Dujka, Mark
Mark has been performing with the Dujka Brothers since 1986 (37 years) as a multi-instrumental side man and as a featured vocalist. His skills on the saxophones and accordions have brought to life the Dujka Brothers sound, and his harmony and lead vocals in Czech and German have made the duos recordings some of the best in the business. Along with the horn and accordion, Mark is also a skilled guitarist, bassist, and he has played drums with other bands on occasion. He is also a member of the KJT #40 (Katolická Jednota Texasská – Czech Catholic Union) in East Bernard, TX and is a major organizer of their annual Kolache-Klobase Festival, a celebration of Texas’ Czech heritage and music. Mark is passionate about polka music and loves the music that shaped his youth and that of his ancestors.
Hayest, Steve
Steve was a very important part of bands in the Toledo area including Change of Pace, Toledo Polkamotion, and others. In 1988, Steve moved to New Jersey and married his wife, Tina. One year later, he began an epic 33-year polka experience serving as Polka Hall of Famer Mike Costa’s wing man on trumpet that continues to this day. This includes performing with Limelite and the award-winning The Beat.
Kois, Richie
Richie Kois has been a mainstay in the Polka industry for over 48 years on trumpet, bass, and vocals. Over those 48 years, he successfully became the go-to musician that bands can rely on to perform their music authentically when they need a musician. For years he was a mainstay with IPA Hall of Famer’s Ray Jay and The Carousels, Any Fenus and The Trel Tones, John Gora & Gorale, and Eddie Biegaj and Crusade. However, his dream came true when he got a phone call from Eddie Blazonczyk asking him if he wanted to join the Versatones full-time. You can find Richie Kois on stage with The Polka Country Musicians. His musical talents have been featured on 29 recordings.
Korch, Dave
Dave was the ultimate band member with the Brass Works for well over 15 years. He was dedicated to the band and would be first in line to volunteer to work on anything from setting up the sound system, working on mechanical problems with band vehicles and doing anything that needed to be done to get to and from the job. Dave was a great musician and demonstrated this on stage as well as in the studio. He was a close and dear friend to the late Polka Hall of Famer Fred Bulinski for over 40 years. For his contributions to the long success of the Brass Works, Dave deserves recognition for his unselfish support of the band, the love of the music, the respect of the fans who supported The Brass Works over the years and of course his genuine friendship to each and every band member.
Krueger, Laurie Solberg
Laurie started out with her family band in rural Western Wisconsin over 50 years ago, and is still performing with many artists throughout the states on piano, sax, clarinet, trumpet and vocals. She has played with a variety of bands including her father, The Wayne Solberg Orchestra, Karl’s Country Dutchmen, Brian’s Mississippi Valley Dutchmen, Steve Meisner, Grant Kozera, Jimmy Monsen, The Goodtime Dutchmen, The Wendinger Band, Gary’s Ridgeland Dutchmen and countless others.
Mikos, John
John is an exceptional concertina player who has performed and recorded with Polka Hall of Famer Lenny Gomulka and his Chicago Push for well over 30 years. An artist on his instrument, he has been a major part of the award-winning band’s consistent rhythm section and overall sound. John is gifted with the amazing capacity to flawlessly play hundreds, if not thousands, of songs by memory and is heavily relied upon for guidance whenever guest musicians perform with the band. A humble, likable gentleman, he is a musician’s musician.
Ryniec, James “Whitey”
Whitey began playing trumpet and clarinet at the young age of 11 years old. He would go on to become a member of the Dave Kolata and the Debonairs band. Later, he joined The Casinos band who changed their name to the Dynatones when it was time to make their first recording at Bel Aire studios. Whitey’s polka career was interrupted when Uncle Sam called for him to serve in the U.S. Army from 1971 to 1974. After his honorable discharge, he found himself on stage as part of Polka Hall of Famer Ed Guca’s band. Then Whitey got the call from Marion Lush, the “Golden Voice of Polkas,” to join his band in 1976. It was then his 15 years of standing beside Marion on stage began. Though no longer working the polka circuit full time, Whitey continues to grace the stage as needed with quality polka bands.
Rzeszutko, Ray “Melvin”
Melvin was born in Chicago, IL on October 4, 1965. His grandfather, Walter Baran, was the drummer with the Steve Adamczyk Band for over 40 years so polka music has always been a major part of Melvin’s family life. He started playing drums at an early age and while still in elementary school played in a band with John Krawisz called the Little Tones. Melvin then went on to play drums and sing excellent vocals with the very polished Downtown Sound for over 30 years until the band finally ended its amazing run. He now performs with the IPA Tribute Band and Tony Blazonczyk’s New Phaze on drums and vocals. Melvin has also performed with Eddie Blazonczyk’s Versatones, the Music Company, Stephanie, Polka Confetti, and many others. He was sought out to drum for Eddie Blazonczyk’s Polish Brass Show Band events and record vocals on John Jaworski’s special projects. A respected percussionist, Melvin is considered by many to be one of the top Polish polka vocalists in the field.
Slovak, David
David is an accomplished accordion player with Czech and Then Some. He is also co-owner of the band. Czech and Then Some has been performing for over 26 years. David has played with the Henry Rejcek Band and the Czech Harvesters before he and Danny Zapletal formed Czech and Then Some in 1997. He has been performing for over 35 years. Dave was the founder of the Ennis Czech Music Festival in Ennis, Texas and the event just celebrated it’s 15th year. He is a past president of the National Polka Festival in Ennis, Texas, the largest Czech Heritage Festival in Texas and probably in the United States. David is a past president of Sokol Hall in Ennis, Texas and still on their board of directors. He has helped record several polka bands in Texas at Czech Productions and Studio. David has dedicated a lot of time for his love for polka music and promoting the music to keep it going for future generations.
Stehle, Eric
Eric is an outstanding multi-instrumentalist and is the fantastic saxophonist/clarinetist with the Klancnik and Friends band. He is one of the main reasons Klancnik and Friends are at the top of their genre of polka music. Eric is a highly accomplished musician who not only is a high school band instructor, but is also one of the premiere on-call musicians throughout the Denver, CO area. Professionally, he has two degrees in music including a graduate degree in jazz saxophone performance.
Urbanovitch, Frankie
Frankie is well-known accomplished fiddle player who also plays trumpet, harmonica, bass, and sings. He was an original member of the Polka Country Musicians and went on to star with the Jimmy Sturr Orchestra for over 40 years. Frankie is featured on all of the band’s 18 Grammy Award-winning albums. Using the name “Frankie Joe Daigle” to show his Cajun heritage pride, he has demonstrated his musical diversity by performing all over the U.S. and abroad, from the bayous of Louisiana to Carnegie Hall, and from the Lincoln Center to the Grand Ole Opry. Skilled in the Americana/Traditional Folk Music genre, Frankie has appeared on The Nashville Network, Good Morning America, and The Regis Philbin shows. He has shared the stage with stars like Charlie Pride, Dwight Yokum, Alan Jackson, Marty Stuart, Travis Tritt, Willie Nelson, Bobby Vinton, and the Allman Brothers band. In 1984, Frankie was named “Fiddler of the Year” by the Cajun French Music Association (CFMA), and in 2011 appeared in the Best Picture Academy Award-winning movie, “Black Swan.”
Wolisnki, Ed “Weasel” Wolinski
Weasel started playing trumpet professionally at the age of 14 and went on to hone his skills with the well-known Polka Hall of Famer Dick Pillar and his orchestra. Later, he became an integral part of another award-winning band, the New Brass. Weasel acquired additional acclaim when he was asked to join Eddie Blazonczyk’s Versatones in 1981. Almost immediately, he became Eddie’s right hand. In addition to his excellent musical and vocal contributions, Weasel would run the sound system, fix equipment, drive the bus, and even do mechanical repairs. On many occasions when fellow musicians would be on break during an event, he could be found on stage soldering wires, preparing musical charts, or doing whatever was necessary to ensure an excellent group performance. A true team player, Weasel helped keep the mighty Verstones machine humming for over 15 years. He was also a fine song writer. In fact, one of Weasel’s original New Brass compositions was featured on an album released by Matt Lewandowski. People in the know will tell you he never sought after recognition, accolades, or awards. Weasel’s satisfaction came from just playing great music, hearing other bands play his songs, and making people happy.
Yash, Jeff
Jeff credits his parents for his interest in polka music. He started playing drums at the age of 13 and was influenced by artists such as Neil Peart, Jerry Tokarz, Roger Malinowski, Bobby Zima, and Paul Deakin. Jeff’s vibrant, yet tasteful style led him to perform as a member with the Happy Harmony Boys, Polka Shamrocks, Polka Family, Dick Pillar, The Boys, Polka Country Musicians, and The Classix. He even toured with the great Eddie Blazonczyk’s Versatones for over three years. When Jeff joined The Boys in the late 1980s, the band reached it’s peak of success in that decade. When the group reformed in the 2000s, he re-established the band’s signature rhythmic sound fans have enjoyed for over 15 years. Jeff is featured on The Boys’ award-winning “A New Day,” “Boysterous,” “Where The Boys Are,” and “Boys’ Stories” recordings and now performs with Frankie Liszka’s Blue Magic. Because of his influence, both of Jeff’s sons (Nick and Alex) embraced polka music and honed their skills on accordion and drums. They currently perform with the popular The Beat band. Off the stage, Jeff helps promote polka music and the fraternity among its fans by co-hosting Polkamotion by the Ocean and other polka events, golf tournaments, and sports-related activities.
Yash, Kenny
Like his brother Jeff, Ken credits his parents for first getting him involved in Polka music. His dad had a radio Polka program for many years and his parents ran many Polka dances and weekends, so Ken was always around Polka music in his young years. He took an interest in the drums at a young age and began taking drum lessons in grammar school and played in the grammar and high school bands. Ken played his first job when he was 15 and has been playing Polka music ever since. Before The Maestro’s Men, Ken was a member of Jackie Libera’s Classix. Prior to the Classix, he spent four years as a member of the Polka Family band and performed on there three Grammy-nominated recordings. Ken was also a member of the Brass Works and performed with the Eddie Forman Orchestra, Lenny Gomulka & Chicago Push, The Boys from Baltimore, Bruno Mikos, the Ampol-Aires, Ray Jay & the Carousels, Happy Louie & Julcia, Joe Pasieka, Bud Hundenski & the Corsairs, the Brass Dimension and others. His recordings with the Maestros’ Men include:”Decade Two”; “Enjoy The Little Things”, “Don’t Stop The Music”, “Decade”, “It’s All About The Music”, “Strike Up The Band”,”Music Maestros Please”, “Once More…From The Top”, “Polkas For A Christmas Season 2”, and “Polkas For A Christmas Season 3”. With Polka Family, Ken recorded “Fiddle Faddle”, “We Are Family”, and “Polka Music Fan”. He also recorded, “Bride & Groom” with the Eddie Forman Orchestra and “Playing WIth My Band”with the Rich Bobinski Orchestra.