Chet Schafer – Living Category – Inducted 1976

    The polka career of Chet Schafer began in 1950, when, together with Li’l Wally Jagiello, their voices were heard on a half-hour polka program on radio station WCRW in Chicago.  But things didn’t roll for Chet until he started his own “Polka Hit Parade” program on station WTAQ, LaGrange, Illinois, in 1952.  On this program he spun the best selling polka records according to the surveys, getting the idea from the then popular…

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Walt Solek – Living Category – Inducted 1974

    Walt Solek got his first break with the “Krakowska” orchestra organized by his brother Henry.  In 1939 after recording with them on the RCA Victor label, he organized his own polka band mixing good polka music and good comedy.  In 1940 Uncle Sam called him into the Navy and got the first Sailor who could sing “Anchors Aweigh” in Polish.  After his hitch in the service the band regrouped and cut “Julida Polka”…

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