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Posted 9 Aug 2004 20:27:09 -0700 to
alt.music.polkas by Lenny Gomulka. Reprinted by permission.
Concertina music has always been big in upper Wisconsin and Minnesota, etc.,
because of its heavy association with the Dutch and German orchestras of the 30's & 40's. As far as Chicago, there was an area
called "Polish Broadway" better known as Division Street on the near
north side which was the single largest influence on Polish concertina
music anywhere. It was in this area mostly during the 40's and early
50's that players made names for themselves and influenced the Polish
Polka field. Those names include Eddie Zima, Casey Siewierski, Stas Zombeck, Gene Lind
Lipchinski, Matty Krengiel, Ted & Johnny Dudczyk,
Mlody Adolf, Wally Banks, Li'l Wally Jagiello and dozens upon dozens
of others. The concertina craze in Polish music was born in Chicago
and it highly influenced to the east and nationally what we're
seeing today. By the way, the original accordion & concertina
combination playing together in a Polish polka band was with Jerry
Pietranczyk & the Polka Sharps of Chicago with Wally Maduzia on
concertina and Jerry Pietranczyk on accordion. The east coast was
largely influenced by technical accordionists and Polish concertina
bands were rare. I think what we see today in the Polish polka field
is the result of Polish fans loving concertina music and enjoying the
Chicago dancing tempos, which pretty much rule.
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