David “Nigel” Alan Kurdziel was born on May 2, 1963, in Buffalo, NY. He was first exposed to polka music at church picnics and from polka shows. Nigel’s cousin, Gino Kurdziel, played for the renowned G Notes. His older brother Mike was a drummer, and his younger brother Kevin played accordion. Nigel started playing guitar at the age of 11 and joined his first band, The Melody Men, at age 12, playing bass with his brother on drums. In 1981, he graduated from the Buffalo Academy of Visual and Performing Arts, where he took music theory and performance classes, played coronet and piano, and auditioned to play upright bass with the orchestra. Nigel considers Vinny Horoschok, Vinnie Bozzarelli, Eddie Blazonczyk Sr, Stas Mikruit, and Joe Dudek to be among his polka music influences.

Nigel’s 48-year polka career encompasses the following milestones:

• Joined Steel City Brass 1978 replacing Ron Urbanczyk. Played for about two years.


• Performed and recorded with The Dynatones from 1979 – 1984.


• Played with the reformed Dynatones from 1988 – 1990.


• Joined and performed with John Gora and Gorale from 1991 – 1994.


• Moved to Grand Rapids, MI in May of 1994 and performed with the Michigan Connection from 1998 - 1999.


• Recorded and played with Frank Borzymowski & Friends during the summer 1999.


• Joined Gerry Kaminski’s Merry Makers in 2001


• Started filling in with Eddie Blazoncyk’s Versatones in 2001 and eventually joined full-time until the band ended in 2011.


• Joined Polka Network in 2012.

Nigel filled in with many other bands over the years, including the Krew Brothers, Skylarks, The Knewz, Happy Richie, and Wanda & Stephanie, to name a few. He also performed on over 70 recordings to date (see Discography below) most notably, Live Wire by The Dynatones and the Grammy Award-winning album, Another Polka Celebration by Eddie Blazonczyk’s Versatones.

Despite his busy musical career, Nigel found the time to help young, aspiring polka musicians. He provided musical lessons to Maria Vinecki, who went on to perform admirably with the talented Box On group. He also gave lessons to Kyle Kohan’s brother, Chris Stamer. Nigel has worked for the greater good of polka music by faithfully performing the important duties of an IPA Elector for over 34 years.

DISCOGRAPHY

ALBUMS / CD’S

1982         DYNATONES – LIVE WIRE

1982         DYNATONES – INTERNATIONAL POLKA FEDERATION LIVE

1983         DYNATONES – FIFTEEN & NINE

1984         BRASS WORKS – IT TAKES PEOPLE LIKE YOU

1985         SUNSHINE – HEAT

1985         THE BOYS – THE BOYS JUST WANT TO HAVE FUN

1985         STEEL CITY BRASS THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS

1986         SUNSHINE – PUT SOME SUNSHINE IN YOUR LIFE

1986         EDDIE BLAZONCYK’S VERSATONES – LET’S CELEBRATE AGAIN

1987         DYNATONES – INTERNATIONAL POLKA FEDERATION LIVE

1987         POLKAS FOR CHILDREN

1987         EDDIE BLAZONCZYK’S VERSATONES – ANOTHER POLKA CELEBRATION

1987         AMPOL AIRES – ONE MORE TIME

1987         JERRY & AL – SQUEEZBOX SERENADE

1988         EDDIE BLAZONCZYK’S VERSATONES – 25^th ANNIVERSARY

1988         DYNATONES – POWER OF TEN

1989         EDDIE BLAZONCZYK’S VERSATONES – GOOD OL' DAYS

1989         DYNATONES – LIVE WIRE II

1990         A KOLBERT SAMPLER

1990         JERSEY POLKA RITCHIE – MR. CONCERTINA

1990         DYNATONES – WHEN THE BAND PLAYS A POLKA

1990         EDDIE BLAZONCZYK’S VERSATONES – EVERYBODY POLKA

1991         EDDIE BLAZONCZYK’S VERSATONES – ALL AROUND THE WORLD

1992         EDDIE BLAZONCZYK’S VERSATONES – ALL AMERICAN COUNTRY FAVORED POLKAS

1992         AN IMMIGRATION STORY

1993         WANDA & STEPHANIE – POLKA DATE

1993         HAPPY RICHIES POLKA BAND – BORN TO POLKA

1993         LIL’ WALLY – NATIONAL HITS (2 CD’s)

1993         STEEL CITY BRASS – OUT OF CONTROL

1993         JOHN GORA & THE GORALE – TAKE A SPIN

1993         EDDIE BLAZONCZYK’S VERSATONES – A NEW BATCH OF POLLAS

1994         EDDIE BLAZONCZYK’S VERSATONES – ALWAYS, FOREVER AND A DAY

1995         DYNATONES – VINTAGE POLKAS

1995         EDDIE BLAZONCYK’S VERSATONES– BETTER THAN EVER

1995         POLISH VILLAGE CHRISTMAS

1996         EDDIE BLAZONCZYK’S VERSATONES – MUSIC, MUSIC, MUSIC

1998         EDDIE BLAZONCZYK’S VERSATONES – SHAKIN' NOT STIRRED

1999         EDDIE BLAZONCZYK’S VERSATONES – SMOKIN’ POLKAS

1999         CHRISTMAS IN CHICAGO (2 TRACKS)

1999         FRANK BORZYMOWSKI & FRIENDS – I PLAYED POLKAS

2000         EDDIE BLAZONCZYK’S VERSATONES – ANOTHER DAY AT THE OFFICE

2001         EDDIE BLAZONCZYK’S VERSATONES – LIVE AND KICKIN’

2002         EDDIE BLAZONCZYK’S VERSATONES – MY FATHERS SHOES

2002         EDDIE BLAZONCZYK’S VERSATONES – PASSION FOR POLKAS PBS DOCUMENARY (CD/VIDEO)

2002         GERRY KAMINSKI’S MERRY MAKERS – TOP SHELF POLKAS

2003         EDDIE BLAZONCZYK’S VERSATONES – VERSALICIOUS

2004         EDDIE BLAZONCZYK’S VERSATONES – HIGHWAYS AND DANCE HALLS

2005         EDDIE BLAZONCZYK’S VERSATONES – UNDER THE INFLUENCE

2006         EDDIE BLAZONCZYK’S VERSATONES – BATTERIES NOT INCLUDED

2006         STEPHANIE – I CAN HEAR YOU

2006         EDDIE BLAZONCZYK’S VERSATONES – POLKATIME 20 OF THE GREATEST HITS

2006         EDDIE BLAZONCZYK’S VERSATONES – GREATEST HITS VOL II

2006         EDDIE BLAZONCZYK’S VERSATONES – CRACKER BARREL ALBUM COMPILATION

2006         EDDIE BLAZONCZYK’S VERSATONES –

2007         MICHIGAN CONNECTION – POLKA PARTY TIME

2008         STEPHANIE – MEMORIES

2008         BRASS EXPRESS – CLASSIC TRACKS

2008         EDDIE BLAZONCZYK’S VERSATONES – SLIPPERY WHEN WET

2010         STEPHANIE – THIS IS POLKA MUSIC

2012         FRANK BORZYMOWSKI & FRIENDS – SAX IS GOOD FOR YOU

2015         SCRUBBY AND SUNSHINE – LIVE

2017         THE PROJECT – 1st AND TEN

Singles

1977         STEEL CITY BRASS – LOVE SICK / THE SHOE GOES ON THE OTHER FOOT

1980         DYNATONES – WHERE WERE YOU / ONLY YOU

1980         STEEL CITY BRASS – ABRACADABRA / YOUNG MAIDENS

1982         POLK–E–NOTES – LILLIANS / COALMINER OBEREK

1981         BUFFALO’S PO STARO KRASKU – FORTUNES OF WAR / SHOULD HAVE STAYED SINGLE

1982         SKYLARKS – CONCERTINA / BOYS AND GIRLS

1982         BUFFALO BRASS – BRIGHT STAR / UNDER THE OAK TREE

1985         SUNSHINE – HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOHNNY / ZOSIA

1986         SUNSHINE – LIVE – WHO STOLE THE KISZKA / NO GONNA DRINK

2007         EDDIE BLAZONCYK’S VERSATONES – CHICAGO BEARS SUPERBOWL XLI TRIBUTE