POLKA NEWS

 

Prepared and Distributed by the Polonia Media Network

 

POLKA PATTER

 

Friendship Park in Jefferson County, Ohio, will have its Mother’s Day Dinner-Dance on Saturday, May 5, 2012. Music will be by Doc Lula & the Boys, consisting of the Doc, Andy Pawlak, Paul Mocek, Eric Hite, AJ Zalewski and Dan Earl. The Polish-style meal will include golabki, pierogi or mashed potatoes, kielbasa, salad, desert and refreshments.

 

More polka fans are acknowledging the musical connection to country music. On January 28 Wackie Jackie’s “Early Bird Wake-Up Show” on WMNF (88.5 FM, Tampa, Fla.) was spinning the Blues, the Legends of Country Blues, that is. Blues man Larry Lisk from Missouri joined Wackie to add to the party.

 

The polka world lost Jan Cyman, who passed away January 29, 2012. Jan was an original member of the Dynatones, and played with New Brass, MusicalAires and Tony Blazonczyk’s New Phase. Originally from Buffalo New York, he died in Florida. A memorial service and dance was held on February 11 at the Polish American Pulaski Association in Holiday, Florida. Cyman is pictured at left with Chet Kowalkoski.

 

This year marks the 50th anniversary of Bay City's (Michigan)) Fireworks. Bay 3 TV on Charter Communications is airing its annual telethon. The Steve Drzewicki Band was asked to participate during the telethon and will perform on Sunday, February 26, 2012, at 10:00 a.m. Fans can see them live on TV or join them in person at B.A.R.T.S on Midland St., Bay City.

 

Musician, vocalist and polka DJ Richie Gomulka of Chicago celebrated his 70th birthday on February 6, 2012. Jim Kucharski presented a tribute to his friend on a special edition of “Chainsaw’s Polka Madhouse” the preceding Saturday on the Polka Jammer Network http://www.polkajammernetwork.org. Both Richie and his younger brother, Lenny Gomulka, are members of the Polka Music Hall of Fame.

 

Hank Guzevich (left) announced that the Polka Family Band has a new website at http://www.polkafamilyband.net and he asks everyone to change their bookmarks or records. Apparently someone fell asleep at the switch some months ago, so that when one went to the address of the old website, they got a page in Japanese for a currency trading firm. Now, however, Guzevich has a “yen” for a return to the internet.

 

You can now order tickets to the “Mollie B Polka Party” taping in Ennis, Texas, on March 8-11, 2012, by phone at (615) 227-9292. The tickets are $15 a day or $50 for all four days. Tickets can also be purchase on line at http://www.rfdtv.com. Hundreds attended the last set of tapings in Wisconsin.

 

While not at tapings of the “Mollie B Polka Party,” you can polish up your polka dancing. Randy and Ashley Thull (http://thepolkadancers.com), seen on RFD-TV’s “Mollie B Christmas Special” will be in Ennis at the Sokol Hall giving polka dancing lessons from 10:30-11:30 a.m. on Thursday-Saturday during the days of the “Polka Party” taping.

 

Madonna wasn’t the only performer that people were listening to during the Superbowl on February 5, 2012. The Eddie Forman Orchestra drew a crowd at the Bayway Superbowl Sunday in Elizabeth, New Jersey. And, the price was a lot better than a Superbowl ticket; just $15 admission with all the fixin’s. Forman is seen at right.

 

The 15th Annual Adirondack Polkafest, held during the Memorial Day weekend in the town of Old Forge, New York, May 26-27, 2012, is to be featured in the April issue of Spirit magazine, read by 4 million traveling on Southwest Airlines during the month of April, 2012. Former attendees are invited to send their favorite high resolution photos for possible inclusion in the article. Visit http://www.PolkafestUSA.com for more information.

 

Live polka radio shows offer a special brand of fun. Every Sunday from 1:00-3:00 p.m. the Polish National Home of Hartford, Connecticut, has a live radio broadcast over WRYM (840 AM). In addition, the Bristol Polish American Citizens Club of Bristol, Connecticut, has a live broadcast every Sunday afternoon from 2:00-3:00 p.m. over WXCT (990 AM). If you are in the area, tune in and enjoy.

 

Those who wanted to hear a lot of great past and present polka bands from Canada, got their wish via the “IPA Polka Show” on the Polka Jammer Network http://www.polkajammernetwork.org on Saturday, January 14. They heard tunes from past bands such as Joe Jedraski, Wally Bebenek, Wally Mack and Bill Mankiss. Bebenek's band is pictured in the 1990s.

 

The Golden Tones have released a new CD entitled “A Bunch of Polkas” with 15 solid songs and most vocals in Polish. Selections from the CD were featured on “The Polka-Jam Show” with hosts Ray & Mary Szymanski on January 19 over WCNI (90.9 FM, New London, Conn.) For info about the album go to http://www.goldentones.8k.com.

 

PACE is including a German Category to its awards program, making a new total of five categories. The PACE awards require a minimum of six releases for the creation of a new category and this year they have so far been able to identify seven German releases, with the possibility that there may still be more on the way that they were not aware of by late January.