Joseph (Joe) P. Fedorchak – Living Category – Inducted 1997

  *Deceased in 2012* Respected as a staunch advocate of Slovenian and the Cleveland Style Polka Music, Joe has performed throughout the continental United States, Canada, Hawaii, Mexico and Alaska. He is recognized for his consistent and unselfish support for efforts toward the further enhancement and perpetuation of the Cleveland style polka movement. He has been instrumental in enlistment of other musicians into the Cleveland-style polka movement and has provided valuable support and assistance.  …

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Jerry Darlak – Living Category – Inducted 1997

    Jerry M. Darlak has devoted his whole life to the promotion of polka music. In his many years as a working musician, he has performed and recorded with the nation’s most prestigious polka orchestras. His love of polka music is indisputable. He continued this tradition with his own band and work as a promoter.   All too often, musicians like Jerry Darlak are overlooked for honors that are bestowed upon the industry’s most…

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Chet Gulinski – Pioneer Category – Inducted 1997

    The First Chet Gulinski Show was broadcast at 7:30 p.m., Sunday, November 5, 1955. Since that time, many thousand Chet Gulinski Shows were broadcast. Approaching its 43rd anniversary, The Chet Gulinski Show was broadcast Sundays at 9:30 a.m. and at 11 a.m. over WNDZ (750AM), a 5,000-watt station that can be heard in Chicago, all its suburbs, and large cities like Kenosha, Racine, Milwaukee, Rockford, South Bend, covering an area of approximately 200…

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Joe Rock – Deceased Category – Inducted 1997

      Joe Rock, drummer boy extraordinaire, rising as perhaps one of the finest big band recording orchestras on the East Coast, began his career in the music field in the late 1930’s, in the greater Waterbury area, as the drummer in the Herb Lukowski Orchestra. His love and desire to excel in the field of polka music grew as time progressed. In the early 40’s due to the lack of progress within the…

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