Dee-Dee Jasiewicz Ogrodny has had polkas in her heart since she was born, and she has been a fixture at polka events since she was 18 months old, first with her Mom, Josephine Jasiewicz, and with her Dad and brother, Henry and Henny Jasiewicz (both Inductees of the IPA Polka Music Hall of Fame). Dee-Dee started to sing with the Bell Hops’ “Hopettes” and then solo with the Bell Hops when she was 9 years…
Ted (Thaddeus) Okrzesik was born in Chicago on July 29, 1937, to Joseph Okrzesik and Emily Scieszka Okrzesik. Ted’s dad played the violin and both of his parents enjoyed polka music. His mother said Ted spoke fluent Polish in his early years. Ted was the youngest of three boys. His brothers were Joe and Bob, who also entertained in the polka field. He attended St. Pancratious grammar school and Holy Trinity High School, where…
As a toddler, Joe Oberaitis was already the polka promoter herding the neighborhood kids together and making them listen to his polka records. By kindergarten, Joe was taking accordion lessons. At age seven, he had already appeared on the local television talent show, “The Gene Carroll Show,” playing Eddie Zima’s “Meet The Missus Polka,” which he learned by ear. Through grade school, he regularly played at school functions and then graduated on to Rubbermaid Parties.…
Ladislav John Ostanek was born of Yugoslavian parents on April 20, in Duperquet, Quebec, an only child. When he was five years old, his family moved to the St. Catharines area. At the age of nine, Walter began playing the Button Diatonic accordion. Without formal training, he progressed at a remarkable rate. When he was twelve years old, Walter received his first piano accordion. Four years later, in 1951, Walter Ostanek formed his…
There can be little doubt about Eddie Oskierko being a pioneer in radio and in the early formative years of polka music. The history of his career can be summarized in one word: “determination.” When Ed started his radio career in October 1930, at station WJKS, he found that the Depression had set in and his efforts in obtaining sponsors at that time were not very productive. For some time after that uncertain beginning, Eddie…
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