New York City …. “Hi Polka Cuzzins!” Walt Procanyn is an accordionist and bandleader who currently resides in Woodside, the Queens section of the big apple. Walt is well known throughout the big band and polka circle as a maverick and innovator. He has revolutionized the polka industry by incorporating the big band sound in what used to be “traditional” polka music. He recorded several albums for arc international records in Toronto, Canada. He is…
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Tony Petkovsek was born August 21, 1941, in Cleveland, Ohio to parents of Slovenian descent. At age 20 he began what would become the longest running daily two hour polka program, self-produced with his own sponsors. That daily show aired six days a week from 1961 through 2011 and it now continues weekly every Saturday for three hours from noon to 3:00 p.m. Co-hosts currently include Joey Tomsick, Joe Valencia (bilingual also in Slovenian),…
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Don Peachey hails from Burnett, Wisconsin, a small town located an hour from Milwaukee. He began playing the accordion at the age of 14. Don made his first paying performance at the civic center in Fairwater, Wisconsin. Except for two years in the U.S. Army, he has been keeping dancers happy with his music ever since. Don was elected bandleader of the year by the Wisconsin Orchestra Leaders Association in 1973 and was…
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It all started at the age of seven when Stephanie was being taught the accordion by her mom, Wanda, and the Polish vocals by her grandmother, Stephanie. This created an interest in listening to Polish music. While Henry her father was off bowling, Wanda took Stephanie to see Li’l Wally when he was in town. When Stephanie saw Li’l Wally play the concertina and sing “Hello My Kejda,” she was fascinated with this…
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Dennis Polisky, leader, clarinet, tenor saxophone player for the Maestro’s Men Orchestra from Colchester, Connecticut, has been performing and entertaining audiences for over 38 years. His dedication, versatility and personality has earned him the recognition as one of the best clarinet players in the polka field today. He credits his parents, Raymond and Helen Polisky with introducing him to polka music. Dennis is the third generation of professional musicians. His grandfather, Charles…
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Polka music has been a part of Al Piatkowski’s life as long as he could remember. Born in Syracuse, NY on January 17, 1959, Al grew up listening to the Sunday polka programs. His parents, Mike and Gloria, would attend the local polka dances and bring home the latest recordings of the bands they had just seen, giving Al more music to listen to during the week. At the age of 7, he…
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Wanda S. Pietrzak was a singer who achieved national acclaim in polka music’s only mother and daughter team, “Wanda and Stephanie.” As half of “Wanda and Stephanie”, known as “American’s Polka Sweethearts,” she recorded many albums. She scored a #1 polka hit in 1971 with a song she wrote, “Lover Oh Lover.” Wanda Koziol was born in Lackawanna, New York and was raised in Chicago in the musical family of Frank…
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John (Jas) Stanley Przasnyski was born a twin on May 25, 1926, in Bristol, Connecticut. John was the eldest of the two boys. After World War II, John attended the Julius Hartt School of Music in Hartford and learned to play the drums. From the point, he was attracted to the music business and though he held daytime jobs, his heart was all music. As a member of the popular Connecticut Twins,…
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*Deceased* Born in 1926 in Bristol Connecticut, he started to study the accordion at age ten while attending St. Stanislaus School. At the age of thirteen he was playing professionally at social affairs, concert solos, and private parties. He started a four-piece band at the age of eighteen. A typical Saturday consisted of a one hour broadcast over Radio station WBIS, a wedding reception from 2-6PM, a night club from 8PM-Midnight, and then played…
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Emily Pinter began her music and dancing at the early age of five, studying piano, ballet and tap dancing. At age 16, while dancing with the Alliance of Polish Clubs group, the dancing instructor took ill, and Emily was asked to take over the class. The following year she was hired full-time, launching her on a career of dancing. In 1948, Emily directed her first recital. She continued with musical lessons on piano,…
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Lou Prohut was born in Chicago where he attended local parochial schools and began studying the accordion almost as soon as he learned to walk. His talents led him to an appearance on the famed Morris B. Sachs Amateur Hour when he was a mere five years old. After breaking into the professional ranks over radio station WNQX in Yanktown, South Dakota, Lou entered the keen competition of the Horace Heidt show and became…
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“Joe Pat” Paterek was born in Chicago to Joseph and Mary Paterek on May 21, 1919. His father was of Slovak ancestry and his mother was of Polish origin. Joe became interested in music at an early age and began taking music lessons while attending local schools. After developing a serious pursuit of music, Joe formed his first band in 1932. For several years he continued to lead his band and on Thanksgiving…
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Ignacy Podgorski was a musician, composer, arranger, publisher, recording artist and violinist who conducted his own orchestra. He was born on February 1, 1886 in Kielce, Poland. As a boy he lived in Czestochowa where he obtained his musical education and acquired a love for native folk-lore. In 1906 Podgorski came to the United States with his wife Alexandra and they settled in the Bridesburg section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In a short…
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Johnny Pecon was born on February 3, 1915 in Cleveland. At age five he began playing on a small accordion. In his teens he already sat in with some of the Slovenian polka bands. At age 19 he formed his own polka band. Johnny joined the Navy in 1942, trained as a Seabee and shipped to New Guinea in the South Pacific. Here he put on shows for the troops. After the…
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Two words that are virtually synonymous to thousands of fans throughout the country are “polka” and “Pillar,” like celery and salt they were made for each other. Born 34 years ago to Joseph and Stella Pillar Pillar of Uncasville, Connecticut, Richard has been setting toes a-tapping since 1958 when he formed his first orchestra, performing at school dances, weddings, and private parties. But fame arrived on supersonic wings and the band was soon on…
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