at every Durant (Iowa) Polka Festival since its start. They have also been selected to perform at the National Council for the Traditional Arts Folk Festival in Dayton, Ohio this year. The band has recorded 15 LP albums, numerous singles and a CD (The Best Of Rainbow Valley).
Ray started his music composition career prior to organizing the Rainbow Dutchmen; his first composition entitled Bachelor’s Waltz. He added many more compositions throughout the years, presently totaling more than 60 compositions. Most of the compositions have been recorded by the Rainbow Valley Dutchmen, many have become industry standards and are played by all of the great old-time bands. Many of his compositions have been recorded by these bands including Whoopee John, Babe Wagner, Elmer Scheid, Ernie Coopman, Earl Schmidt, Jerry Schuft, Ivan Kahle, Dean Hansen, Ernie Kucera, and many others. Most noteworthy have been Rainbow Valley Polka, Putzig Polka, Concertina Holiday, Polka Day Polka, Tune Timer’s Polka, Dutch Maid Waltz, and Schmaltzie Music. His style has influenced many musicians and bands. His composition February March was arranged for concert band and has been performed by various area concert bands.
The following are some of the accomplishments of Ray Dorschner and the Rainbow Valley Dutchmen.
• Wisconsin’s first Dutchman style recording band
• Performed in Europe in 1977 and 1979
• Performed at the First International Polka Festival in Austria
• Awarded the Best Band Trophy at the Wisconsin Mid-Winter Polka Festival in 1971
• Selected twice to perform at the Minnesota State Fair
• Recorded 15 LPs and numerous singles including a CD
• Weekly live radio show on WNAM radio in the 1950’s weekly television show on WFRV-TV in the 1960s
• Very first band to perform at the very first Gibbon Polka Festival
• One of the only three bands to have played at every Durant Polkafest
• Performing annually at the great Milwaukee, Wisconsin, German Fest
• Performed at all of the major festivals in the Midwest
• Received a special recognition award in 1989 from the Wisconsin Orchestra Leaders Association
• Awarded the European-American Music Award in 1995
• Selected to perform at the National Council for Traditional Arts 1996 Folk Festival in Dayton, Ohio.Hello! Here's a brand new original polka from The Klaberheads in Cincinnati, OH! Enjoy! Share it if ya like it!Nationally recognized German band, The Klaberheads, have released a music video for their original song “Oktoberfest Brings Out The Wurst.” This fast-paced p...
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