Dr. William Lausche – Pioneer Category – Inducted 2021

A dentist by profession, Dr. Lausche was active for nearly sixty years in the music field. Dr. Lausche was a brilliant composer and arranger; played the piano proficiently; produced and directed recordings on national labels; taught and rehearsed some of the most famous Cleveland style polka artists; coached singing groups;…

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Ted Lange – Living Category – Inducted 2019

Ted Lange has been active in the polka industry his entire life.  He got his start on drums with his parents’ band, the buckeye polka band at age five, and to date, has performed in 34 states, Canada, Mexico and Europe in addition to appearing on over 40 recordings.  In…

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Roger T. Lichwala – Deceased Category – Inducted 2019

Roger T. Lichwala was born on September 27, 1945, in Indian Orchard, Massachusetts.  As a result of his exposure to polka music in his local Polish community, he began playing drums at the age of 14.  Roger first gained national recognition while playing with the Happy Louie & Julia polka…

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Jackie Libera – Living Category – Inducted 2003

    Jackie Libera of Charlton, Massachusetts is a musician, former bandleader, deejay, arranger, vocalist, recorded many albums, and a featured performer with various bands.   To say that John “Jackie” Libera has been involved with polka music virtually all his life is an understatement.   Jackie began his polka…

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Don Lucki – Living Category – Inducted 2002

    Don Lucki was born July 18, 1933 to Michael and Janet Lucki.  Don’s polka career started as a teenager with the original Li’l Wally Orchestra.  The ensemble consisted of Li’l Wally on the drums & vocals, Eddie Noga on clarinet & alto sax, Casey Siewierski on concertina &…

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Adolph Lesser – Pioneer Category – Inducted 2001

    Adolph Lesser’s colorful career as a musician and entertainer spanned some sixty-five years before his stroke in 1996.  Adolph remains one of the most prominent musical figures in the Rocky Mountain region and is affectionately known as the “Old Master”.   Born in Loveland, Colorado in 1915, Adolph…

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Frank Liszka – Living Category – Inducted 1998

    Polka music speaks to the soul of Frank Liszka like no other music. Since the early 1960s going to local dances, Frank discovered his lifelong ambition, to become a polka musician. Following the examples of his polka heroes, Marion Lush, Li’l Wally, and Eddie Blazonczyk, Sr., Frank set…

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Johnny Libera – Living Category – Inducted 1982

    He was born on April 20, 1919, in Southbridge, Massachusetts, where he still lives.  It seems that Polka music has been a part of his life as long as he can remember.  His singing was inherited from his mother, who was a polka contest winner in Southbridge, twice.…

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Joe Lazarz – Living Category – Inducted 1977

  In the early days of polka music, what Alvin Sajewski was to Chicago … Ignacy Podgorski to Philadelphia … Brunon Kryger to Eastern Pennsylvania … Joe Lazarz was to the Northeast.  Born in 1895 in the village of Swiebodzin, Poland, he started music lessons at an early age, as…

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Marion Lush – Living Category – Inducted 1972

    Marion Lush was born in 1931.  He began playing accordion at the age of 8, then took up drums, followed by trumpet.  At age 16 he joined the American Federation of Musicians.  Appearing regularly on the Ron Terry Polka Show on WGN-TV for eight years, he was voted…

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