Andrew (Andy) Fenus, along with his brother Steve Fenus, organized The Trel Tones polka band in 1954. Since that time the band has performed at venues across the United States and Canada and appeared on numerous radio and TV shows in Ohio and Pennsylvania, including a three-hour special about polka music on Public Television. The Trel-Tones recorded six albums on such renowned record labels as Bel-Aire of Chicago, IL, WRS of Cleveland, OH, and WAM…
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Carl Finch was born in Texarkana, Tx on November 29, 1951. He began performing at the early age of 4 years old by singing in church choirs and later spent his high school years forming and playing in rock bands in northeast Texas. Carl minored in music at the University of North Texas and formed Brave Combo in Denton, TX in 1979. This began a 35-year legacy of playing original and innovative arrangements of…
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John (Foo) Furmaniak (pictured at right with daughter Christy), was born on August 7, 1948 to Thaddeus (Ted) and LaVerne Furmaniak. He is the oldest of their five children. John became infatuated with the accordion at the young age of 10 when a representative of the Mort Herald Accordion School of Music appeared at his grade school and demonstrated the sound of the accordion. John came home from school that day and asked…
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Eddie Forman, musician, educator, composer, arranger and polka band leader of the Eddie Forman Orchestra, known to many as EFO, has been promoting polka music since 1968. Eddie was born on June 3, 1953 in Hadley, Massachusetts, His parents, both of Polish descent, exposed him to polka music at an early age. They were strong believers in keeping the Polish traditions and Polish music alive in the family. As a young boy, Eddie…
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*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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The 1990 honorees to the Living Category of the Polka Music Hall of Fame were two individuals who have both in their own ways made great strides in the promotion and advancement of polka music. Myron Floren is a highly recognized name in the entertainment world besides his relationship to polka music. He was born and raised on a farm in Day County, South Dakota. His interest in the accordion began after…
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Born in 1908, Victor “Fezz” Fritsche started his own band in 1940. He used seven men mostly, sometimes three or four. In the early 50’s, he had the “Fezz Fritsche Show” on KNUJ radio in New Ulm, Minnesota. He called his orchestra the “Goosetown Band”. Fezz sprung out of Goosetown, the area that New Ulm sonamed because geese roamed free on the streets and yards in pioneer days. He profited from his band and…
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Joe was born in Mt. Pleasant Township, Pennsylvania, on February 26, 1931. He graduated from Hurst High School in 1948. Joe was always attracted to Polka music and it is easy to understand why he would become an outstanding Polka promoter. With a strong determination and the use of his personal he was able to bring Polka music into an area that was relatively foreign to this type of music. Beginning in 1951, he…
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