Polka Sax Man More Salute to Steel 3 from the TPN Archives Donnie Wavra July 2006: 40Th National Polka by Gary E
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Texas Polka News - March 2016 Volume 28 | Isssue 2 INSIDE Texas Polka News THIS ISSUE 2 Bohemian Princess Diary Theresa Cernoch Parker IPA fundraiser was mega success! Welcome new advertiser Janak's Country Market. Our first Spring/ Summer Fest Guide 3 Editor’s Log Gary E. McKee Polka Sax Man More Salute to Steel 3 From the TPN Archives Donnie Wavra July 2006: 40th National Polka By Gary E. McKee Festival Story on Page 4 4-5 Featured Story Polka Sax Man 6-7 Czech Folk Songs Program; Ode to the Songwriter 8-9 Steel Story Continued 10 Festival & Dance Notes 12-15 Dances, Festivals, Events, Live Music 16-17 News PoLK of A Report, Mike's Texas Polkas Update, Czech Heritage Tours Special Trip, Alex Says #Pep It Up 18-19 IPA Fundraiser Photos 20 In Memoriam 21 More Event Photos! 22-23 More Festival & Dance Notes 24 Polka Smiles Sponsored by Hruska's Spring/SummerLook for the Fest 1st Annual Guide Page 2 Texas Polka News - March 2016 polkabeat.com Polka On Store to order Bohemian Princess yours today!) Texas Polka News Staff Earline Okruhlik and Michael Diary Visoski also helped with set up, Theresa Cernoch Parker, Publisher checked people in, and did whatever Gary E. McKee, Editor/Photo Journalist was asked of them. Valina Polka was Jeff Brosch, Artist/Graphic Designer Contributors: effervescent as always helping decorate the tables and serving as a great hostess Julie Ardery Mark Hiebert Alec Seegers Louise Barcak Julie Matus Will Seegers leading people to their tables. Vernell Bill Bishop Earline Berger Okruhlik Karen Williams Foyt, the Entertainment Chairperson Lauren Haase John Roberts at Lodge 88, helped with ticket sales. Vernell is always willing to try new things that will bring people to the Lodge and polka dance. Contact By Theresa Cernoch Parker Mark Hiebert captured the event Theresa Parker, Texas Polka News in photos. Ever since I enlisted Mark P.O. Box 800183 • Houston, TX 77280 Wow! What an event! The Super to help with the creation of the Jimmy 281-836-5362 Bowl Polka Party fundraiser for the Brosch Czech polka bands book, he has [email protected] | Gary: [email protected] International Polka Association Hall of supported me in covering polka events, Fame was amazing. About 400 people never once saying, “Oh, I think I’m attended the Squeezebox dance at busy that day.” Ads/Media SPJST Lodge 88 on Feb. 7. And football Harold and Mary Lou Lawson are Articles, ads, letters to the editor deadline: 1st of the month for the next month fans were able to make it home in time probably my biggest fans since my to see the Denver Broncos win the dad is no longer here to claim that Ad Rates 1/3 page: $170 1/8: $55 Super Bowl. Congrats to Gary Kubiak, Full page: $455 1/4 page: $115 1/16: $35 title. They did a little of everything 1/2 page: $255 3/16 page: $75 fellow St. Pius X High School alum - decorating, seating, telling me to and Polish guy. Wish you could have remain calm. I love them both more Discounts available for multiple runs. worked your magic with the Texans! than they’ll ever know. Combo deals available for ads in TPN and polkabeat.com. I digress. The Texas Polka News It was great working with Danny Contact Theresa Parker for information. sponsored the Super Bowl Polka Zapletal, the new IPA Hall of Fame Party and the volunteer team made it director, and Mollie and Ted Lange. happen. First, thanks to my husband, They planted the seed of an idea to On The Cover John, who I am grateful that he have a fundraiser for IPA and they Mark Hiebert captured this image of Donnie Wavra at Sengelmann decided to stay married to me after knew that Houston was the place to the event. He watched me take phone Hall on July 1, 2012. Donnie and his orchestra provided the music have it. It is great to work with like- for a Texas Heritage Music and Dance Club fundraiser. reservations, brought in packages that minded people who have a passion for piled up on our dining room table, polka! The result was a mega successful carried all those packages into the fundraiser. Read more about it and see About Texas Polka News Lodge, then helped attendees find their the photos on page 18. seats. Second, thanks to my friends Be sure to check out our Spring The Texas Polka News was started by Julius resumed publishing in September 2014. who did whatever needed to be done and Summer Fest Guide. There are Tupa of Houston in 1987 with the mission In addition to polka, the paper covers to make sure all was well at the event – so many festivals and church picnics to preserve and promote polka music and other dance hall music including Country, dance. When Julius passed away in 2002, Western Swing, and Cajun, and celebrates my BFF since junior high, Sarah Case scheduled, we want to be sure you and her husband Steve. It was Steve’s his wife, Marie, continued as publisher, live music, such as Opry, across the state. have a guide to help plan your spring and his friend, John Rivard, took the reins Theresa also founded polkabeat.com in job to serve the Bloody Marys to the and summer weekends. I am very volunteer crew and band that morning as volunteer editor. John stepped down as 2010 to honor the memory of her dad, proud to announce and thank our new editor in June 2014, and Marie sold the Willie “Bill” Cernoch, to promote polka and he did a fine job. My friend Sarah advertiser – Janak’s Country Market paper to Theresa Cernoch Parker, who music and heritage. is used to me saying, “I need your help – who will be bringing you the church planning this event!” and as usual she picnic information through September. stepped up to make it all a success. Leroy and Alice Janak brought Get/Give The Texas Polka News Pat and Louis Vrazel said “Sure, some of their summer sausage to the we’ll help coordinate the auction.” They Continue the polka tradition! Give your children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, battle dance in Rosenberg in January. did an outstanding job as more than nieces and nephews a subscription to Texas Polka News. We’ll extend your current TPN subscription one month for each subscription you designate as a family gift. Published $800 was raised. Their son, Jarrod, Talk about good! I can’t wait to go by the Country Market just outside of monthly. One year (12 issues) for $25. managed the Squeezebox merchandise Clip this out & mail check for $25 (outside U.S. $40) to The Texas Polka News table and brought some kolaches from Hallettsville for lunch soon! P.O. Box 800183 Houston, TX 77280. Or click on the TPN link on polkabeat.com to Texas Polka News advertiser Hruskas These are exciting times for polka subscribe or renew online with a credit card. for the silent auction. Wes and Julie in Texas. I was stoked to see the packed Matus showed up in their matching house at the El Campo Polka Fest at Name ___________________________________________________________ green Mollie B shirts and helped Taiton Community Center, and the Street ___________________________________________________________ decorate the tables, check folks in, overflow crowds at the Squeezebox City _________________________________ ST ________ Zip _____________ dances in Hallettsville and Houston. and sell Telstars CDs. (Yes, there are Ph _____________________ Email____________________________________ Telstars CDs available thanks to the As Alex Meixner says, “It’s all good.” Wes taking on this project. Check out Polka On! ❏ New ❏ Renewal ❏ Gift ❏ Address change (include old address) Texas Polka News - March 2016 Page 3 his jazz-flavored steel guitar was the Editor's Log instrument that set apart this new Western Swing sound from other More Salute to Steel genres. Soon Leon McAuliffe, Herb Remington, Noel Boggs, and dozens others followed suit each with their own style. The amplified steel reeked havoc among other string instruments. Not only was it loud, it was a move away from the "traditional" string From the TPN Archives: July 2006 bands (drums were still not allowed.) When Hank Penny's band was invited ENNIS NATIONAL featuring the Budweiser Clydesdales. By Gary E. McKee to play on the Grand Ole Opry, it was POLKA FEST Of course the street dancing followed to suggested that his steel player, Noel As reported in the July 2006 issue the music of the Czechaholics. Polka Date: March 2016. Last month's Boggs, bring a dobro instead of his The traditions continued on Memorial Polka DJ Johnny Krajca, marked 41 column on the impact of the steel guitar steel. Penny refused on the grounds Day weekend with the 40th Annual years of broadcasting polka music with in the music world promised more steel that it stifled his band's creativity. a live remote program Sunday morning National Polka Festival in Ennis enlightenment. bringing polka enthusiasts from across from the KJT Hall, with musical LET'S ROCK support from Harry Czarnek & the the state and the nation to this Texas The widely cast net has also yielded town south of Dallas. Texas Dutchmen. As with other musical instruments This annual celebration included Meanwhile, the Polka Mass was on the list of steel guitar players and images of three of The Beatles playing dancing in three air-conditioned halls, at the KC Hall. styles is infinite. So the editor will lap steels while recording, and one of all within a few minutes of each other For those who wanted to combine cast a wide net and see who gets some by free shuttle bus or your car.