Texas Polka News - February 2016 Volume 28 | Isssue 1 INSIDE Texas Polka News THIS ISSUE 2 Bohemian Princess Diary Theresa Cernoch Parker The PoLK of A needs you

3 Editor’s Log Gary E. McKee Salute to Steel

Salute to the 3 From the TPN Archives March 2005: Remembering Bob Steel Guitar Wills - A Texas Legend featuring cotton patch 4-5 Featured Story picker David Simper Cotton Patch Picker By Gary E. McKee 6-9 More Real Steel Stories Story on Page 4 10-11 Valentine Concert, Mardi Gras Polka Fest, European Tour 12-14 Dances, Festivals, Events, Live Music 16 PoLK of A Report New President Kathy Cernosek

17 Dancehall Sounds Celebrates 10 Years 18-21 Festival/Dance Notes 22-23 Holiday Dancin' Photos 24 Polka Smiles Sponsored by Hruska's

Page 2 Texas Polka News - February 2016 The day was almost perfect Bohemian Princess with a wonderful meal by Texas Polka News Staff Diary Koopman's Catering, tons Theresa Cernoch Parker, Publisher of desserts brought by Klub Gary E. McKee, Editor/Photo Journalist members, great dance music Jeff Brosch, Artist/Graphic Designer Contributors: provided by Fritz Hodde and Julie Ardery Mark Hiebert Alec Seegers the Fabulous 6, a tremendously Louise Barcak Julie Matus Will Seegers successful silent auction, Bill Bishop Earline Berger Okruhlik Karen Williams fellowship with others who share Lauren Haase John Roberts a love of polka and Texas. What would have made it perfect, was Contact By Theresa Cernoch Parker if three people out of the 150 who Theresa Parker, Texas Polka News had attended had stood up and P.O. Box 800183 • Houston, TX 77280 On Jan. 10, I attended the annual said, "I'd like to volunteer to serve 281-836-5362 meeting of the Polka Lovers Klub on the board." [email protected] | Gary: [email protected] of America Texas Chapter where After the meeting, Mary Lou the officers are installed for the Lawson, the Klub's Telephone Ads/Media year. What a great turnout! It was a Committee Chairperson for the Articles, ads, letters to the editor deadline: 1st of the month for the next month cold day, but it soon warmed up as past 11 years, did recruit one member to serve as a director. Ad Rates 1/3 page: $170 1/8: $55 enthusiastic polka lovers filled the Full page: $455 1/4 page: $115 1/16: $35 American Legion hall in Sealy. Thank you Bob Bourassa of Willis, 1/2 page: $255 3/16 page: $75 Congratulations to new for stepping up. I know Kathy and Discounts available for multiple runs. president Kathy Cernosek. I know the other officers appreciate it. Combo deals available for ads in TPN and polkabeat.com. she will do a great job in leading the I know we are all busy with Contact Theresa Parker for information. organization. And thanks to Clinton multiple responsibilities, but Ellebracht for serving the Klub as serving on the board is not that On The Cover president for the past three years. time consuming. It's not too late I was honored to receive an to volunteer. Kathy's contact Gary McKee captured this image of David Simper playing steel award of appreciation for serving as information is located on page 16. guitar with Charles and the Fabulous 4 on Fri., Jan. 8, 2016, at executive secretary for three years. Read her column and give her a Silver Center in Seguin. The board still has some positions call or email to let her know you're open - executive secretary, newsletter willing to help. About Texas Polka News editor, and director. The Klub has If you're not a member, The Texas Polka News was started by Julius resumed publishing in September 2014. over 500 members. In fact, it is consider joining. Come out to Tupa of Houston in 1987 with the mission In addition to polka, the paper covers to preserve and promote polka music and other dance hall music including Country, the largest the Klub dance. When Julius passed away in 2002, Western Swing, and Cajun, and celebrates chapter in the funraiser on his wife, Marie, continued as publisher, live music, such as Opry, across the state. nation, even Sun., Feb. and his friend, John Rivard, took the reins Theresa also founded polkabeat.com in 21, at the as volunteer editor. John stepped down as 2010 to honor the memory of her dad, larger than editor in June 2014, and Marie sold the Willie “Bill” Cernoch, to promote polka the "mother" American paper to Theresa Cernoch Parker, who music and heritage. Klub in Legion Hall Minnesota. in Wallis, Get/Give The Texas Polka News I would and find encourage out more Continue the polka tradition! Give your children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews a subscription to Texas Polka News. We’ll extend your current TPN Klub about the subscription one month for each subscription you designate as a family gift. Published members to organization. monthly. One year (12 issues) for $25. Clip this out & mail check for $25 (outside U.S. $40) to The Texas Polka News volunteer It will be a P.O. Box 800183 Houston, TX 77280. Or click on the TPN link on polkabeat.com to their time great dance, subscribe or renew online with a credit card. too, with and talent Name ______to serve on music by the Street ______the board. The Klub needs people Red Ravens. City ______ST ______Zip ______to step up and bring their ideas for As you finalize your resolutions how we can continue to grow and for 2016, make it a year to promote Ph ______Email______promote polka. your heritage and Polka On! ❏ New ❏ Renewal ❏ Gift ❏ Address change (include old address) Texas Polka News - February 2016 Page 3 Editor's Log Salute to Steel

From the TPN Archives: March 2005 REMEMBERING BOB WILLS Swing.” - A TEXAS LEGEND How big was Bob’s contribution to the By Gary E. McKee development of western swing? Simply stated, Bob Wills put western swing onto Polka Date: February 2016. The editor By John Rivard the nationwide scene with his Texas has always been intrigued by the steel Playboys band, radio shows, movies, guitar ever since he saw Alvino Rey’s [As printed in March 2005] Editor’s note: dance hall performances, and great Bob Will’s 100th birthday is March 6 talking steel guitar on a black and Alvino Rey recordings, including the landmark hit (2005). Although Bob died in 1975, his white television in a burg in a far away “San Antonio Rose,” which helped vault the 1800s the Spanish guitar was music lives. The following article is in galaxy known as pre-Interstate 10 the music to nationwide recognition. introduced to the Hawaiians. Legend birthday tribute to the man who made Schulenburg. Yes folks, Bob Wills is a Texas legend, has it that around 1874, young Joseph western swing. with his fiddle, the jaunty cowboy hat, a Just to establish terminology: Kekuku attempted to lay his guitar flat cigar in the corner of his smiling mouth, and play it, but wasn’t satisfied with “Deep within my heart lies a melody…” originally a lap steel was a "normal" and his famous “hollers” that punctuated the sound. To improve it he fashioned Yes folks, it’s the familiar refrain from acoustic wooden guitar that is played the music that he created. His role is best a smooth steel bar and metal finger the great Bob Wills western swing hit on the musician's lap, however early summed up by lyric of Waylon Jennings’ picks to produce an entirely new “San Antonio Rose,” and it’s known to (1940ish) players such as Herb tribute song, which concludes, “Cause sound that swept the islands and soon fans of great music everywhere. It also Remington and Leon McAuliffe had once you’re down in Texas, Bob Wills is traveled to the United States. The graces the grave of the legendary Bob stands built and later electronics still the King.” Let’s learn a little more Wills as a fitting epitaph for this man and added. The strings are picked with sound stayed relatively obscure since about Bob and his music. musician known as “The King of Western finger picks and a polished steel bar recordings hadn’t been invented yet. Continued on page 9 slides along the guitar’s neck. The earliest record of the Hawaiian A pedal steel guitar is a solid guitar sound was when cowboy movie From Our Readers block of wood with pickups (tiny star Hoot Gibson brought Sol Hoopii, microphones) under the strings to Hawaiian steel star, to Los Angeles to A while back, I received copies of the online (polkabeat) weekly news are also capture and amplify the sound. The play with his band in the early 1920s. Texas Polka News from you that contained great. Please keep it going. bar slides back and forth along the the article about the Joe Patek Band Ed & Marlene Kadlecek, Hallettsville strings just as a lap steel. Alvino Rey, POCKETKNIVES, BEER and mentioned the death of my father, big band leader and lap steel player, BOTTLES AND DOUBLE Quentin Hoffman. I wish to extend a Keep up the good work. Really enjoy was frustrated with the musical NECKS sincere thank you for sending them to keeping up with the bands and news. restrictions of his instrument. He and The popularity of the lap steel sound me. I was able to give by brother and Barbara Sutton, Taylor a mechanic devised a system of foot spread and soon inventor/musicians two sisters each a copy. They are most pedals that smoothly transitioned were adapting the playing style to appreciative. I wish you a happy, healthy, The January issue was fantastic. The from chord to chord by lifting the various music genres. Blues musicians holy, joyous, and prosperous New Year! addition of color is great. Thanks for the strings. The device, the first pedal steel loved the slow mournful sound Johnnie Hoffman, Praha coverage of the Texas Chapter of PoLK guitar, marketed by Gibson Guitar produced when sliding a glass bottle of A. Any mention of the Klub is always Corporation, was unveiled in 1940 and or pocketknife along the neck. Early We really enjoy your newspaper. You are greatly appreciated. We always look called the Electraharp. Knee pedals 1900s jazz bands adjusted tunings to doing an absolutely great job on pictures, forward to the next edition. were later added to increase versatility get a snappy, sparkly sound which articles, and presentation. Gary, I really Clinton & Dorothy Ellebracht, Schulenburg by Zane Beck who backed Hank soon evolved into what later became enjoy your articles and especially the Williams, Jim Reeves and Webb Pierce. known as western swing. research you must do to get such details Wow! You and Gary sure make us look On both types of guitars, the frets Bob Wills' lap steel player, and in-depth information. Since being good. Knew there would be a picture but (those tiny raised bars on guitar necks Noel Boggs, was a friend of Charlie associated over the years with so many didn't expect this (being on the cover). used to produce different chords) are Christian, the renowned jazz guitarist, of the people you interview, I am able to What a great Christmas gift. Thanks to all never used. and began emulating his sound. Boggs associate with many of the events that are of your staff for a great job and here's to is also credited with adding a second described. It is sad that over time, much the best of 2016 for all of you. ALOHA neck to the steel. The versatile lap of this will be lost. Theresa, we enjoy your Russell & Barbie Loitz, Houston The “delicate instrument,” as Mike steel guitar has become a standard take on life and how polka music/dancing Brinkmeyer of The Telstars describes instrument used in thousands of bands adds so much. Your cute jokes at the of the it, had its origins in Hawaii. In Continued on page 8 Page 4 Texas Polka News - February 2016 yard of their farmhouse, play the Cotton Patch Picker accordion, and everyone would sing By Gary E. McKee Czech songs. David jokes that being cotton farmers made them so poor Whenever Charles and the that all they could afford for lawn Fabulous Four announce that [Got furniture were rocks. (At least they a] Little Bit of Heaven is the next wouldn't blow away.) song, a small crowd gathers in front Growing up in Central Texas in of the steel guitarist. This group the 1950s, it was next to impossible knows that what they will hear next to escape music with the likes of will generate some goose bumps as Jimmy Brosch and the Happy David Simper serenades them with Country Boys, the Joe Patek his distinctive warble and better- Orchestra, Frank Migl Orchestra than-original rendition of this classic (just to scratch the surface), and song. KCTI polka radio all playing in David hails from Moulton, your proverbial backyard. David Texas - the same cotton farming was absorbing it all between cotton community as Adolph Hofner. crops. Following in the Hofner tradition of David had learned to play his mixing Czech polkas and country/ father's accordion by the age of 12. George and the Country Boys at Corn Cob Hill (l-r): Melvin Tousek, Willie Simper, David Simper, swing music, David is equally at ease He got his first gig (non-paying) at and George Simper. picking out honky-tonk (Nobody's the Moulton church picnic playing legs and a bracket for the guitar out band with a rock influence, soon Fool But Mine) as he is singing a the music for the cakewalk (similar of barn lightening rods and a car's became a well-known country band. polka in Czech (Julida). to musical chairs). At some point, steering wheel to allow him to stand After a couple of years with the his father had bought an old lap steel and play. Shortly thereafter in the band, David had enough extra bucks SING ALONG guitar from his uncle. David "started mid-1950s, the Simper brothers, to purchase a pedal steel guitar. This Around 1950, David's father would messing around with it" and took George, Willie, and David formed upgrade greatly expanded the band's set his kids on rocks in the front a liking to it. His father engineered a band (along with two friends) sound. It took a while to master this 8TH ANNUAL appropriately called, George and sensitive instrument. At a gig in the Country Boys. At Saint Gerard's front of the LBJ Student Center in ✩ ✩ ✩ ✩ ✩ ✩ ✩ ✩ Parish in San Antonio, he played his San Marcos the band was playing Best Little first of over 60 New Year's Eve gigs. in the shade of some massive pecan The band played polkas, waltzes, trees. After intermission, David Cowboy Gathering in Texas and country music wherever they returned to his steel to find that the THURSDAY-SUNDAY would get paid, even Corn Cob Hill, tree had wept its sap over the strings outside of Moulton. making it sticky to play and out of March 10-13, 2016 After the family went their tune for the rest of the set. Fayette County Fairgrounds - La Grange, TX separate ways, David and his lap In the mid-60s rock and roll MAIN STAGE LINEUP FEATURING: steel guitar played in a series of was king with The Triumphs, The Jeff Woolsey • Rance Norton • Landon Dodd •Jason Roberts • K.R. Wood groups, Jessie Lee and the Texas Barons, and The Moods ruling Kristyn Harris • Devon Dawson • Ginny Mac • Jean Prescott • Brook Wallace Valley Boys, The Henkhous the roost. This left The Velvets to Jody Nix • Lake Travis Fiddlers • Billy Mata • Johnny Bush Playboys, and The Schuck Brothers focus on country music that quickly for a number of years. developed a hardcore following. At DANCE HALL SCHEDULE times, they crossed paths playing THURSDAY: Rance Norton • Curtis Potter • Darrell & Mona McCall • Tony Booth VELVET REVELATION battle dances which boded well for FRIDAY: Rocky King • Jeff Woolsey • Jake and Tommy Hooker In 1961, Donnie Florus and James ticket sales, but also at times turned SATURDAY: Jody Nix • Billy Mata Farek, from the Flatonia area, volatile. Willie Nelson hadn't arrived PLUS: BBQ Cookoff • Jody Nix Fiddle Extravaganza • Chuckwagon Exhibits (who both had been in The Schuck on the scene to make peace between Sunday Cowboy Church • Dutch Oven Demonstrations • Children Events Brothers) approached David about the country crowd and the long- Andalusian Horse Demonstrations • Western Arts & Craft Show and much more! playing in their new band called The haired rock and rollers. Velvets. David agreed and ended up PROCEEDS BENEFIT YOUTH SCHOLARSHIPS playing steel guitar for 19 years. The STANDING ROOM ONLY For Schedule of Events, Complete Motel Listings, RV Park Info, visit us at: Velvets core members consisted of The band was getting more popular Donnie and Tony Florus, Joe Woods, every year. A dance schedule from BestLittleCowboyGathering.org James Farek, Abel Rodriguez, and August 1978 showed The Velvets Free parking for self-contained RVs | BYOB - Beer and Setups Available David. What started out as a country performing 28 gigs that month. Texas Polka News - February 2016 Page 5 was a sponsored band, meaning them for six years before the grind of someone else paid the overhead of the road wore him down as he was performing. ROR's popularity grew still working his day job at Kasper and they were soon having their gear Wire Works in Shiner. hauled by an 18-wheeler with state- After he caught his breath, David of-the-art lighting and computer- was once again drafted into a friend's controlled sound systems. It was a band that eventually became the long way from the sparseness of his Tim Hall Band and this lasted for first band playing at Corn Cob Hill several years. Presently he is giving with hardly a PA system. David said goose bumps to folks in Charles and that he could have been a grandpa the Fabulous Four. So, check the to the rest of the musicians, but they TPN listings to see this great band. treated him well, and he was with David said, "I would appreciate it."

The Velvets (l-r): Tony Florus, Donnie Florus, James Farek, Abel Rodriguez, David Simper, and Joe Woods. Every first Saturday, they played (Apartment Number Nine), Tony 1st1st TexasTexas Shiner, the next Saturday they were Booth (Key's in the Mailbox) and in El Campo, and Moulton was the many others. The most well-known IndependenceIndependence following Saturday. This schedule star that they backed up was Bob Songwriter’sSongwriter’s went on for years. This writer Wills. During the 60s, Wills' time as remembers frequent gigs at Cistern a big band leader had passed and he FestivalFestival hall on Sunday nights during the was touring with just a guitar player, school year. trusting the promoter to provide an In between standing Saturday adequate band. The Velvets backed rch 4-6, 20 dances were dates in Austin, him up in Moulton and later in Mar 16 Houston (Bill Mraz and Dancetown Swiss Alp. David still remembers USA,) San Marcos, Wharton, when it came time for a steel guitar Hallettsville, and Victoria; in solo and THE Bob Wills pointed addition to New Bielau, Freyburg, his fiddle bow at David and said his Go and Swiss Alp halls. Late during famous, "Take it away." The reality nzales, TX a gig after Christmas at Mraz's of who was telling him to take it Ballroom, Rudy Mraz handed away hit home, and "I just played the Florus a napkin written upon "2800 best I could." After two decades of Friday - March 4 Confirmed TICKETS SOLD BLOW IT OUT!" juggling the late hours and a day job, artists include: (the hall only held 2,000.) The Velvets finally slowed down and 7pm Open Mic, Templin Saloon After the Urban Cowboy went into hibernation with frequent Live Music, Running M Bar & Grill Mitch Jacobs phenomena burst upon the scene in reunion shows. Emily Herring 1980, things got really busy for this Saturday - March 5 ($10 Day Pass) Chuck Hawthorne Flatonia band. Between Don Florus' STEEL FEVER Songwriter 40-minute shows Bill Pekar fiddle and David's steel guitar, and After playing thousands of one-night Beginning @ 1pm, Templin Saloon the bands 15+ years of experience, gigs, David took a year off, but when Beginning @ 1:30pm, Running M they were the one of the best, and a friend started a band, and asked NNING RU most sought after country bands. if he would be their steel player, he Sunday - March 6

By then the KCs were building large agreed and joined Country Fever. 12:30pm Gospel Music capacity halls in Hallettsville and El Several years later, David attended Texas-Style Brunch, Templin Saloon Campo. The Velvets packed them all. a wedding reception at which Their high visibility got Rhythm of the Road was playing. For more information: them jobs opening up or backing He was impressed and asked if they 713-598-6331 touring acts such as Bobby Austin needed a steel guitar player. ROR Page 6 Texas Polka News - February 2016 with the intricate instrument, he dance hall circuit for 11 years with took a while to get the basics down Soybean Steel was about to give up, however he The Spurs of Country Music, The but after that it became a labor of By Gary E. McKee stuck with it for a year before he felt Bush Riders, and Whiskey River love as he was able to express the comfortable. Band before taking a decade off for emotions of the songs he played. family. In 1997, Buddy Boehm from Craig Schmidt had been playing Hallettsville coaxed Craig out of STEEL CONFIDENCE bass in a country band since the age retirement to play steel for his new With self-confidence, Dennis joined of 13 when the bass player in his band, The Country Knights for a group of like-minded young men older brother’s band (The Outlawed several years. assembled in Hallettsville to see Four) quit and he was drafted into Currently Craig holds down the if they could play music together. the position. When he saw Hal Rug, steel position slot in the Doug Boggs They were Jody Hermes, Alvin staff steel player for the Grand Ole and Cowboy Jazz Band out of (A.J.) Drabek, Hubert Janak, Hubert Opry, on the Wilburn Brothers' Spring, and occasionally performs at Darilek, Shorty Pavlas, Valentine TV show, Craig knew that was the the All Cowboy Church in Sealy. Janak, and Dennis. They found they only instrument he really wanted could and began playing the honky- to play. tonks and local parties. For years he stood in the back Craig Schmidt/McKee photo Surrounded by This was a training ground for of the stage watching various steel these young musicians to go their guitar players take hot solos and HEADED TO THE OPRY Music separate ways, joining other bands make their instruments cry and sing. Fortunately for Central Texas, that are still playing today. After In the mid-1970s, Craig and his wife By Gary E. McKee Craig mastered it. Every month will several years, Dennis upgraded to a farmed land down in Speaks, and find Craig on stage backing up a pedal steel guitar and joined Gene one year their soybean crop sold The title pretty much sums up wide variety of musicians from the Drozd and The Westerners making above average. His wife, aware of his Dennis Shimek's childhood and classically trained Jordan Sisters his steel cry and sing for the folks fascination with the steel, slipped on adult life. His grandfather on his to honky-tonker Darrell McCall as of Central Texas for 15 years. The down to Parker Music in Houston mother's side was Rudy Kurtz of a member of the house band at the Westerners were the house band for and bought one, bringing it home the Kurtz Orchestra. When his Rosenberg, Giddings, Brenham, La Hallettsville's Fiddler's Frolics and and surprising him. Well, Craig mother, Helen, was six she learned Grange, Edna, and Bastrop Opry backed up the star performers. thought, I guess I better learn how to the button accordion and along with shows. Playing with constantly The uniqueness of the steel play it. four of her brothers started a musical changing lead musicians and quickly guitar has made Dennis in demand Craig's pursuit of Buddy legacy. Wence Shimek met Helen at adapting to their styles is a treat and for groups that want the country Emmons' (world's foremost steel a Kurtz performance and decided to learning experience (see TPN for and western sound. Add to that his guitarist) ability to get a glass-like capitalize on their common interest dates). Czech/polka background and that ring out of his instrument was the in music. They married and formed Before he became an Opry star, sound that kept him practicing. the Wence Shimek Band, which Craig did his time in the honky-tonk After several weeks of wrestling eventually included four of their sons and one of their daughters (they had 13 children together.) After Rudy Kurtz retired from the stage the two bands blended together Bobby Flores and the Wence Shimek Orchestra Performances carried on the family tradition. LABOR OF LOVE Sat Ft. Worth Stagecoach Bobby/Band 8:45P-12:15A The Vrazels Polka Band and The Feb 6 Ballroom 817-831-2261 2516 E Belknap Lee Roy Matocha Orchestra were the two main groups in the 1960s Fri 8th Western Canton Civic Bobby/Band 2-4P, 8-10P Feb 12 Swing Center, 800 Flea 903-245-6300 and 70s that included steel guitar Valentine Market Rd swingcanton.com players. Wence and Helen's son, Party Canton Dennis, had always been fascinated Sat Black & Red Farm Country Bobby/Band TBA with the sound of the steel guitar Feb 13 Ball Bandera Club, 347 Pue Rd 830-589-2276 as he grew up surrounded by Feb 6th Western Leaving from Bobby/Band 432-689-3500 instruments. While in his teens he 21-28 Swing Cruise Galveston procured a lap steel and listened to records over and over figuring out For more info on Bobby, the band, & his record company, please visit how to emulate the complicated BobbyFloresBand.com and YellowRoseRecords.com sounds of the famous steel players. It Dennis Shimek/McKee photo Texas Polka News - February 2016 Page 7 makes him a double ringer for bands usually a jazz chord structure. It's Harris, Mikki Daniels, and Hailey Feb. 15 in the Polka Belt. Presently, Dennis also just a bunch of fun to play and I Sandoz, are winning music awards The Best Little Cowboy spreads his skills between Texas would like to see and hear more of it, and making their mark in western Gathering, La Grange, March 10-13. Sound Check, The J & S Playboys especially locally. music by keeping the music alive and 32nd Texas Steel Guitar Assoc. (Hubert Janak and Dennis Shimek), So, the following is in part from bringing in younger audiences. Jamboree, Irving - March 10-13 Texas Dream Band, and his own the Western Swing Music Hall of Here are some upcoming cowboy Texas Western Swing Hall of country-flavored band, Southern Fame website and some of my own and western swing events: Fame Show, San Marcos - April 1-3 Express. words. Ray Benson solo at the Bugle Boy, Check out Western Swing Lucky for us, Dennis said, "I will Western swing music was named La Grange - Thurs., Feb. 11 Monthly: wsmonthlyonline.com keep entertaining folks until the day the Official Music of the Great 8th Western Swing Valentine for western swing events and news. I die." State of Texas by the 82nd State Party, Canton - Feb. 11-13 Also, the Texas Polka News has it all! Legislature on June 17, 2011. It is Darrell McCall at Fayette County Happy trails and please support the only musical style that was born Country Opry, La Grange - Mon., live music. Western Swing and raised right here in Texas. The

Texas Western Swing Hall of Fame is By Mike Stroup 625 N. Main, Schulenburg, TX located in San Marcos, TX. 979-743-4752 Mike Stroup is a Central Texas troubadour Western swing has its roots in Open Thurs, Fri, Sat 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. who has performed all over the state, from country, blues, big band swing, texaspolkamuseum.com the Bill Mraz Ballroom to swing festivals early fiddle band music, cowboy actually in the Western part of Texas and and gospel, and Dixieland each of Bands of Texas Volume 4 CD all points in between. He currently spreads which influenced this new musical Now Available! his hot guitar chording and picking at Dedicated to Museum’s 10th Anniversary style coming out of the 1930s. The intimate venues in CenTex such as The music pioneers most credited with The Museum honors Texas Polka Bands of European ancestry - Czech, Red Vault (Flatonia) and Hickory Hollow German, Polish - and polka DJs. Select from over 75 CDs plus TPMM CD (Houston Heights.) He still performs with this style are Milton Brown, Spade Cooley, and Bob Wills and The collection (Volumes 1-4), Czech song books, TPMM shirts and caps. the Wild River Band (Houston) which For more information contact: features Herb Remington (Bob Wills) on Texas Playboys. Herb Schneider, Home (281) 807-3244, Cell (832) 477-0648 steel guitar. Mike is also a director of the Two of the musicians from The or Brian Svetlik (979) 541-6166 Schulenburg Sausage Festival. Texas Playboys can still be heard performing with western swing bands: Leon Rausch, former vocalist beginning in 1958, and Herb 3rd Annual Remington, the steel guitar player from 1948–1952. Schulenburg SausageFest Ray Benson and Asleep at the Saturday, April 2nd, 2016 Wheel are at present carrying the banner for this music. The 11:30am-10:00pm popular Wheel tours year around, recording with major acts such as Willie Nelson and George Strait. SAUSAGE-MAKING CONTESTS The past and present members NEW CONTESTS: HOMEMADE WINE, SAUERKRAUT, AND PICKLES of the Wheel are a who's who of Some judges will be chosen from the audience….it could be you! the finest musicians. Having the best musicians available continues The Shiner Hobo Band - 12:00-2:00 Mike Stroup another practice of Bob Wills. The Czechaholics - 2:30-4:30 Though many of the original In 1990 I was in Heights Sound swing musicians have left us, western Mark Halata & Texavia - 5:00-7:00 Studio (Anderson Fair, Houston) swing bands are alive and well Texas Dream - 7:30-Close recording an album with friends performing at dances, western swing when Karl Caillouet (engineer/ festivals, and cowboy gatherings. FREE ADMISSION producer/bassist) queued a CD Western swing and cowboy music Street Dance • Arts & Crafts Booths • Food Booths Open at 12:00 by Tom Morrell and The Time are a close fit and seem to share a Children's Activities 1:00-5:00 Easter Bunny 3:00-5:00 Warp Tophands. I haven't stopped western feel and sound. The Western Antique Cars and Tractors • Motorcycles listening and playing western swing Music Association promotes western (Downtown Schulenburg on historic North Main Street) since. music and mentors young musicians For information call the Greater Schulenburg Chamber of Commerce Western swing has a swingy (is in cowboy poetry and music. Many 979-743-4514 or 866-504-5294 or E-mail: [email protected] that a word?), bouncy feel to it with of these musicians, such as Kristyn www.SchulenburgSausageFest.com Page 8 Texas Polka News - February 2016 Editor's Log Continued from page 3 from Bob Wills to Lawrence Welk to Pink Floyd. I recently watched as Robert Randolph backed by two other steel players performed several Jimi Hendrix compositions at a tribute concert. (Yes, he lifted it up and played it behind his back.) It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that all the TPN readers have heard a lap steel. Remember a dreamy, belt-buckle polishing song by Santo & Johnny: Sleepwalk? This instrumental, released in 1959, was played on a triple-necked Fender lap steel and caused a spike in sales for steel Cindy Cashdollar Jimmy Day Herb Remington/McKee photo manufacturers and became the most requested steel guitar song. added the pedals to his lap steel, the tune their extra necks a certain way to DAY OF STEEL A style known as Sacred Steel is floodgates of innovation opened. eliminate retuning for a different song. As a youngster, Jimmy Day had trouble played in churches, particularly those Musicians began experimenting with David Simper likes a double neck, so learning the conventional guitar, but with gospel choirs. The steel's unique multiple necks, distortion devices, if he breaks a string he instantly jumps when he saw Shot Jackson playing a ability to mimic and accompany "normal" electric guitar pickups to the other. lap steel in 1949, he found musical human voices blends with the choir (Telecaster and Stratocaster), knee salvation. He took to the steel and by the voices. Check it out on YouTube. levers, and extra pedals to produce a STEEL MAGNOLIAS age of 16 was a regular in the honky- In 1939, when Alvino Rey multitude of sounds in one song. Some The steel guitar is not just a man's tonks, then graduated to the Louisiana instrument as there is a video clip Hayride. showing a 5-year-old girl playing He went into the studio and a steel on the Mickey Mouse Club. recorded a single with Webb Pierce and SOUTH TEXAS Barbara Mandrell, born in Houston, pianist Floyd Cramer, which hit number POLKA & SAUSAGE FEST was a child prodigy, reading music and one the day before his 18th birthday. playing accordion at the age of five. Not slowing down, he was in Hank MARCH 18, 19, & 20, 2016 By her early teens, Chet Atkins had Williams' band when Hank died. He Knights of Columbus Hall • Hallettsville, TX discovered her steel playing abilities, then backed up Red Sovine, Jim Reeves, Sponsored by Knights of Columbus Council #2433 and soon she was playing steel for Lefty Frizzell. His final lap steel session Patsy Cline, Johnny Cash, and George was with some guy named Elvis Presley. FRIDAY NIGHT SUNDAY Jones. Just as Barbara was giving us Day finally got his hands (and feet) on 6:00 - 11:00 p.m. 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. her farewell tour in the late 1990s, a pedal steel guitar and he never looked back. He stayed with Presley until he THE CZECHAHOLICS SHINER HOBO BAND rumors of another young lady virtuoso went Hollywood, and then Day hooked THE MORAVIANS BATTLE DANCE began surfacing. up with Ray Price to record Crazy Arms. FISH FRY - Starting at 5:00 p.m. 1:00 - 8:00 p.m. Cindy Cashdollar had moved to Dine In or Plates To Go ENNIS CZECH BOYS By then Day was only 21. Austin after perfecting her lap steel Day convinced his mentor, Shot LEO MAJEK ORCHESTRA and dobro skills by backing up Paul SATURDAY THE RED RAVENS Jackson, to build a custom-built guitar, 3:00 p.m. KofC Hall Butterfield, Levon Helm, and Rick which he named "Blue Darlin." After POLKA MASS CONCERT Danko of The Band. She quickly 4:30 - 5:00 p.m. a two-year stint, he toured with Webb Supper: Meal to be served at 4:00 p.m. found a seat in Asleep at the Wheel's Pierce and Ernest Tubb and then Dance: 5:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. Meal Begins at 10:30 a.m. music bus. After eight years with the DUJKA BROTHERS & JODIE MIKULA Serving throughout the afternoon rejoined Price's Cherokee Cowboys. Wheel, she began backing up Bob Playing with them for three more years Dylan, Van Morrison, Ryan Adams, Sausage, Sauerkraut, German Potatoes & Kolaches he and the bass player, Willie Nelson, Featuring homemade chicken noodle soup and appearing semi-regularly on struck out on their own. The following $10.00 Prairie Home Companion. During FRIED CHICKEN will also be served on SUNDAY Per Person - Per Day decades had him playing session work All net proceeds benefit Knights of Columbus Fund (Does not include cost of meal) this time she racked up five Grammy with a who's who of country music for Sacred Heart School Athletic Program awards and was Instrumentalist of the (short list): Willie, George Jones, Ferlin Year in the Western Swing category for Husky, Leon Russell, Clay Baker, CAMPER HOOK-UPS | www.KCHall.com | More Information: (361) 798-2311 the Academy of Western Artists. Charlie Louvin, and Don Walser. Texas Polka News - February 2016 Page 9 I included this short bio of Jimmy Opry in Nashville in 1945. Bob and The songs they made famous live on Day for the reason that in the late TPN Archives the band also appeared in several today and are standard fare for the 70s, he was playing in the Central REMEMBERING BOB WILLS movies during the 40’s. scores of western swing bands that Texas area, doing session work with Continued from page 3 While national radio exposure keep the music alive. San Antonio Willie and Johnny Bush. In between helped popularize the new brand of Rose, Faded Love, Maiden’s Prayer, sessions he would play with the music, playing dances was Bob’s real Take Me Back to Tulsa, Yearning, Lily Clay Baker Band at the Cheatham love. Dale, Bubbles in My Beer, Hubbin It, Street Warehouse in San Marcos. I “Bob was a stylish, western rogue,” My Life’s Been a Pleasure, Stay All frequented the honky-tonk where says Ray Benson, a disciple of Wills Night, and so many more. the alternating band was Ace In the and leader of the Grammy-winning Bob continued to perform Hole with a kid named George Strait group Asleep at the Wheel. “He throughout the 50s and 60s, but health singing. danced onstage, he was outrageous. concerns became an issue, including During intermissions I would He strutted like a peacock, unheard of strokes. Bob died in May 1975, age 70. sit back stage with Jimmy and listen back in those days,” said Benson. The King was dead. to his stories of the road and playing Over the years, many of the great But his music is with us. with my idols, which the few stories and near great worked The Playboys. Deep with our heart lies his melody… I remember (blame it on 50-cent beer) are not printable in this paper. Western swing legend Bob Wills. He was just a regular guy, who had His 100th birthday is oberserved Mar. 6 (2005). experienced so much of the music scene. When the band struck up a Jim Rob Wills was only ten years note, Jimmy would flick his cigarette old in 1915 when he fiddled at his first away and say "gotta go play" and play dance in Turkey (TX), being called to he did! fill in for his daddy, also the son of a Saturday, March 5 Note: I know this just scratches the fiddler. It was the first of thousands DaCosta Hermann Sons Hall surface about the steel guitar. Rest of nights on stage over the next six assured, there will be more to the story decades. in future issues. Then earning a living as a barber and salesman, the musician Bob kept working to develop the blend of Tex- INSTRUMENT OF THE SOUL Mex, Dixieland, Tin Pan Alley pop, Brandon Hodde, a muti- and big band jazz that evolved into instrumentalist, has been learning to western swing. play the steel for less than a year and His first big break came in 1930 these are his thoughts: I would have with a daily radio show for his band, to say that the steel guitar is definitely the Aladdin Laddies, on Fort Worth a challenge. But you can't express radio WPAB. When Aladdin Lamp yourself - emotions, nor feelings - as dropped sponsorship, the band 8 pm-midnight $10/person, ages 12 and up fully on any other instrument like became The Light Crust Doughboys, Needville Knights of Columbus 7067 you can on the steel guitar! There is named after the new sponsor. Thus 22nd Annual something about it that just lets you began Bob’s association with Burrus’ put your soul into it! Light Crust Flou and W. Lee “Pappy” O’Daniel. In 1932, the association with Polka Fest O’Daniel broke down (in part due to Bob’s drinking) so Bob (with brother Sunday, March 13 Johnnie Lee) took off for Waco, Texas, 1-6 PM $10/person where his band the Texas Playboys KC Hall, hwy 36, needville was truly born, playing frequently on radio station WACO. Featuring From there, they moved on to Red Ravens & Czechaholics Tulsa (OK) finding their long running Battle Dance national radio home on KVOO, broadcasting daily from Cain’s Kiobasa sausage, sauerkraut, German potatoes Ballroom for eight years (see “Cain’s $8/plate dine-in only / $3 Pitchers of beer – The House That Bob Built” in TPN, Sponsors: Lad's Smokehouse-Needville * Western Power & June 2004). Hardware-Needville * CNS Welding-Rosenberg * Finnegan Chrysler/ Bob and the Texas Playboys were Jeep/Dodge-Rosenberg * Finnegan Chevy/GMC/Buick-Rosenberg Brandon Hodde/McKee photo invited to perform at The Grand Ole All proceeds benefit KC Charities kc7067.com Page 10 Texas Polka News - February 2016 wines and Czech mead from local nationally, reservations only by Feb. 8. Tickets Treat Your wineries. John earned are $75 per person and includes all Dinner will be served at 6 pm in his Bachelor drinks, appetizers, dinner, concert Sweetheart For the Hanslik Banquet Hall. A delicious and Master of and roses for attendees. Only 80 Valentine's Day! four-course meal and dessert will be Music degrees tickets will be sold and the proceeds served to your table as you dine with in Music benefit the TCHCC. Enjoy a formal evening at the friends. The highlight of the evening Performance at For more information or to reserve Valentine Dinner and Piano will follow with the Grand Piano the University your tickets, see ad, this page. Concert sponsored by the Texas Czech Concert featuring pianist John Dujka, of Houston Heritage and Cultural Center in La who will be performing a variety of Moore's School Grange on Sat., Feb. 13. The evening classical and Czech favorites. of Music where Polka On! Mardi Gras will begin at 4 pm with a A well-known entertainer and he studied with Albert Hirsh, Ruth social, featuring appetizers, along with musician throughout Texas and Tomfohrde, and Abbey Simon. Style A member of the Blinn College, The International Dance Club of Social 4-6P / Dinner 6P / Concert 7P Brenham faculty since 1990, John is an active recitalist and collaborative Colorado Springs invites you to laissez John Dujka will pianist, and maintains a private piano les bons temps rouler at its 35th Texas Czech Heritage perform a variety studio in Brenham. He also produces annual Mardi Gras Polka Fest March and Cultural Center of Czech and 18-20. classical favorites. "Saturday Morning Dance Time," a radio program for KULP 1390 in El The fun begins on Friday with Presents Hanslik Hall Campo, now in its 13th year. And the opening ceremony, followed by Donation: John, along with his brother Mark, lots of dancing to the music of Julie Valentine Dinner $75/person by Feb. 8 Lee’s White Rose Band and the Top & Piano Concert Evening attire. Ticket includes all beverages, have been performing as the Dujka appetizers, dinner, dessert, wine, roses. Brothers since 1986, and are well- Notchmen. Sat.,Feb. 13 Benefits TCHCC Maintenance Fund. known for their arrangements of Doors open at 10:30 am on Czech music and new compositions. Saturday and Rick Borger kicks off 250 W. Fairgrounds Rd. La Grange, TX czechtexas.org Don’t miss this wonderful, one-of- the music at 11:30, followed by the Top Tickets: [email protected] / 1-888-785-4500 a-kind evening. Advance ticket Notchmen and Julie Lee. On Sunday, doors open at 11 am, and the Top Notchmen play from 12-4 The Czech polka bands of Ennis invite you to the 10th annual pm, followed by the closing ceremony. A pass for all three days is only $40. IDC President Judy Nelson has all the info on motels, campgrounds, and church services in the area. See Saturday, February 13, 2016 ad, this page, and contact her to make your reservations. 1:00PM to 10:30PM Mardi Gras Fest Visit the club's website to learn Sokol Activity Center more about this group that started in 2622 E Hwy 34 – Ennis, TX 75119 March 18, 19, 20, 2016 1969 and built their own dance hall. CZECH HARVESTERS 1:00 Colorado Springs, CO "Many people have come and gone Hosted by International Dance Club over the years, but what has endured is JODIE MIKULA ORCHESTRA 3:00 2422 Busch Ave. the keen friendship among members CZECH & THEN SOME 5:00 Julie Lee White Rose Band and their love of music and dance," MORAVIANS 7:00 Top Notchmen Judy said. ENNIS CZECH BOYS 9:00 Rick Borger Only $8 Per Person - Ages 13 & Under Free - Doors Open 12:00PM Reservations for 3 days No reservations - Kitchen Open - Cash Bar - Raffle Prizes only $40/person Dress casual, or this would be a great time to put on your “kroj” (CZECH COSTUME) At door Fri $16, Sat $21, Sun $10 Food/beverages available Feb 12th – Polka On! Pre-Party Cash bar (No BYOB) 6PM-11PM in Sokol Clubroom (back entrance) – DOORS OPEN 5PM - No cover charge OUT OF THE BOX Motel, campground & church Ennis’ newest & youngest polka band 7:00-11:00PM service info available. “This is a great way to extend your support & appreciation for Czech music & heritage” Stay tuned to the KBEC Polka Party 9AM-11AM every Sunday on KBEC 1390 or www.KBEC.com Reservations Judy Nelson 719-598-9774 www.EnnisCzechMusicFestival.com [email protected] Judy and Gary Nelson invite you to let the good [email protected] | 972-878-4748 | Like Us On Facebook InternationalDanceClub.org times roll in Colorado Springs! Texas Polka News - February 2016 Page 11

Sunday, February 7, 2016 SPJST Lodge 88 Houston |1435 Beall St.

Chris, Edita, and Kristina Rybak (right) with Czech tour guides Miroslav and Lenka. Fundraiser for the International Polka Association Rybaks Invite You to Sponsored by Texas Polka News Europe!

No doubt about it, Chris and Edita “Come on out and learn about the IPA and Rybak are established polka promoters its Hall of Fame, become a member, and help in Texas! Chris, sometimes referred to polka music stay alive and well!” as the Accordion Cowboy, performs regularly solo, and with his own band all across the state. Dance: 1:00-4:00pm Chris and Edita invite you to join Doors: 11am their European Tours in 2016 to Czech (only one intermission) Republic, Austria, Italy, the Vatican, and Germany. The tours are scheduled Sauerkraut Food Truck on site! from April 3-17 and Sept. 11-23. The tours feature the beautiful Meet and Greet scenery of towns, churches, castles, SqueezeBox members along with wine and beer tastings, a (Mollie B, Ted Lange, Mediterranean cruise, and shopping & Dana Lindblad) for souvenirs. All along the way Chris provides the music and has set up 11:30am -12:45pm polka parties with local bands and a Merchandise will be dinner cruise in Prague. available at this time. Whether you want to try pivo and kolaches in the Czech Republic Tickets are $12 in advance (available on the Internet only) or visit the pope at the Vatican, and $15 at the door. Kids 12 and under free. there is a tour for you! The flight, Reserved seats with advance tickets. 281-836-5362 hotel accommodations, luxury bus, program, meals, drinks, professional For advance tickets, visit SqueezeBoxBand.com, tour guide, and music are all included. click on “PURCHASE TICKETS,” For information and to make your then click on ticket and finish the order. reservations, see ad, this page. Page 12 Texas Polka News - February 2016 DANCES - FESTIVALS - EVENTS - LIVE MUSIC Monday, February 1 Saturday, February 6 Monday, February 8 Lechner's, 6-10P AUSTIN: Charles Thibodeaux/Austin AUSTIN: Charles Thibodeaux/Austin AUSTIN: Charles Thibodeaux/Austin PEARLAND: Enzian Buam @ King's Cajun Aces @ Evangeline Cafe, 6:30P Cajun Aces @ Callahans General Cajun Aces @ Evangeline Cafe, 6:30P Biergarten, 6-10P GIDDINGS: Lone Star Opry @ Store, 12-4P Giddings High School, 7:30P AUSTIN: Charles Thibodeaux/Austin Tuesday, February 9 Saturday, February 13 Cajun Aces @ Central Market N, 6:30P AUSTIN: Charles Thibodeaux/Austin AUSTIN: Charles Thibodeaux/Austin Tuesday, February 2 COLUMBUS: Lost Cause @ Shaws Cajun Aces @ All Saints Episcopal Cajun Aces @ Sunset Valley Farmer’s GERONIMO: The Gathering Music Bend Social Club, 8:30P-12:30A Church, 3:30-6P Market, 10A-12P Show @ VFW, 7P FORT WORTH: Bobby Flores/Yellow AUSTIN: Charles Thibodeaux/Austin BANDERA: Bobby Flores/Yellow Rose GEORGE WEST: Brush Country Rose Band @ Stagecoach Ballroom, Cajun Aces @ Evangeline Cafe, 7:30P Band @ Farm Country Club, TBA (Ad Jamboree with Billy Mata @ Dobie 8:45P-12:15A (Ad p. 6) HOUSTON: German Singing Society p. 6) West Theater, 7P GATESVILLE: Spur City Rounders @ @ Liederkranz Hall, 7P CANTON: 8th Western Swing HOUSTON: German Singing Society VFW, 8P NEW BRAUNFELS: Fat Tuesday – Valentine Party @ Civic Center @ Liederkranz Hall, 7P GRANGER: People’s Choice @ Cotton Alex Meixner @ Brauntex Theater, Billy Mata/Texas Tradition, Jason HOUSTON: Houston Accordion Club, 9P-1A 7:30-9:30P Roberts Band Association Jam @ Son Nam GRANGER: Squeezebox @ Sts. Cyril/ ENNIS: 10th Czech Music Fest Vietnamese Restaurant, 6:30P Methodius Rec Center, 6-10P Wednesday, February 10 @ Sokol Hall, 1-10:30P - Czech HOUSTON: Alex Meixner @ HOUSTON: Das Ist Lustig @ Rudi Harvesters, Jodie Mikula Orchestra, Wednesday, February 3 Liederkranz Hall, 7-10P Lechner's, 6-10P Czech & Then Some, Moravians, HALLETTSVILLE: Squeezebox @ KC HOUSTON: Moonglow Orchestra SAN ANTONIO: Countrymen @ Ennis Czech Boys (Ad p. 10) Hall, 7-10P (Mardi Gras) @ SPJST Lodge 88, Martinez Social Club, 7:30-10:30P GRANGER: Kenny Orts @ Cotton HOUSTON: Das Ist Lustig @ Rudi 8-11:30P (Ad p. 21) SCHULENBURG: Pettit Brothers @ Club, 9P-1A Lechner's, 6-10P LIBERTY: Liberty Opry on the Square Sengelmann Hall, 7P HOUSTON: Das Ist Lustig @ Rudi SAN ANTONIO: Rex McNeil @ – Gospel, 2P Lechner's, 6-10P Martinez Social Club, 7:30-10:30P MARATHON: Community Center Thursday, February 11 HOUSTON: The Fab Five (Beatles SCHULENBURG: Pettit Brothers @ Fundraiser/Fish Fry - Justin Trevino, CANTON: 8th Western Swing Tribute) @ SPJST Lodge 88, 8-11:30P Sengelmann Hall, 7P 6P-12A, Dance @ 8P Valentine Party @ Civic Center (Ad p. 21) NEW BADEN: New Baden Jamboree Justin Trevino & Amber Digby, Hoss LLANO: Johnny Bush 81st Birthday Thursday, February 4 @ Community Center, 6-10P Huggins/Ponderosa Band Bash @ Llano Country Opry, 2:30 & AUSTIN: Charles Thibodeaux/Austin PEARLAND: Enzian Buam @ King's DRIPPING SPRINGS (Austin): 7:30P Cajun Aces @ Cypress Grill, 6:30P Biergarten, 5-10P Charles Thibodeaux/Austin Cajun LIBERTY: Liberty Opry on the Square BASTROP: Farm Street Opry @ PROCTOR: Jeff Woolsey/Dancehall Aces @ Hudson’s on Mercer, 7-10P - 50s & 60s Sweetheart Show, 2P Bastrop Convention Center, 7P Kings @ River Club, TBA EL CAMPO: Charlie Merta @ PEARLAND: Enzian Buam @ King's EL CAMPO: Texas Mavericks @ ROUND TOP: Round Top-Carmine American Legion, 7:30-10P (Ad p. 23) Biergarten, 5-10P American Legion, 7:30-10P (Ad p. 23) Foundation Fundraiser w/Charles/Fab HOUSTON: Das Ist Lustig @ Rudi ROSENBERG: Texas Sound Check MISSION: Squeezebox @ Bentsen 4 @ Rifle Hall, 8-11P Lechner's, 6-10P (Happy Cousins Club) @ American Grove, 7P WEBSTER: Kenny James @ Alpine Legion, 8-11:30P THE WOODLANDS: Mike Gest/ Brauhaus, 6-9P Friday, February 12 SAN ANTONIO: Cactus Country @ CANTON Night Session (60+ Dance Club) @ S. YOAKUM: Los Kolaches (Pearl City : 8th Western Swing Leon Springs Dancehall, 8P TOMBALL County Community Center, 6:30-9:30P Club) @ Turner Hall, 8P-12A Valentine Party @ Civic Center : Annual Valentine’s Dance TOMBALL: Alex Meixner @ Main Jeff Woolsey/Dancehall Kings, Bobby w/The Telstars @ VFW, 8P-12A Street Crossing, 8P Sunday, February 7 Flores/Yellow Rose Band WEBSTER: Kenny James @ Alpine AUSTIN: Charles Thibodeaux/Austin CONROE: JEM Dandy Legends Brauhaus, 6-9P Friday, February 5 Cajun Aces @ The Continental Club, (60+ Dance Club) @ Conroe Activity EAGLE LAKE 3:30-6:30P Center, 6:30-10P Sunday, February 14 : Lazy Farmers @ ELGIN: Dujka Brothers @ SPJST HOUSTON: James Garner Band @ CORPUS CHRISTI: Dancehall Community Center, 7:30-10:30P Lodge 18, 3-7P (Ad p. 15) VFW #10352, 2-6P (Ad, p. 20) Sounds @ VFW #3837, 8P-12A ENNIS: Alex Meixner @ KJT Hall, GERONIMO: Glen Collins/Alibi @ HOUSTON: International Polka ENNIS: Ennis Czech Music Fest Polka 7:30-11P VFW, 3-6:30P Association Fundraiser – Squeezebox On! Pre-Party - Out of the Box Band GRANGER: The Pearl Snaps @ GRANGER: Can’t Hardly Playboyz @ @ SPJST Lodge 88, 1-4P (Ad p. 11) @ Sokol Clubroom, 6-11P (Ad p. 10) Cotton Club, 8:30P-12A Cotton Club, 5-10P ROUND TOP: Polka Bowl 2016 FORT WORTH: Jason Roberts @ Lil’ MISSION HOUSTON: Detour @ VFW #10352, : Squeezebox @ Mission w/Alex Meixner @ Rifle Hall, Reds Longhorn Saloon, 9:15P-1A Bell RV Resort, 7-10P GRANGER: Scooter Dubec @ Cotton 2-6P (Ad, p. 20) videotaping & Super Bowl halftime NEW BRAUNFELS: Barefoot Becky PEARLAND: Enzian Buam @ King's SAN ANTONIO: Country Tradition Club, 8:30P-12A Biergarten, 6-10P HOUSTON: Das Ist Lustig @ Rudi (Goodtime Club) @ Eagles Hall, 3-7P @ Martinez Social Club, 3-6:30P (Ad p. 18) Texas Polka News - February 2016 Page 13 DANCES - FESTIVALS - EVENTS - LIVE MUSIC

PEARLAND: Enzian Buam @ King's @ Conroe Activity Center, 6:30-10P Cajun Aces @ Evangeline Cafe, 6:30P @ Leon Springs Dancehall, 8P Biergarten, 5-10P GRANGER: Clayton Caster @ Cotton SAN ANTONIO: San Antonio WEBSTER: Kenny James @ Alpine SAN ANTONIO: Jim Byrom @ Club, 8:30P-12A Accordion Assoc. Meeting, 6P Brauhaus, 6-9P Martinez Social Club, 3-6:30P PEARLAND: Enzian Buam @ King's @ Chester’s Hamburgers, SEATON (Temple): Jerry Haisler/ Biergarten, 6-10P Sunday, February 28 Melody 5 @ Sefcik Hall, 6-10P PHARR: Barefoot Becky @ Pharr Tuesday, February 23 ELGIN: Glen Collins @ SPJST Lodge SWEET HOME: Nathan Colt Young @ South Park, 7-10P (Ad p. 17) EDNA: Flag City Opry @ Jackson 18, 3-7P (Ad p. 15) Community Center, 2-6P (Ad p. 15) County Services Building, 7P ELLINGER: Charles/Fab 4 @ C of C Saturday, February 20 HOUSTON: German Singing Society Hall, 1-4:30P Monday, February 15 ANHALT: Billy Mata @ Anhalt Hall, @ Liederkranz Hall, 7P GERONIMO: Countrymen @ VFW, AUSTIN: Charles Thibodeaux/Austin 8P-12A 3-6:30P Cajun Aces @ Evangeline Cafe, 6:30P CYCLONE: Red Ravens @ SPJST Flag Wednesday, February 24 GRANGER: Can’t Hardly Playboyz @ LA GRANGE: Fayette County Hall, 7-11P HOUSTON: Das Ist Lustig @ Rudi Cotton Club, 5-10P Country Opry featuring Darrell GOLIAD: Scott Taylor Band @ Lechner's, 6-10P HOUSTON: Texas Roadrunners @ McCall @ KC Hall, 7:30P (Doors open Schroeder Hall, 8P SAN ANTONIO: S.A. Country @ VFW #10352, 2-6P (Ad, p. 20) 5:30P, $5) GRANGER: Johnny Bush @ Cotton Martinez Social Club, 7:30-10:30P LA VERNIA: Litt’l Fishermen @ MISSION: Barefoot Becky @ Mission Club, 9P-1A Christ Lutheran Church (Church Bell RV Resort, 7-10P (Ad p. 17) HOUSTON: Barefoot Becky @ SPJST Thursday, February 25 service and festival), 10:15A-1:30P Lodge 88, 8-11:30P (Ad p. 21) EL CAMPO: Charles/Fab 4 @ ROBSTOWN: Dancehall Sounds @ Tuesday, February 16 LIBERTY: Liberty Opry on the Square American Legion, 7:30-10P (Ad p. 20) Community Hall, 4-7:30P AUSTIN: Ameripolitan Music Awards – Country/Western, 7P SAN ANTONIO: Nashville Sounds @ w/host Ray Benson @ Paramount PEARLAND: Enzian Buam @ King's Friday, February 26 Martinez Social Club, 3-6:30P Theatre - Justin Trevino, 8-10P Biergarten, 5-10P AUSTIN: Billy Mata @ Broken Spoke, SCHULENBURG: Central Texas DONNA: Barefoot Becky @ Victoria SAN ANTONIO: Jeff Woolsey/ 8:30P Sounds (Swiss Alp Club) @ KC Hall, Palms Resort, 7-10P (Ad p. 17) Dancehall Kings @ Leon Springs CONROE: James Garner (60+ Dance 3-6:30P (Ad p. 19) HOUSTON Dancehall, 8P Club) @ Conroe Activity Center, 6:30- SWEET HOME: Neon Cowboys @ : German Singing Society SEGUIN : The Survivors @ Texas 10P Community Center, 2-6P (Ad p. 15) @ Liederkranz Hall, 7P Theater, 2:30 & 7:30P GIDDINGS: Lost Cause @ The Bull HOUSTON: Houston Accordion WALLIS: Texas Sound Check @ Monday, February 29 Association Jam @ Pizza Inn on American Legion, 8-11:30P Pen, 8:30-11:30P AUSTIN: Charles Thibodeaux/Austin Mangum & 18th, 6P WEBSTER: Kenny James @ Alpine GRANGER: Out of the Blue @ Cotton Cajun Aces @ Evangeline Cafe, 6:30P SEABROOK: Mike Gest/Night Brauhaus, 6-9P Club, 8:30P-12A INDUSTRY: Four County Opry @ Session @ Bay Area Community PEARLAND: Enzian Buam @ King's Fireman’s Hall, 7-9:30P Center, 7-10P Sunday, February 21 Biergarten, 6-10P ELGIN: Barefoot Becky @ SPJST SAN ANTONIO: Countrymen @ Tuesday, March 1 Wednesday, February 17 Lodge 18, 3-7P (Ad p. 15) Leon Springs Dancehall, 8P GERONIMO: The Gathering Music HOUSTON: Das Ist Lustig @ Rudi GERONIMO: Czechaholics @ VFW, Show @ VFW, 7P HOUSTON: Houston Accordion Lechner's, 6-10P 3-6:30P (Ad p. 17) Saturday, February 27 Association Jam @ Son Nam SAN ANTONIO: Jim Bolado @ GRANGER CORPUS CHRISTI: Polka Fest – Red : Can’t Hardly Playboyz @ Vietnamese Restaurant, 6:30P Martinez Social Club, 7:30-10:30P Cotton Club, 5-10P Ravens, Czechaholics, Leo Majek HOUSTON: Liz Talley/Dusty Spurs @ Orchestra @ Sokol Hall (Ad p. 21) Thursday, February 18 GOLIAD: Stoney LaRue @ Schroeder Wednesday, March 2 BRENHAM: Bluebonnet Opry @ VFW #10352, 2-6P (Ad p. 20) SAN ANTONIO: Vernon Doege @ SAN ANTONIO: Most Wanted @ Hall, 8P Martinez Social Club, 7:30-10:30P Silver Wings Ballroom, 7P GRANGER: Debonaires @ Cotton COLORADO CITY Martinez Social Club, 3-6:30P (near Big Spring): Club, 9P-1A C City Opry, 7P SEATON (Temple): Fritz Hodde/Fab 6 Thursday, March 3 HOUSTON: Jude Moreau/Bon Temps AUSTIN: Charles Thibodeaux/Austin EL CAMPO: Gravel Road @ American @ Sefcik Hall, 6-10P SWEET HOME: Charles/Fab 4 @ Playboys @ KC Hall #2917, 7:30-11:30P Cajun Aces @ Cypress Grill, 6:30P Legion, 7:30-10P (Ad p. 23) (Ad p. 20) BASTROP: Farm Street Opry @ HOUSTON: Das Ist Lustig @ Rudi Community Center, 2-6P (Ad p. 15) WALLIS: PoLK of A Fundraiser – Red LIBERTY: Liberty Opry on the Square Bastrop Convention Center, 7P Lechner's, 6-10P EL CAMPO: Czechmates @ American Ravens @ American Legion, 2-6P (Ad – Specialty Show: Blend from Energy, MISSION: Barefoot Becky @ Legion, 7:30-10P (Ad p. 23) p. 16) IL, 7P Riverside Club, 2-6P (Ad p. 17) PEARLAND: Enzian Buam @ King's THE WOODLANDS: Texas Ramblers (60+ Dance Club) @ S. County Friday, February 19 Monday, February 22 Biergarten, 5-10P AUSTIN: Charles Thibodeaux/Austin SAN ANTONIO: Almost Patsy Cline Community Center, 6:30-9:30P CONROE: Cadillacs (60+ Dance Club) Continued on next page Page 14 Texas Polka News - February 2016 DANCES - FESTIVALS - EVENTS - LIVE MUSIC

Friday, March 4 HOUSTON: Loose Change @ VFW Saturday, March 12 EAGLE LAKE: Rabbs Creek @ #10352, 2-6P (Ad, p. 20) GRANGER: People’s Choice @ Community Center, 7:30-10:30P HUNGERFORD: KJT-KJZT Benefit Cotton Club, 9P-1A 2016 GONZALES: 1st Texas Independence Dance – Red Ravens @ Hungerford HOUSTON: Red Ravens @ SPJST U.S. Music Events Songwriter’s Festival - Open mic, Hall, 1-5P Lodge 88, 8-11:30P (Ad p. 21) Templin Saloon; Live music, Running SAN ANTONIO: Czech Heritage LA GRANGE: Best Little Cowboy Dance – Mark Halata/Texavia @ M Bar/Grill, 7P (Ad p. 5) Gathering @ Fayette Co. MARCH 6 GRANGER Martinez Social Club, 2-6P (Ad p. 17) : Texas Family Tradition @ Fairgrounds - Dance Hall – Jody Bexar County Czech Heritage Cotton Club, 8:30P-12A SWEET HOME: Lost Cause @ PEARLAND Community Center, 2-6P (Ad p. 15) Nix, Billy Mata; Main Stage – KR Society Dance : Enzian Buam @ King's Martinez Social Club, San Antonio Biergarten, 6-10P Wood, Kristyn Harris, Devon Monday, March 7 Dawson, Ginny Mac, Jean Prescott 210-648-2681 (Ad p. 17) AUSTIN & Brook Wallace, Jody Nix Fiddle Saturday, March 5 : Charles Thibodeaux/Austin MARCH 10-13 COLUMBUS: Lost Cause @ Shaws Cajun Aces @ Evangeline Cafe, 6:30P Extravaganza, Lake Travis Fiddlers, Best Little Cowboy Gathering Bend Social Club, 8:30P-12:30A GIDDINGS: Lone Star Opry @ Billy Mata, Kristyn Harris, et al, Fayette County Fairgrounds, GERONIMO: Justin Trevino @ VFW, Giddings High School, 7:30P Johnny Bush, 10P (Ad p. 4) 8P-12A LIBERTY La Grange / 979-702-0086 (Ad p. 4) : Liberty Opry on the bestlittlecowboygathering.org GONZALES: 1st Texas Independence Tuesday, March 8 Square – Elvis Tribute, 2P Songwriter’s Festival - Songwriter HOUSTON: German Singing Society PEARLAND: Enzian Buam @ King's MARCH 18-20 40-minute shows @ Templin Saloon @ Liederkranz Hall, 7P Biergarten, 5-10P (1P) & Running M (1:30P) (Ad p. 5) Mardi Gras Polka Fest ROSENBERG: Charles/Fab 4 GRANGER: Kenny Orts @ Cotton Wednesday, March 9 International Dance Club Club, 9P-1A SAN ANTONIO: Bimbo/Borderline (Happy Cousins) @ American Colorado Springs, Colorado HOUSTON: Moonglow Orchestra @ @ Martinez Social Club, 7:30-10:30P Legion, 8-11:30P 719-598-2311 (Ad p. 10) SPJST Lodge 88, 8-11:30P (Ad p. 21) SAN ANTONIO: Matt Rogers/ internationaldanceclub.org LIBERTY: Liberty Opry on the Square Thursday, March 10 Chansons Et Soulards (CFMA) @ – Gospel, 2P DRIPPING SPRINGS (Austin): Hermann Sons, 7:30-11:30P MARCH 18-20 NAVASOTA: Jeff Woolsey/Dancehall Charles Thibodeaux/Austin Cajun SAN ANTONIO: Bobby Flores/ South Texas Polka & Sausage Fest Kings @ Western Club, TBA Aces @ Hudson’s on Mercer, 7-10P Yellow Rose Band @ Leon Springs KC Hall, Hallettsville, Texas EL CAMPO NEW BADEN: New Baden Jamboree : Odessa @ American Dancehall, 8P (Ad p. 6) 361-798-2311 / kchall.com (Ad p. 8) Legion, 7:30-10P (Ad p. 23) @ Community Center, 6-10P WACO LA GRANGE: Best Little Cowboy : Spur City Rounders @ PEARLAND: Enzian Buam @ King's Shriner’s Hall, 8P APRIL 2 Biergarten, 5-10P Gathering @ Fayette Co. Fairgrounds 3rd Annual Sausage Festival SAN ANTONIO: 3rd Crockett Fiddle Dance Hall – Rance Norton, The Schulenburg, Texas Fest @ The Alamo - Celtaire String Survivors; Main Stage – Jeff Woolsey, Sunday, March 13 866-504-5294 (Ad p. 7) (Ad p. 4) ELGIN Band, Tennessee Valley Authority, RJ : Fritz Hodde/Fab 6 @ SPJST schulenburgsausagefest.com Smith, Mario Flores, Frio Dou w/Ron Lodge 18, 3-7P (Ad p. 15) Knuth, Jason Roberts, Rick McRae Friday, March 11 NEEDVILLE: Polka Fest @ KC APRIL 1-3 CONROE SEALY: 12th Texas Music Festival @ : Glenn Lenderman (60+ Hall, - Czechaholics, Red Ravens, Tomball German Heritage Dance Club) @ Conroe Activity KC Hall, 12-7P - Czechaholics, Red 1-6:30P (Ad p. 9) Festival Ravens (Ad p. 21) Center, 6:30-10P GRANGER: Can’t Hardly Playboz CORPUS CHRISTI: Dancehall Sounds Tomball, Texas / 281-379-6844 @ VFW #3837, 8P-12A @ Cotton Club, 5-10P tomballgermanfest.org Sunday, March 6 HOUSTON: Country Jim/Allstars AUSTIN: Jason Roberts @ Little GRANGER: The Pearl Snaps @ @ VFW #10352, 2-6P (Ad p. 20) APRIL 9 Longhorn Saloon, 4-8P Cotton Club, 8:30P-12A LA GRANGE Annual Crawfish & Shrimp Boil ELGIN: Glen Collins @ SPJST Lodge LA GRANGE: Best Little Cowboy : Best Little Cowboy Gathering @ Fayette Co. Fairgrounds Gathering - Cowboy Church, 10A Anhalt, Texas 18, 3-7P (Ad p. 15) 210-355-1157 / anhalthall.com GERONIMO: Good Ole Boys @ Dance Hall – Rocky King, Jeff (Ad p. 4) Woolsey, Jake & Tommy Hooker, SAN ANTONIO: Countrymen @ VFW, 3-6:30P APRIL 16-17 GONZALES: 1st Texas Independence Main Stage – Rance Norton, Landon Martinez Social Club, 3-6:30P Dodd, Jason Roberts, (Ad p. 4) 27th Annual Cotton Gin Festival Songwriter’s Festival - Texas-style SWEET HOME: Charles/Fab 4 @ PEARLAND: Enzian Buam @ King's Burton, Texas brunch w/gosepel music, Templin Community Center, 3-7P Biergarten, 6-10P cottonginmuseum.org Saloon, 12:30P (Ad p. 5) Add a dance/festival: GRANGER: Can’t Hardly Playboyz @ [email protected] Go to Check polkabeat.com for complete Cotton Club, 5-10P PolkaBeat.com every week for updates. listing of Texas/U.S. festivals Texas Polka News - February 2016 Page 15

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SOUNDS MUSICAL Award-Winning VARIETY DJ Allen Pollard for the Brings you traditional recorded country dance BUTTON BOX music Learn Polka, Waltz, Schottische, Two-step, polka, waltz & * CDs Contact us 2-Step, Latin, Swing specialty dances * DVDs today! - Chord stamp method books and cassettes Polka music on your Available for your next - Easy to read, for 3 & 4 row accordions computer 24 hours a day public or private dance party - For beginning thru advanced students 361-459-4033 - Internet instruction available [email protected] Call Toll Free (866) 901-6138 Plus many LIVE and Send for flyer. Marge Ford - pre-recorded shows Old Time Music Co. P.O. Box 92294 Anchorage, AK 99509 www.polkajammernetwork.org 247POLKAHEAVEN.COM 907-561-6862 l [email protected] SPJST #18 Hall POLKA Elgin, TX Sunday, 3-7 pm / $8 KBEC Polka Party MUSIC 24/7 Kitchen Open with Danny Zapletal February Sundays 9-11 a.m. Your Favorite 14 Dujka Brothers Listen online @ kbec.com Music & Shows February 21 Barefoot Becky Send your requests for birthdays, 14 Nathan Colt Young 28 Glen Collins anniversaries & other celebrations Log on to the World’s 21 Charles/Fab 4 to Most Listened to 28 Neon Cowboys March [email protected] Polka Network March 6 Glen Collins 06 Lost Cause 13 Fritz Hodde/Fab 6 2-6 pm $8 unless otherwise noted. 702 Hwy 95 N / 512-281-3711 Advertise in the Texas Polka News 348 CR 391E SweetHomeHall.com Page 16 Texas Polka News - February 2016 February, to be held in Wallis at the Po. L.K. of A. Texas American Legion Hall on Feb. 21, with music provided by the Red Ravens. We have parades that will be coming up, as well as dances throughout the year. We will continue our relationship with The Polka Lovers Club of Texas Museum, which will be dedicating its new building on Feb. 28. The building is very nice and I am sure they will have many visitors that will By Kathy Cernosek, President pass through the doors. From member to Executive Secretary, I am going to repeat past President King/Queen, Prince/Princess, Clinton Ellebracht’s message, "I urge Membership Secretary to President. everyone who loves their heritage, What an honor to be elected President. that includes polka music, to consider I am looking forward to my new role joining the Texas Chapter of P.o.L.K and I know I have some mighty big of A.” If you know someone that is shoes to fill. considering but not really sure, invite The Klub will be quite busy as them to see what we are all about and we have just completed our annual surprise them with a membership! January membership meeting and are See you on the dance floor or on Vice President Rudy Antrich (l) presents Clinton Ellebracht with an award of appreciation for getting ready for our fundraiser in the float at a parade. serving as Klub president for three years./Mark Hiebert photo

Sunday, Feb. 21 Klub Fundraiser Wallis American Legion Po. L. K. of A. 2-6 pm $10 TEXAS CHAPTER

Red Ravens Gwen Petersen and Jan and Dick Cole bid on silent auction items./Berger Okruhlik photo Silent auction Refreshment basket raffle 50/25/25 raffle Polka Lovers Klub of America Annual Dues: Couple $24 / Single $12 Klub newsletter 2 times/year, 2 free dances/year, parade float, scholarships, support of polka organizations, shared activities w/Polka Lovers Club of Texas Musuem For more info: polkabeat.com/polk-of-a-texas-chapter-i Kathy Cernosek, President, 832-544-0716 Barbie and Russell Loitz will continue on as Betty Tidwell, Membership Secretary, 281-452-4174 King and Queen of the Klub./Hiebert photo

Jonathan Pawelka and his friend enjoyed the Monarch dance./Berger Okruhlik photo Printing For the Finest in Quality Printing in the Houston area

Evelyn & Larry Maresh 6605 McGrew, Houston, 77087 Owners & Polka Promoters 713-645-2845 Fritz Hodde is pickin' and grinnin'. Evelyn Maresh, Pauline Trefny, and Janie Sitka Gary E. McKee photo enjoyed the fellowship./Berger Okruhlik photo Texas Polka News - February 2016 Page 17 Hearts Aches By the Number by Ray Dancehall Sounds Price, and Silver Wings by Merle Pearl City Dance Club Celebrates 10 Years Haggard. Dancing in Turner Hall, Yoakum Allen's CD collection also for almost 60 years One steel guitar player has parlayed includes 50s and 60s rock-n-roll, Open to the public, guests welcome his love of country music into a DJ and polka! He has every CD the $10 at the door business. Allen Pollard began his Dujka Brothers released, in addition Czech Heritage Tours music career as lead guitar for Mac to CDs by the Red Ravens, Vrazels Saturday, Feb. 6 Presents Pollard & The Western Stars. He Polka Band, Praha Band, Jodie Los Kolaches Our 2016 later became steel guitar player for Mikula Orchestra, Czechaholics, 8P-12A European Tours! The Majeks, Mark Halata & Al Dean & The Allstars, Boxcar June 12-25, 2016 Willie, and Leona Williams. His Texavia, Jimmy Sturr, Chris 6 miles west of Yoakum on Hwy 111 W Rybak, Joe Patek, Fritz Hodde & 361-293-5576 PearlCityDanceClub.com Italy, Vatican City, Switzerland, radio career spanned 15 years Austria,sold Czech out! Republic working as announcer, program the Fabulous 6, Vernon Drozd, director, and salesman at country Six Fat Dutchmen, and his all-time Polka Sunday! stations KOPY in Alice, and the fave - Adolph Hofner & the Pearl Sept. 26-Oct. 10, 2016 Geronimo VFW Post 8456 Czech Republic, Austria, Germany, former KROB in Robstown. Wranglers. Allen's objective at every dance Sunday, Feb. 21 Italy, France, Spain Featuring 6-day ground tour & is to present the audience with 3-6:30P 7-day Mediterranean cruise traditional, danceable country music. "I play many of the original Czechaholics For more information, please visit country classics, as well as current CzechHeritageTours.com Good dance floor * Smoke free * traditional country artists, such as Come early! Kitchen opens @ 2P Contact Steavy Jakubik or Renee Valek Jake Hooker, Bobby Flores, Amber 6808 N Hwy 123 (I-10 @ Seguin, 5 miles) [email protected] or Digby, Justin Trevino, Leona Info: 830-305-8829 972-878-2929 Williams, Darrell McCall, Johnny Reserve table of 8: 830-379-1971 Bush, Rocky King, Billy Mata, Jody vfwpost8456.com 219 W. Ennis Ave. Ennis, TX 75119 Nix, and many others." Dancehall Sounds can handle Barefoot Becky & The Ivanhoe Dutchmen Allen's DJ business began in any size public dance event or 2005 at a private Christmas party private party, such as wedding, Winter Tour Schedule - 2016 at the VFW post in Corpus Christi. anniversaries, school class reunions, TEXAS "The manager heard the type of and birthdays. "I am totally portable Sun Feb 14 – Eagles Hall traditional country music I played with the best DJ sound equipment 257 E South St., New Braunfels, TX 3-7pm Info: 830-626-3303 from my private CD collection and available. I am constantly increasing Mon Feb 15 – Mission Bell hired me to play public dances once my country music sound collection, 1711 E Bus Hwy 83, Mission, TX 7-10pm Info: 956-585-4833 a month at the VFW," he recalled. and hopefully play your favorite Tues Feb 16 – Victoria Palms Resort He decided on the name country song, waltz, or polka." 602 N Victoria Rd., Donna, TX 7-10pm Info: 956-464-7801 Dancehall Sounds because he plays See Allen's ad, page 15, for Thurs Feb 18 – Riverside Club the songs and sound that have been contact information. 214 E Chimney Rd., Mission, TX 2-6pm Info: 956-581-1033 a tradition of Texas dancehalls. Fri Feb 19 – Pharr South Park "You'll hear traditional style Texas Dance 1402 S Cage, Pharr, TX 7-10pm Info: 956-787-7839 two-steps, shuffles, waltzes, polkas, Sat Feb 20 – SPJST Lodge #88/Chandelier Ballroom Sponsored by 1435 Beall St., Houston, TX 8-11:30pm schottische, Cotton-Eyed Joe, Put Bexar County Czech Heritage Society For More Information: 713-869-5767 or 713-861-0223 Your Little Foot, and many other Sunday, March 6, 2016 Sun Feb 21 – Elgin SPJST #18/Stardust Ballroom traditional dance favorites," he said. 2-6 pm 702 Hwy 95 N., Elgin, TX 3-7pm Dancehall Sounds has performed Music by at numerous public and private Mark Halata & Texavia BECKY LIVERMORE Also touring KANSAS, COLORADO, dances from the Corpus area to Admission: $10 / Children 14 & under: free 1257 IVANHOE RD ARIZONA & LAS VEGAS, NV Goliad, Houston, and the Texas Hill MT VERNON, IA 52314 See BareFootBecky.com for complete schedule. Martinez Social Country. In 2015, he played almost Refreshments 877-499-7133 Club ALL DANCES every weekend with 46 gigs. He Sausage in a bun 7791 FM 1346 @ [email protected] ALL DANCES ARE WITH reported his three most requested Kolaches BareFootBecky.com ARE WITH THE FULL FM 1516 THE5 FULLPIECE BAND! 5 PIECE BAND! songs are Frauline by Bobby Helms, San Antonio Page 18 Texas Polka News - February 2016 music brain trust in Ennis has the Eagles Hall, from 3-7 pm. The dance NIGHTRIDERS CONTINUE Festival & Dance solution – attend the 10th Ennis is hosted by the Goodtime Polka THE TRADITION Czech Music Fest, always held the & Waltz Club, and will serve as a Bobby Lee retired on New Year’s Notes weekend following the Super Bowl. fundraiser for the club with a silent Eve, but The Nightriders continue This year’s event gets started with auction. LOS KOLACHES – THE a Polka On! Pre-Party on Fri., Feb. 12, on. The group, consisting of Kevin BAND in the Sokol Club Room, from 6-11 Ward, Bobby Smith, Donnie Hons, Los Kolaches will help you burn off pm. You’ll have a chance to win some Joel Nava, Bill Elliott, and Dennis extra calories from any los kolaches cool Polka On! prizes and hear the Wood, will play on Sat., March 5, at of the dough kind you may have newest polka band to hit the ciruit – the DaCosta Hermann Sons hall. See consumed recently on Sat., Feb. 6, at Out of the Box, plus the musicians’ ad, p. 9. Turner Hall in Yoakum. jam. This is the Pearl City Dance The fest on Saturday starts at 1 pm TEXAS MUSIC FESTIVAL Club’s first dance of the year, and with the Czech Harvesters, followed BENEFITS TPMM they welcome all! Memberships are by Jodie Mikula, Czech & Then The 12th Annual Texas Music Festival also available to this club that has Some, Moravians, and Ennis Czech will be held from 12-7 pm on Sat., been supporting the Texas dance hall Boys. See ad, p. 10. tradition since 1957. See ad, p. 17. March 5, at the KC Hall in Sealy. It’s a BAREFOOTIN’ IN NB fundraiser for the Texas Polka Music IT’S A CZECH MUSIC FEST! Barefoot Becky & the Ivanhoe Becky has a new CD called A Museum in Schulenburg, but really Feeling blue now that football season Dutchmen begin their Texas tour in Box Blend, which features the four- you’re the one who will benefit. is over? No problema. The Czech New Braunfels on Sun., Feb. 14, at piece band with accordion, guitar/ Dance to the music of the Red banjo, drums, and electric bass. "It's Ravens and Czechaholics. “Win” stuff full of fun polkas and waltzes in the in the live and silent auctions. Enjoy Goodtime Polka & Waltz Dance Club Slovenian style," Becky said. the barbecue sandwiches. Door prizes Eagles Hall - New Braunfels Come on out and show Becky will also be given hourly. See ad, p. 21. Guests welcome. Memberships and the guys some Texas love on Memberships/info: 830-660-4866, Available Valentine’s Day! See ad, p. 18. BE MY CAJUN VALENTINE 830-660-0437 The Cajun French Music Association Silent POLKA SUNDAY IN Sunday, Feb. 14 3-7 pm Auction in Houston will host Jude Moreau & GERONIMO The Bon Temps Playboys from the The Czechaholics will provide the Mt. Vernon, Iowa Port Arthur area on Sat., Feb. 27, at Barefoot Becky music for Polka Sunday at the VFW the KC Hall on Whitney Drive. hall in Geronimo, from 3-6:30 pm, Dance to polkas, waltzes, country, big band on great wood floor. Bring your sweetheart and treat Nine dances/year Sat nights or Sun afternoons. on Feb. 21. Come early! The kitchen 257 E. South St. From S. Seguin Ave., turn right (east) on San Antonio St. (at the square). opens at 2 pm. See ad, p. 17. him or her to some of the club’s good Turn left on S. Union. Take first right on E. South St. eatin’ – gumbo and boudin. It’s the POLKA MOTION BY THE perfect Valentine date, especially if OCEAN you forgot to take your flame out on # SPJST Lodge 88 The South Texas Czech Heritage Valentine’s Day! See ad, p. 20. Society invites you to the 31st Annual Polka Fest on Sat., Feb. 27, at Sokol Hall in Corpus Christi. Enjoy dancing to the Red Ravens, Czechaholics, and Corpus natives, The Majeks. They promise to once again offer great Czech food, beverages, and, of course, Save the Date! FREE Public Dance More Details kolaches. See ad, p. 21. CTS IN SCHULENBURG To Come! Central Texas Sounds will kick off Saturday, May 14, 2016 the Swiss Alp Dance Club year of dances on Sun., Feb. 28, from 3-6:30 pm, at the KC Hall. The club holds six Sunday dances a year. All guests are Mark Halata & Texavia | 8-11:30pm welcome and they would love to have you join the club. See ad, p. 19. Jude Moreau Texas Polka News - February 2016 Page 19

Kristyn Harris/ Jeffrey Kaphan photo Johnny Bush

events, historical events, and Texas- Reservations are also available without L-R: Kevin Ward, Bobby Smith, Donnie Hons, Joel Nava, Bill Elliott, and Dennis Wood. sized hospitality!” the catered meal for $100. A total of 500 tickets are now on If you don’t get a reserved seat in COME AND LISTEN! March 6 at the Martinez Social Club. sale for access to the Dance Hall, the Dance Hall, don’t fret! You can The first Texas Independence Mark Halata & Texavia play from 2-6 with reservations being offered first reserve seats to the entertainment Songwriter's Festival will be held the pm. Enjoy the sausage in a bun and to previous years’ attendees. Ticket on the Main Stage. “Several first weekend of March in Gonzales. kolaches. See ad, p. 17. price of $130 for the Dance Hall improvements have been made to the Nine of Texas' finest songwriters reservation includes admission for Main Stage making it twice as big will perform at two of Gonzales' POLKA FEST IN NEEDVILLE the entire weekend and both evening downtown live music venues. catered meals on Friday and Saturday. Continued on next page Confirmed artists at press time Polka, sausage dinner, and $3 pitchers include Mitch Jacobs, Emily Herring, of beer. It doesn’t get any better than Chuck Hawthorne, and Bill Pekar. this! The Knights of Columbus 7067 in Festivities begin Fri., March 4 at Needville know how to throw a party 7 pm with “open mic” at the Templin – the 22nd Annual Polka Fest on Sun., Saloon, and live music at the Running March 13, from 1-6 pm. M Bar & Grill. You’re the winner as the Red The International Polka Association is a On Saturday, the songwriters will Ravens and Czechaholics battle it out Join Today! non-profi t organization whose purpose is perform 40-minute shows beginning on the dance floor (and $3 pitchers of the advancement of polka music. Your membership dues allow the IPA to at 1 pm at the Templin Saloon, and beer). Enjoy the sausage, sauerkraut, continue its mission. Join today and be a part of this exciting organization! 1:30 pm at the Running M. and German potatoes meal for only $8 Visit ipapolkas.com/store to join, or send your check to: Sunday, the Templin Saloon will (and $3 pitchers of beer). Take chances serve a Texas-style brunch with live to win one of the many prizes given John Krawisz, Financial Secretary Dues are only $15 a year. gospel music beginning at 12:30 pm International Polka Association You’ll receive 6 newsletters to keep away. And did I mention $3 pitchers of PO Box 1484 up with IPA events, radio shows, to conclude the first annual Texas beer?!? See ad, p. 9. Independence Songwriter Festival. See Plainfi eld, IL 60585 and award news. ad, p. 5. If you dabble in songwriting, you SALUTE TO THE COWBOY will want to check out the Songwriter The Best Little Cowboy Gathering Serenade Contest. Deadline for entries in Texas just keeps getting better Swiss Alp Dance Club is March 20. Fifteen songwriters and better. The 8th annual event will KC Hall - Schulenburg will be chosen to compete for $5,000 be held March 10-13 at the Fayette in prize money at the 10th Annual County Fairgrounds. “It has become Sunday, Feb. 28 Songwriter Serenade, to be held on such a popular, growing event that 3-6:30 p.m. Sat., May 7, at historic Moravia Parish last year we had to split the great Hall. Go to songwriterserenade.com entertainment onto two different Central Texas Sounds for details. stages, the Dance Hall and the Main Stage,” said BLCG Committee Guest Admission: $10/person SAN ANTONIO POLKA Member Jon Quinn. “This is a Dances held Sundays during months of Feb/Apr/May/Aug/Oct/Dec The Bexar County Czech Heritage weekend of great music and dancing Guests welcome. Memberships available. Society invites you to Polka On! Sun., day and night, BBQ cookers, children's Contact: James Freytag 361-596-4357 or [email protected] Page 20 Texas Polka News - February 2016 Festival & Dance Notes Continued from page 19

with plenty of room to dance!” Jon said. The stage can now be enclosed Cajun Dance Houston by new vinyl siding depending on 4th Saturday every month the weather, and will feature a wood 7:30-11:30P floor. A regular day pass to The KC #2917 Gathering gets you access to all the entertainment at the Main Stage. You can also reserve seats at the Main February 27 Stage for the entire weekend for $70 Jodie Mikula Orchestra will be at the South Texas Polka & Sausage Festival. (L-R): Joe Zetka, Ken Mikula, Nick Mikula, Janice Matocha Marek, Mike Marek, and Andy Mikula./McKee photo Jude Moreau & (no catered meals) or $95 (with meals). The music begins on Thursday The Bon Temps Playboys March 18-20, since the fourth Sunday great polka music! Enjoy the music with Rance Norton, The Survivors is Easter. and dance in the street to the Shiner (Darrell McCall, Tony Booth, Curtis Friday night begins with a fish fry Hobo Band, Czechaholics, Mark Potter), and Jeff Woolsey. March 26 with all the trimmings followed by Halata & Texavia, and Texas Dream. On Friday, Rance and Jeff are a night of polka music and dancing Food booths open at noon and La Recolte back, along with Rocky King, Jake & to The Czechaholics and The children’s activities will be held from Tommy Hooker, and Jason Roberts. Moravians. 1-5 pm, including a visit from the Wood dance floor, smoke free! The Saturday lineup features Jody Saturday, the festivities begin with Easter Bunny! Shop the arts and 607 E. Whitney Dr. off Airline Nix, Billy Mata, Devon Dawson, a Polka Mass celebrated at the hall crats booths, and enjoy the display Ginny Mac, Jean Prescott, Brook Info: Helen 281-256-3097 in the afternoon, with Czechaholics of antique cars and tractors, and Wallace, Lake Travis Fiddlers, and and Dujka Brothers providing music. motorcycles. See ad, p. 7. Johnny Bush. Enjoy a delicious meal of sausage, HOUSTON Kristyn Harris is this year's sauerkraut, potatoes, chicken noodle TGI THURSDAY! featured female artist who will be soup and, of course, tasty kolaches, The El Campo Seniors invite you VFW POST joing other musical guests on stage for starting at 4 pm. Polka music starts at to go dancing on Thursdays at the 10352 special performances. Named Western 5 pm with Dujka Brothers, followed by American Legion Hall from 7:30-11 Music Association 2014 Female Jodie Mikula Orchestra. pm. February has a great lineup with Sundays Performer of the Year, Kristyn is Sunday, the fun starts at 10:30 Texas Mavericks, Charlie Merta, 2-6 p.m. noted for her powerful vocals, strong am with the same menu as Saturday Gravel Road, and Charles & the rhythm guitar style, songwriting, PLUS fried chicken. Music continues Fab 4. The first dance of the month Country/Variety yodeling, and upright bass playing. Dance $7 throughout the day with Shiner Hobo is always a celebration of attendees’ “Our aim is promote the cowboy Band, Ennis Czech Boys, Leo Majek birthdays and the last dance of the culture with a variety of music Orchestra, and Red Ravens. All the month is for bringing food to share. February emphasizing western swing, country, bands join together for a concert from (That’s the one I would go to!) Singles 07 James Garner and old cowboy classics but above all, 4:30-5 pm. See ad, p. 8. and all ages are welcome. See ad, p. 23. 14 Detour to have a good time,” Jon said. See the music lineup and find out how to ELGIN IS FOR LOVERS 21 Liz Talley/Dusty Spurs SPEAKING OF SAUSAGE purchase your tickets onlin in ad, p. 4. Lovers of dancehall music! Barefoot Take a break from sausage on 28 Texas Roadrunners Becky will close out her Texas tour Easter Sunday weekend, then head March H’VILLE SALUTE TO POLKA at SPJST Lodge 18 on Sun., Feb. 21, to Schulenburg for the 3rd Annual & SAUSAGE before putting on her snow boots and 06 Loose Change Schulenburg Sausage Festival on Sat., The South Texas Polka and Sausage heading back home to Iowa. On the April 2. The event features sausage- Fest will celebrate its 35th year of 14th, the Dujka Brothers will provide 16035 Waverly Drive making contests, and new this year, bringing you the best of polka and the music for the sweetheart dance, contests to find the best homemade Houston, TX 77032 sausage in one fun-filled, three-day and Glen Collins will close out the wine, sauerkraut, and pickles. Some Non-Smoking / BYOB event at the state’s largest Knights month on the 28th with some good ol’ judges will be chosen from the 281-443-2023 of Columbus Hall in Hallettsville. country. The dances are 3-7 pm, the audience, so get your taste buds ready! Usually held the fourth weekend of kitchen is open, and the bar is serving And what’s a sausage fest without WesternDancingGala.com March, this year’s event will be held ice cold pivo. See ad, p. 15. Texas Polka News - February 2016 Page 21

31st ANNUAL POLKA FEST February 27, 2016 12th Annual Sokol Hall 5502 Kostoryz Texas Music Festival Corpus Christi Saturday, March 5 Admission: $10 12-7P KC Hall 1390 US 90 Sealy Band Schedule 10 am Doors Open 10:15-11 am...... Sokol Gymnastics 11 am-12 pm...... Czechaholics Moonglow Orchestra will be at Lodge 88 on Feb. 6. (L-R): David Czarnek, Buddy Boehm, Mike Red Ravens 12-1 pm...... Red Ravens Gest, Jimmy Heinsohn, David Pavlas, Darrell Pavlas./McKee photo 1-2 pm...... The Majeks & 2-3 pm 3 Band Concert BOOT SCOOTIN’ SUNDAYS comes to your dance moves? New this 3-3:15 pm...... Grand March Line Up Czechaholics 3:15 pm...... Grand March/Red Ravens Get your cowboy duds on and year at the Lodge: dance lessons. You 4:15 pm Raffle Drawing mosey on over to the VFW Hall on can sharpen your skills before every Admission only $10/person 4:45-5:45 pm...... Czechaholics Waverly Drive in Houston on Sunday dance with the help of instructors Ben Hall opens @ 11A Hourly Door Prizes 5:45-7 pm...... The Majeks afternoons. Check out this lineup for Limited Live Auction Schielack and Rick Archer. The dances February: James Garner, Detour, Silent Auction (items accepted at event) Meals Available for Purchase Liz Talley/Dusty Spurs, and Texas start at 8 pm, and lessons begin at 7 pm. BBQ sandwiches thru the day Sausage, sauerkraut, potatoes, green beans, bread Roadrunners. The dances are always The Lodge will also be the site Chicken noodle soup * BBQ beef sandwich 2-6 pm. See ad, p. 20. of the Super Bowl Party, featuring Info: Clyde Cantrell 830-456-4721 Beer, tea & soft drinks (No BYOB) SqueezeBox, on Sun., Feb. 7, from 1-4 Brian Svetlik 979-541-6166 SWEET HOME Raffle* Silent Auction * Kolaches pm. See ad, p. 11. See Lodge monthly TexasPolkaMuseum.com chsSouthTexas.org SWEETHEARTS ad, p. 21. Nathan Colt Young will provide the music for slow dancin’ with your It's time to dance! sweetheart on Feb. 14. Charles & Fab 4 will be in Music City on the 21st, Chandelier Ballroom and Neon Cowboys close out the month on the 28th. Dances are only SPJST Lodge 88 $8 from 2-6 pm. See ad, p. 15 . 1435 Beall Street TE AMO BOBBY FLORES Houston 77008 You’ll have three chances to see Bobby and the Yellow Rose Band before Sat., Feb. 6 Moonglow Orchestra Big Band (Mardi Gras) $15 they head out of Galveston on the Liz Talley & The Dusty Spurs will be at the Sun., Feb. 7 SqueezeBox Polka/Variety 1-4 pm $15 6th Western Swing Caribbean Cruise VFW hall in Houston on Feb. 21. Sat., Feb. 13 The Fab Five Beatles Tribute $10 on Feb. 21. The band will be in Fort Sat., Feb. 20 Barefoot Becky Polka/Variety $10 Worth on Feb. 6, at the 8th Western Sat., Mar. 5 Moonglow Orchestra Big Band $15 Swing Valentine Party in Canton on the 12th, and at the Black & Red Ball TEXAS CZECHS Dances 8-11:30 pm unless otherwise noted. in Bandera on the 13th. See ad, p. 6. ROOTED IN TRADITION All dances are open to public and singles welcome. CAN’T BUY ME LOVE Exhibition 713-869-5767 / lodge88.org But you can buy tickets to see the Fab Five Beatles tribute on Sat., Feb. 13, at Capitol Visitor’s Center Jan 17–June SPJST Lodge 88 in Houston. Also in February, the Lodge hosts Moonglow 112 E. 11th St. • Austin Polka On! Store Orchestra on the 6th (Mardi Gras, Sponsored by the State Preservation Board PolkaBeat.com y’all), and Barefoot Becky on the 20th. CDs, T-shirts, koozies, towels & more! Are you still a little uncertain when it www.PolkaWorks.org Page 22 Texas Polka News - February 2016

Holiday Dancin'

At right: Mary Jane Patek, Patsy Zamykal, and Bernice Ellinghausen at the South Texas Tractor Club New Year's party in Moulton. Gary E. McKee photo. Below left: Becky and Roy Gilbreath at NYE party at Sengelmann Hall/McKee photo. Middle top: Harvey and Ann Williams at Sweet Home; Larry Volkmer at Da Costa/Karen Williams photos. Below right: Mark Dujka and his daughter at Moulton party/McKee photo. Next page: Barbara and Frank Milder at the Christmas party in New Taiton; Line dancing at Ellinger Polka Fest/McKee photos. Texas Polka News - February 2016 Page 23 Accordion Cowboy The Twilights “The New” The Chris Rybak Texas Variety Dutchmasters Dance Music Plainsmen Polkas & Waltzes Music for Country & Western Weddings • Anniversaries Playing your Club Dances • Parties Cajun & Tex-Mex favorite polka,waltz all occasions Festivals & variety music Plus DJ music 270 County Rd. 201 The Twilights Hallettsville, TX 77964 Eugene Janis 713-569-6270 Don Merta 361-772-4703 or 512-963-6660 [email protected] A.J. Drabek 281-460-5273 [email protected] “Rusty” Uhyrek 281-240-4229 713-729-6097 [email protected] Czech out chrisrybak.com CDs Available

Kovanda’s Texas Legacy Texas Sound Incredible Czech Band Czech Band Check Band Music Makers Authentic Czech Polka Benny Okruhlik Polkas/waltzes, and Waltz Music Polka & variety 5314 Tatum Lane country & variety Spring, TX 77389 Bookings: in the for any occasions 281-353-5892 Kathryn Jolly 713-728-3750 Texas Tradition [email protected] New CD & Ben Orsak T-shirts available. Recordings: 3511 Margaret Steven Kutra 979-885-7144 Bob Suttie Needville, TX 77461 Jason Bartos [email protected] 832-781-8888 979-793-7828 361-865-2167 [email protected] kovandasczechband.org TexasSoundCheck.com [email protected]

Senior Citizen Kenny James Czechmates Charles & The Czech Melody Dancers For a Variety of Music Best Czech Band in Texas! Every Thursday Fabulous 4 Masters 281-997-7456 7:30-10 p.m. 100% Czech All the classic Texas Czech, Great Accordion Music German & Western Swing El Campo Country/Western & Play for any occasion A variety of music! Play for Polka Mass Polkas/Waltzes Thomas Durnin 512-296-1397 February For booking, call Charles Marburger 2204 Whitestone Dr (B) 4 Texas Mavericks 979-249-5285, Austin TX 78745 11 Charlie Merta 1-979-541-6909 El Campo 979-249-6976 (cell) [email protected] 18 Gravel Road “Solo accordionist with 1-281-455-8523 25 Charles/Fab 4 (F) the sound of a band.” Katy charlesandthefabulous4.com czechpolka.com March 3 Czechmates (B) 10 Odessa Litt’l Fishermen/ 17 Texas Mavericks Bohemian 24 No dance 31 Charlie Merta Dutchmen B=Birthday celebrations (6:30 p.m.) 9 or 6 piece F=Food night (6:30 p.m.) Band Ads. Only 3 Left! German/Czech polka band or 10 piece American Legion Post 251 ballroom & variety 2241 S Hwy 71 Singles & all ages welcome! Call Roy G Haag, 1334 Rivercrest Theresa Cernoch Parker Dr, New Braunfels TX Non-smoking/Non-drinking 78130-3438 Bring your own soft drinks, 281-836-5362 tea and coffee provided. 830-625-8262 [email protected] 979-543-5396 Page 24 Texas Polka News - February 2016

TEXAS POLKA NEWS PRSRT STD Polka Smiles - Brought to you by Hruska's US POSTAGE P.O. BOX 800183 PAID HOUSTON, TEXAS 77280 BRYAN TX 77802 PERMIT #23 Address Service Requested

Moulton Tractor Club party: Lara Rosenberg Battle Dance: New TPN Rosenberg Battle Dance: Sandra & & Wyatt Hermes, Ty Pullin/Mark subscribers Denns & Carol Lee Floyd Rekieta/John Roberts photo Hermes photo Campbell/Parker photo

Rosenberg Battle Dance: Jim Kotch Wied Hall: Bea & Rudy Patek/ New Taiton: Rose Wilshire & Mike Gest/ New Taiton: Jeanette & Edwin Sealy Dance Club: Lillie & August Sengelmann New Year's & Jeannine Mayo/Parker photo Karen Williams photo McKee photo Richter/McKee photo Zgabay/Berger Okruhlik photo Eve: Lonnie Pettit/ McKee photo See more great photos at polkabeat.com/flickr

Whether you’re an Ellinger local or a Highway Family-owned and -operated since 1912, Hruska’s 71 traveler, Hruska’s offers something for continues to provide cleanliness, community and everybody – from convenience-store essentials, to home-cooking to thousands of visitors each year. one of Texas’ best cheeseburgers, to 16 varieties No matter how far folks have traveled, Hruska’s of top-notch kolaches. makes the trip worthwhile!

Located halfway between Austin and Houston, Hruska’s Store & Bakery has been serving its own tradition of deliciousness for almost a full century.

109 W State Hwy 71 | Ellinger, TX 78938 | (979) 378-2333