It was reported in today's (Cleveland) Plain Dealer that polka bandleader Johnny Vadnal passed away this past Monday. He was 84 years old. Vadnal appeared on many tv shows like "Polka Varieties" and "Polkatime USA" (where the clip is from below).
And here is another classic polka artist who is also in heaven...Frankie Yankovic.
Vadnal and Yankovic were two of the most influential artists on that genre, who were often seen on national tv. Polka on national tv is long gone. Now, to watch polkas, you primarily have to get it on cable access shows.
I grow up on this music listening on staticky AM radio out of Trumbull County on the way to Warren on many weekends to visit my grandma, who was first generation American on my Dad's side.
Question to the readers of this blog: What media memories from your past, preferably your childhood, do you miss the most and why?
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2 comments:
As I was getting ready for school. I remember listening to Martin and Howard on KYW/1100. My mom would have that on for the news reports since at that time there was no local news on television. The latter part of my childhood, I discovered disc jockeys, such as Big Jack Armstrong and used to like to imitate his "Your leeeeeeaaaaaaadddddeeerr" primal scream. That could have been some of the inspiration I use in my routine as the voice of the Rittman Indians Marching band.
As far as polka is concerned, I have downloaded some polka podcasts from iTunes by Toby Hansen and the Smilin' Scandinavians. Those are free.
WIXY...I think the guy I listened to for many years was Larry Walk from somewhere near Warren on the crackly AM dial.
I have watched that clip of Frankie Yankovic over and over. It was nice that he got the first ever Polka Grammy. That guy had an incredible life. His biography is a great read. I highly recommend it.
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