Alex Meixner is a nationally acclaimed musician, performer, bandleader, educator and a leading advocate of polka music. Formally trained in classical, jazz and ethnic music, Alex has cross-pollinated his versatile playing styles through pop music, funk, jazz and polka. He is an active ambassador for polka music, revitalizing interest coast to coast resulting in sold out shows, renewed cultural interest, and growing mainstream acceptance. For Alex, it’s more than playing energetic shows; it is a mission to…
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Steve Meisner was born into a musical family on April 17, 1961, in Beloit, Wisconsin, and raised in Whitewater, Wisconsin. He began playing the piano accordion at age five, performing soon after on stage with his legendary father, Verne Meisner. Since the age of 16, Steve has earned a living as a full-time musician and has performed with some of the nation’s top artists that include Myron Floren, Frank Yankovic, and Joey masculine. He has…
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Joseph Macielag began his musical career with clarinet lessons at the age of 14. Two years later, he was invited to join the Rydzewski Brothers Trio from Niagara Falls, NY. Influenced by Frank Wojnarowski, Joseph organized a nine-piece orchestra that played its first gig when he was only 18. By the age of 21, he was on the road with his band backing up the famed vocalist, Marisha Data. Later, Joseph’s Pic-a-Polka Orchestra teamed up…
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Since 1968, Marge Machay and her predeceased husband Chuck, owned and operated Polonia Ballroom and Grove. A Chicago landmark, its name was changed to Polonia Banquets in the 1980’s as renovations were made to broaden the business and better accommodate its patrons. For almost a half century, Marge leveraged the facility to help sustain and promote polka music and dancing. Crowds from all over the country would travel to enjoy the top polka talent…
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Richard Midura was born on August 12, 1935, in Chicopee, Ma. Known as “the pioneer of polka clarinet improvisation” by his peers, he lent his smooth clarinet and saxophone mastery to the live performances and recordings of the most prominent eastern style polka bands of his day. Richard’s unique playing style influenced generations of polka clarinetists. Over his career, he toured with Ed Swierand’s Aristocrats, Al Soyka, and Gene Wisniewski, and performed and recorded with…
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Michael T. Matousek was born in 1956 into what would become one of Baltimore’s most prominent polka families. His father Al was regarded as one of Maryland’s most celebrated polka accordionists, and his mother, Connie, was recognized as one of the noted polka dance instructors who helped bring the “polka hop” to Charm City. Because of their influence, at the age of eight Mike was already singing in Polish and dancing the polka along with…
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Born January 25, 1942, Wally Maduzia was the eldest of three sons born to Walter & Jean Maduzia of Chicago, IL. While in grammar school, Wally showed an interest in music. His parents noticed his dedication and perseverance as he practiced the harmonica in his bedroom closet routinely. His father, Wally Sr., was an ardent fan and hobbyist of the concertina and belonged to a neighborhood musician’s club. What could be more perfect…
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Joey Miskulin is one of Cleveland-Style Polkas’ greatest pillars of musical talent. Plying his many skills in a myriad of ways. Joey has enhanced the quality of Cleveland-style music far and wide. In his most memorable role, Joey, the child prodigy discovered by Chicago’s Roman Possedi, became Frank Yankovic’s featured accordionist at age thirteen, beginning an association that would last over thirty-five years. Frank’s insistence that Joey be included in a Columbia…
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The late Tom Mrozinski of Minnesota, leader of The Mrozinski Brothers Aleatoric Ensemble, started his polka career at the age of 11, when he took up the clarinet and started to sit in with his dad’s band at age 12. It wasn’t long before other musicians noticed Tom’s Talent and asked him to join their bands. He often performed with Frank Pastuszak’s Polka Pals and Rodger Stigney’s Polish Brass, two of Minnesota’s popular…
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Joe Marcissuk was born in Hamtramck, Michigan. After high school he joined the Armed Forces spending two years in World War II. In 1946 he married Wanda Kawucha and had three children, Patricia, Ronald and Sandra. In September 1958, he engaged in his first polka promotion. Obtaining sponsorship from the Am Vets, he brought into Detroit Li’l Wally to the Veterans Memorial Ballroom. Because of its tremendous success and the enjoyment which it…
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Rock ‘N’ Roll may be here to stay, but so is polka music, according to Norman Marggraff. Marggraff should know: For over 40 years he has made a living spinning “oompah”-type records on the radio. If the name Marggraff doesn’t ring a bell, perhaps his other name, Fritz the Plumber, will. “Fritz the Plumber, they don’t come any dumber,” Marggraff joked one recent Saturday morning as he broadcast from WYLO in Jackson,…
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The musical story of Verne Meisner began in 1949 when Verne, at the age of eleven, received his first accordion and twelve lessons. Verne attended dances and listened to the music of Frank Yankovic and the Six Fat Dutchmen on his wind up phonograph. In a few months Verne was playing songs by ear with amazing accuracy. In 1950 the first band was formed playing for relatives, neighbors, school functions and weddings. 1957 was…
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Johnny Menko was born in Windsor Locks, Connecticut on June 13, 1915, and lived in Warehouse Point, Connecticut, during his earlier years. At the age of nine, Johnny was already paying the violin with Polish records on a phonograph. Johnny graduated from Enfield High School in Thompsonville, CT, studied music at the University of Kansas in Lawrence, and graduated from Bay Path Institute in Springfield, Massachusetts, where he majored in Business. …
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Bruno’s singing career began early. He learned to sing the “Two Bucks Polka” at the age of five as he heard the song played on the Oskierko Polka Show over WJOB Radio in Hammond, Indiana. During his grammar schools days he tried to play the accordion. He did not care for this instrument and his interest switched to the trumpet. He attended the Roseland Conservatory of Music and got instruction from a private…
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Born Earl McNellis, on a farm in Millville, Minnesota, he attended schools at Hyde Park, Millville, and Lake City. He was a pioneer in television musical programs, starting out in the 1940’s with a vaudeville group known as Uncle Louie and the Town Hall Players. When Uncle Louie left, McNellis took over with parts written around the country bumpkin character, Cousin Fuzzy. In 1947, with vaudeville dying, McNellis started an old time…
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Ted was born in New York of Polish parentage. While attending Commerce High School, he began his first formal study of music at 13, and formed his first band shortly thereafter in 1935. He played violin and trumpet. During the 1939-1940 World’s Fair, Ted played at the Polish Pavilion of Krakow. In 1939, he entered his band in the Academy of Music Band Contest against fifteen other bands of all types. The Maksymowicz…
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Mattie Madura’s musical career began with an old broken violin given to Mattie’s father by an old friend. With time and bits of wire and glue, it was pieced together. When it was finished he gave it to his younger son, Mattie. From then on Mattie was “that boy with the violin.” At the age of nine, while attending St. Helen’s School, he learned to sing while playing the violin. His second love, the…
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