For those who are still wondering what Dyngus Day is, here’s a helpful clip from “Polonia: Western New York’s Polish-American Legacy”, a documentary produced by WNED-TV in Buffalo. Just as everyone is Irish on St. Patrick’s Day, everyone is Polish on Dyngus Day.
This Week in Accordion: Dyngus Day
In Poland, Easter Monday is known as Dyngus Day — a holiday celebrating Polish heritage and traditions following Lent. Here in the United States, in cities like Buffalo, Chicago, and South Bend, it’s the perfect occasion to indulge in some kielbasa and polka music. LOTS of polka music.
- Dyngus Day Buffalo (Monday in Buffalo, NY)
Buffalo has an impressive lineup of Dyngus Day events, with some bands playing multiple gigs on Monday. Performers include Lenny Gomulka and Chicago Push, Fritz’s Polka Band, and Concertina All Stars, and many more. - Eddie Blazoncyzk’s Versatones (Monday in North Liberty, IN)
Just outside of South Bend, Eddie Blazoncyzk’s Versatones will supply the tunes for Dyngus Day at the Crumstown Conservation Club. - John Stevens’ Doubleshot (Monday in The Villages, FL)
Dyngus Day festivities… in Florida? You bet!
But Dyngus Day is far from the only thing on our accordion calendar this week. There’s Kutshers Polka Weekend featuring Jimmy Sturr, Spring Oktoberfest in Philadelphia, the International Polka Association Benefit Dinner/Dance in Maryland, and a whole lot more.
If there’s something in your neighborhood that we’ve missed, let us know!
A Room at the Polka Hotel
Headed to Frankenmuth, Michigan this summer? If you want to stay somewhere steeped in polka lore, check out the Marv Herzog Hotel opening next month. Each room at the hotel will highlight a different year in the life of Little Bavaria’s polka legend. There will also be a Marv Herzog Museum of Memorabilia showcasing Marv’s accordions, music stand and songbook, and vast collection of beer steins from Germany and Austria.
Inducted into the International Polka Music Hall of Fame in 1979, Marv Herzog was a popular accordionist and polka band leader. Herzog started the Frankenmuth Summer Music Fest which attracts tens of thousands of visitors annually. He passed away in 2002 after a 58-year music career, but it sounds like the Marv Herzog Hotel will be a fitting tribute to this polka king.
Baby Danced the Polka
Yesterday at the library and I came across this children’s book, Baby Danced the Polka by Karen Beaumont (illustrated by Jennifer Plecas). It is a very cute book about a baby who doesn’t want to take a nap, but instead wants to dance… the polka! After searching Amazon, I found that the book is highly rated — 5 stars! I’m glad to see a popular children’s book about polka. Hopefully this is just the start of a huge resurgence!
Joey Miskulin, The Cowpolka King
A true accordion prodigy, Joey Miskulin first picked up an accordion at age four and made his first record at twelve. When he was thirteen, Miskulin’s career took off and he became a featured accordionist in his idol Frankie Yankovic’s band. It was a partnership that lasted for over thirty-five years, as Miskulin frequently joined Yankovic both in the studio and on the road, and even produced Yankovic’s Grammy-winning album, 70 Years of Hits.
In 1987, Miskulin moved to Nashville and hooked up with Western music and comedy group Riders in the Sky, known for paying homage (and poking fun) at the classic cowboy songs of yesteryear. Today, he still plays accordion, writes, and produces albums for the group, including their work for the Pixar movies Toy Story 2, Monsters Inc., and Cars. Here’s a Riders in the Sky clip with Miskulin singing Webb Pierce’s “Texas Sand”:
Need more accordion? Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, or email.
Have a Polka Question? Ask Zosia
Wondering how you can get your kids interested polka? Or where you can learn to polka in New York City? Take your polka problems to Ask Zosia, home of the “polka world’s lighthearted advice columnist.” (Ask Zosia is for entertainment purposes only; don’t blame us if she gives you bad directions to the Bayway Polish Home.)
Johnny Pecon TV Clip
He may not have the name recognition of Myron Floren or Dick Contino, but few accordionists (past or present) could match the talents of Johnny Pecon. Pecon joined fellow Cleveland native Frankie Yankovic’s band in 1947; Yankovic played melodies on his piano accordion while Pecon harmonized on his chromatic. Pecon even introduced Yankovic to the song that would become his biggest hit: “Just Because”.
After a couple years of recording and touring with Yankovic, Pecon left and began a successful partnership with another excellent Cleveland accordionist, Lou Trebar. To this day, the Pecon-Trebar Orchestra is considered one of the greatest Cleveland-style polka bands of all-time.
Here’s a rare TV clip from 1958 of the Johnny Pecon Orchestra playing “Marybelle Polka”:
This Week in Accordion: Mardi Gras!
Lots of accordion happenings on the calendar this week — especially if you’re a fan of Cajun/zydeco music:
- Mardi Gras (Tuesday in various locations)
Tomorrow is Mardi Gras (aka “Fat Tuesday”) and the zydeco bands are out in full force across the country. Buckwheat Zydeco, Rosie Ledet, and CJ Chenier are just a few of the folks playing tomorrow. Check our Cajun/zydeco events page for more. - Beale Street Zydeco Festival (Saturday/Sunday in Memphis, TN)
Didn’t get enough zydeco on Tuesday? This weekend, Beale Street turns into Bourbon Street as zydeco heavyweights like Keith Frank, Terrance Simien, and Roy Carrier invade Memphis. - Withrow Winter Wonderland Polka Dance (Sunday in Hugo, MN)
It’s never too cold to polka! This once-in-a-lifetime event features Eddie Blazonczyk’s Versatones and the long-awaited reunion of the Dobosenski Brothers and the Cavaliers. The Dobosenski Brothers and the Cavaliers were one of the hot Minnesota polka bands of the 70s and 80s and haven’t played together in 25 years!
I’ve also added some often-requested features to the calendar itself. You can now search for events in your area — just type in your city and state and we’ll show you what we have listed. Also, when you’re looking at an event listing, we’ll show you other upcoming events in the same area. Check it out.
Of course, if you don’t find any events in your area or, worse, you know about an event but don’t see it on our calendar… tell us about it!
Polka Side of the Moon
“We don’t need no education… we don’t need no thought control…” But what we do need are more bands like Polka Floyd, which plays — you guessed it — polka-style covers of Pink Floyd songs. There’s a rough clip of “Another Brick in the Wall” up on their MySpace page and it’s actually not half-bad. Polka fans might recognize two of the band’s members (accordionist Eric Hite and drummer Frank Dramczyk) from Eddie Biegaj’s Crusade.
If you’re in the Toledo area and have always wanted to hear Dark Side of the Moon with a 2/4 beat, you can catch Polka Floyd tonight at Mickey Finn’s Pub.
LynnMarie: Done With Polka?
A post-Grammy press release from LynnMarie, titled “LynnMarie is Donning Her Party Dress and is Ready to Move On,” suggests that the four-time polka Grammy nominee is branching out beyond her polka roots:
“Polka got me to the party, but now I want to get out there and start making music with and for people who think and create beyond the safety net of pigeonholing… Creatively, this experience is going to be the best thing that ever happened to me, and I’m excited to be moving on to bigger and better things in my career.”
Makes sense to me — Party Dress was closer to country than polka and I think she has the talent and drive to be successful in any genre (okay, opera might be a stretch). As long she keeps playing that button box, we’ll be listening!
Update: LynnMarie has posted a personal letter to her fans and friends in the polka community in which she discusses her future plans.
[Found via TDA’s Wall of Wheeze]