It’s only fitting that Dave “Scrubby” Seweryniak would have been born on the Fourth of July — his performances are explosive, his antics, always power-packed.

Growing up on the East Side of Buffalo, Scrubby was exposed to polka music at a very early age and began his musical career at age six, playing the accordion, first by ear, then with formal lessons. Later, in his early teens, after seeing Li'l Wally perform, he was in awe of Wally’s performance, his vocals and concertina playing, and the Chicago-style of music he championed. At age sixteen, Scrubby started to play the concertina — his main instrument for the rest of his musical career.

In 1968, after having formed his own band, The Dave Seweryniak Trio, he was introduced to Larry Trojak and Whitey Ryniec, who, at the time, were heading up a band called Buffalo's Casinos. After a very successful audition, he joined the band which would later be known as the Dynatones. In 1970, after Larry was called to the service, Scrubby took over leadership of the band, a position he held for more than two decades.

Throughout his polka career, Scrubby and The Dynatones have won numerous awards from The IPA, USPA, regional radio shows and others. Scrubby, himself, has been lauded with many male vocalist awards through the years. In 1983, The Dynatones’ “Live Wire” recording — which perfectly captured Scrubby’s live performances — swept the polka awards. In 1992 the Dynatones’ album, "When the Band Plays a Polka," was nominated by NARAS to receive the prestigious Grammy Award. While on a brief hiatus from the Dynatones from 1985-1987, Scrubby was a member of the Sunshine Polka Band and recorded several albums with them.

Scrubby’s performances on stage are true works of performance art and often find him attired in outfits ranging from a muumuu to a Dracula Cape to a banana to a white tuxedo. His antics are unmatched by anyone in the polka field today. Scrubby credits Liberace with his costume-driven performances on stage, citing the flamboyant pianist’s famed comment: "Let me slip into something a bit more spectacular." Scrubby’s love for polka music did not end with simply playing and singing; he also helped form the Buffalo Polka Boosters, Western New York’s premier polka/social organization.

He has always been active in the promotion of polkas and is always willing to lend a helping hand to many in the industry. His wish is to continue to make contributions to the polka industry, either by performing on stage or behind the scenes. He also hopes to expose more and more younger people into the wonderful world of polka music, either by becoming musicians or promoting polkas as an enthusiastic way of life.

In August 1994, a gathering of past and present Dynatones, along with many of his friends and family from the Buffalo area were on hand to see this living polka legend inducted into polka music's elite group.

The International Polka Association's Polka Music Hall of Fame welcomes its newest member, Dave "Scrubby" Seweryniak.