Bands that are no more!

[Litwin]

Let's get some threads going here!

Bands that are no more!

There certainly are many and some have never been seen live by some of
the younger polka fans.

Name some, what did you like or not like about them!!!

Since someone has to start....

The Sounds - Maly and the guys were not only dynamic on stage, but the
magic of Maly and Vinny on vocals made this group one of the hottest
in the industry.

The Varitones of Buffalo - Few have probably seen this band, but they
were a incubator for some of the key people in polka music today,
especially Mike Nowakowski of Sunshine records.

The Goral Boys- another Buffalo bunch....and their leader is still on
stage today with Darlak. Do you have their 8 track? I do!!!

Heavy Chicago - A band that truly had cult power. So many solid
musicians, Eddie, Billy, Jackie, Lenny, Tommy, Eddie K, ....and more.

OK, there are some....now it's "your" turn.

Steve
Steve Litwin
Polka Editor/Associate Editor
Polish American Journal

http://www.polamjournal.com/polka/

lit...@clarityconnect.com

[Greg Durski]

The ORIGINAL Famous and Fabulous Ampol Aires! Rudy and Wally on sticks and
saxes were unbeatable! Kula on box. Day on Trumpet. Rudy Sienkowski on tubs
and Rajewski on the keyboard. Who was their bass man? I apologize! And who
could forget the old Echolette sound system that added to their unique sound!
One of my all time favorite charts? Well, it's definitely NOT for "air play".
Their "Psia Krew Polka" had to be one of the best as far as instrumental
arrangements I have EVER heard. Whenever I would request this tune, they would
all look at me and YELL: "SHAME ON YOU!" Oh how I miss this guys!
Greg Durski

[LyricWriter2]

Ok I miss the New Brass, Lenny Gomulka's Chicago Push, The Boys. Canadian
Fiddlestixx. Anyone else.......?

Don Neumeyer

[Marty]

Dick Zimber on bass (the instrument, not the fish!...sorry Greg,
couldn't resist!)

[Joe Brozowski]

Here's a few I miss:

The very powerful Dynastics.
The Modernaires,
and the "I'll Fix Your Flat Tire Merle" band....Lil Andy !

Joe Brozowski

"LyricWriter2" <lyricw...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20020616184037...@mb-fe.aol.com...

[Greg Durski]

>Dick Zimber on bass (the instrument, not the fish!...sorry Greg,
>couldn't resist!)

Thanks Marty!
Greg Durski

[polkazos]

The Keynotes, Changing Times, Paligas, Chi Town Express, Dial a Tones, to
name a few. Many, many memorable moments with these bands.

Zos' from Chicago
"Litwin" <lit...@clarityconnect.com> wrote in message
news:3d0d038e...@news.clarityconnect.com...

[Litwin]

AH the Keynotes...with Jaworski on vocals. Had a great times with then
at Polonka.

On Mon, 17 Jun 2002 02:46:15 GMT, "polkazos" <polk...@attbi.com>
wrote:

[jim miller]

Polkatown Sound, Joe Oberitis,The Switch, Jackie Libera & The Classix's

[Ken Konopka]

How about some local michigan bands like the following

The Michigan Connection
Prime Drive
Sound Aires
Wyandotte Dynatones

"polkazos" <polk...@attbi.com> wrote in message news:<X3cP8.217417$352.14333@sccrnsc02>...

[Lky57]

Let's not forget about the way that Happy Louie could just mesmerize a packed
house wherever he went...

Ken Yash

[Mike Bubniak]

He sure did. It was more than a dance.... it was an event.
--
Mike Bubniak
www.TonysPolkaBand.com
WCSS Polka Party - AM 1490
Sunday 11:30 to 1:30
Amsterdam, NY

"Lky57" <lk...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20020618211534...@mb-cm.aol.com...

[Dwtwn 009]

I'm still a new guy to the whole scene, but I have to say that I was absolutely
blown away by The New Brass Reunion at Seven Springs from a couple of years
ago...I had heard their songs many a time, but nothing could compare to them
live and in person...As every song song passed you could feel the excitement
build stronger and stronger..Of all the dances I have gone too, I don't ever
recall seeing as many camcorders recording every single note a band played as
much as that night..What a treat, and this polka fan only wishes he was around
for more.....P.s.thanks Mitch for the dedication of 100 proof to the Boys from
Buffalo..."the story of my life when I was 22..." I was 22 at the time, and
what a hell of a night at Springs!!
Steve Brown
Buffalo, NY

[Jim Kucharski]

Jimmie Mieszala & The Music Explosion, Jimmy Weber & The Sounds, The
Nu-Tones, The Windy City Brass, Tony Blazonczyk's South Side Sounds,
Chicago's Milwaukee Ave (CMA), Marion Lush (The Musical Stars & The White
Eagles), Lil' Richard and the Polka All-Stars, & Eddie Korosa and the
Merrymakers, to name a few.

Bands that were around before my time who are no longer with us are: The
Pala Brothers, Steve Adamczyk Orchestra, Eddie Zima Orchestra (which later
became the Ampol-Aires, currently Chicago's longest running polka band), The
Naturals, The Monumentals, The Bal-Aires, Johhnie Bomba, The Hi-Notes, &
The Chicago Polka Machine.

"polkazos" <polk...@attbi.com> wrote in message
news:X3cP8.217417$352.14333@sccrnsc02...

[TNTRAZZ]

Wow... awesome post Steve!
Unfortunately this post can get huge since so many bands have packed it in over
the last 10-15 years. I miss Lenny the most, but still keeping hopes that
he'll be back - sooner rather than later.
The G-Notes and The Sounds are also high on my list.

Tara

[polkazos]

How could I forget these bands ? Let's add the Pala Brothers to the list.

Zos'
"Jim Kucharski" <jk...@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:Z2WP8.4581$Fv1.4...@newsread2.prod.itd.earthlink.net...

[Jim Sullivan]

Remamber any of these bands from times gone by?

The Sound of Polkas, The Piatrowski Polka Brass, The Brass Release,
Lil' Andy, The King Brothers, Joe Misti, Happy Stephan, The Astros
Polka Band, Yak Tam Billy Urban, Jolly Jack Robel, The Johnny Haas
Band, The Good Sounds, The Polish Hitmen, The Hi-Hats, LimeLight, The
Magitones, The Brass Works, The Boys, Energy...

[Litwin]

On 19 Jun 2002 11:08:32 -0700, muzic...@aol.com (Jim Sullivan)
wrote:

How about The Authentics!! This was Al Piatkowski's first band in
Syracuse, NY

Buffalo Bells of "Who's Gratin' The Cabbage fame, Dominoes of Buffalo
(with Hank Marzuchowski on drums), The Polkatiers, Jan Cyman's
"original" Musicalaires, The Krakowska Melodiers, The Valiants,
Buffalo's Casinos (which became Larry's Trojak's Dynatones),

[Litwin]

On 19 Jun 2002 03:16:31 GMT, dwtw...@aol.com (Dwtwn 009) wrote:

>I'm still a new guy to the whole scene, but I have to say that I was absolutely
>blown away by The New Brass Reunion at Seven Springs

>Steve Brown
>Buffalo, NY

Steve, and others, The Brass was a band that "had the power" when they
were on stage.

Little know fact, or possible useless piece of trivia, The Brass was
on stage when Steve met Adele. (she asked me to dance) I always tell
Mitch and Roger that it was because of them that I married Adele.

[Marty]

How about The Chicago Sound? Who can name who was in that band and what
instruments?

[Litwin]

Marty,
I know Greg Nowak and John Poloko werer with the group but for the
rest I'd have to dig into the archives.

Steve

[jim miller]

tnt...@aol.com (TNTRAZZ) wrote in message news:<20020619082625...@mb-ba.aol.com>...

Can't forget when Lenny G had THE TONES what a band !!!!! And from
Minnasota we had the Mrozinski Bros, also Joe Tomaszewski's Polish
Show Band, Bill Czerniak and Polka Soul, Nordeast 5, Dobosinski Bros.
from Pa Joe Fiedor and the Polish All-Stars,Lil Ronnie and the
Carousels, Common Bond, Ohio THIS AND THAT TNT, From Pulaski Wi
Rodgers and Friends.

[Jim Sullivan]

Here's a few more bands, mostly eastern based, and some from many
years past... do you remember any of these???

The Bell-Hops, The King Brothers, The Piatrowski Polka Brass, The
Connectuicut Twins, Ray Henery, The Kryger Brothers, Jolly Jack Robel,
Yak Tam Billy Urban, Happy Stephan, Lil Andy, Joe Misti, The Johnny
Haas Band, The Brass Release, The Imperials, DPA, The Golden Brass,
The New Brass, The Mass Brass, The Brass Works, The Boys, The Polish
Hitmen, The Jesters, The Magitones, The Tones, The Beat, LimeLight,
The Polka Dots, The Nu Tones, The Long Island Dominos, Walt Solek, The
Good Sounds, Joe Kirpiec & The Sound of Polkas, Freddie K, Old Country
Musicians

Whew! nuff for now...

mills...@yahoo.com (jim miller) wrote in message news:<1ee82b92.02061...@posting.google.com>...

[R.J. Bogdon]

how 'bout Style Stix, Polka Dynamite (never heard them but saw them on
TV, kickin rhythm section!),

[Litwin]

And let's not forget the original Stanky and the Coalminers with both
Stanky brothers.

John Nyschot band from Binghamton,

Buffalo Hi Notes,

Mix n Match

This has become a great thread....with a LOT of polka history

Thanks to all!!

On 20 Jun 2002 16:18:45 -0700, towe...@yahoo.com (R.J. Bogdon) wrote:

>how 'bout Style Stix, Polka Dynamite (never heard them but saw them on
>TV, kickin rhythm section!),

Steve Litwin

[John Poturaj]

Wally.
Honky John

[Dwtwn 009]

Ahhh Mix' N' Match!!! As a youngin' I spent many a night listening to my
cousins Ray Barsukiewicz (now of Jerry Darlak & The Buffalo Touch)and Jim
Zapzal belt favorite after favorite! "Everybody's makin' it big but me" was my
favorite tune....Anybody out there remember the Polka Jamboree at Chorpus
Christi Church??? (On Superman Corner of Clark and Kent streets---where Johnny
from The Goo Goo Dolls grew up?) What great times hanging out with Big Steve
and the Bellaires, Scrubby and the Sunshine Band, etc...Definitely some of my
best childhood moments! Polkas under the big tent on the East side of
Buffalo....priceless....
Steve Brown
Buffalo, NY

[Jcwincek]

I recall the Sounds, Magitones, Boys, and the Polish Friends.

[Dave Slota]

My 2 Cents :

Hendzel Brothers, Larry Jourdan , Dennis and the DJ's, Tom Rogers , Jimmy
Miller and Friends , Dennis Hylok and Freinds , Andy Mogan ,( Remember them
Accordians Rip'n in Half ), The Showmen, Musical -Tones, The Pulaski Kids ;
Rodgers and Friends; The Dick Rogers Jam Sessions ; The Many Chets Happy Tap
Jam Sessions ( Where some of Wisconsin and Chicago's Finest would Jam ) !
The Harmony Kings ; Mike Sariego ( Blow'n that Trumpet up on the Hill at
5am ) . Also A Big Thanks To the Many Band are Still Play'n from 20 plus
years ago !

Others

Mrozinski Brrothers, Tiny and His Polka Boys, The New Brass , The Trel-
Tones, Casinos , Naturals , The Polskie Swingmasters, E-Z Tones , Happy
Richie and the Royalaires, The Windy City Brass ; Dial a Tones , Jimmie
Mieszala & The Music Explosion, Chicago's Milwaukee Ave ; Eddie Korosa ;
Lil' Richard ;Bill Czerniak and Polka Soul ; 47 or 48 Street Concertina
Band ( I forget )

"Mike Bubniak" <bubnia. k...@superior.net> wrote in message
news:x0SP8.9909$17.43...@newsfeed1.thebiz.net...

[Kevin]

Neat thread.

I gotta chime in with The Impalas. First saw them at my aunt and
uncle's wedding when I was six. They were hot. Their accordion player,
the late John Domek, could really fly on the box.

How about Johnny Saddrack Orchestra? Johnny also hosted the
Polish-American show weekday afternoons on WMZK FM98 in Detroit.

Kevin Jakubowicz

[Litwin]

Let's not forget, Prime Drive, Mark IV (Borzymowski band), The Harmony
Sharps (the start for Frankie LIszka), The Polskie Swingmasters,
Happy Richie and the original Royalaires.

[Dwtwn 009]

I have to put a plug in for the Krew Bros. from Buffalo!

steve Brown
Buffalo, ny

[J. Gora]

Canadian Fiddlestix, Ed Guca's Polish Canadians, Galaxy, Wally Bembenek,
Wally Mack Orchestra, Brass Sounds, Polish Edition, Natural Brass, just few
Ontario bands. How about Buffalo Brass?
J.G.
"Dwtwn 009" <dwtw...@aol.com> wrote in message
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