MP3 Polka Dots Polka Band - International Polkas and Waltzes 1928 - 1948

Authentic, historically significant polkas and delightfully melodic waltzes.

11 MP3 Songs in this album (27:27) !
Related styles: WORLD: Polka, FOLK: Traditional Folk

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Details:
THE BIRTH OF A MUSICAL GROUP

A musician gets an idea that won't go away. It's haunting. He/She is compelled to share the idea with others. A gathering of potential group members is arranged for a 'test drive'. The duo, trio, quartet, etc. get together to check things out. This is the go/no go moment. If they like what they see and hear, things will move ahead. They have just given birth to a new musical group.

Now the hard work begins--selecting a name for the group, a music library, sound equipment, marketing and advertising and start-up funding sources--to name a few items. Yes, you are correct, you have also just witnessed the formation of a small new music venture. This is the story of the Polka Dots.

Lorna, lifelong accordion player, wants to play music 'from the old country', especially polkas. No groups are evident in Rowan County that play the old European style polkas. Foster is a long time Dixieland banjo player, recently turned tubaist. The two play music together at a St. Patrick's Day party, discover they have good chemistry and decide to move on.

Meanwhile, Lorna begins to search for musical arrangements. Her neighbor and friend in Pinehurst is of Czech ancestry. Joe Danek plays the accordion and has played professionally with a Czech polka band for years, in New York City, during the hey-day of polka. The idea for the Polka Dots was beginning to take on a new dimension.

Obviously, more musicians were needed to form a band. Lorna knew John and Anne Cave. John played clarinet and Anne played the piano and sang beautifully, even in German. A meeting/audition is arranged. Again, the group finds good chemistry and interest. Anne agrees to do vocals and play guitar, so now we have a quartet.

The group still needs a trumpet/cornet to play polkas. Foster knows George Hill through other musical associations. Another meeting/audition session is scheduled to meet and play with George. Eureka! Another winner!

Now the only thing missing is a trombone or baritone/euphonium horn. George plays trumpet with a group directed by Catawba College professor Dr. Steve Etters. George talks with Steve. Steve is interested. A meeting is arranged and finds he is a perfect fit. Eureka! We now have a complete polka band. How long did the process take? About one year. How did the group get its name? Well, that's a story for another time. SO just sit back and enjoy this first official album of songs and polkas from 'the old country'.


LORNA BROWN - Accordion player since the age of nine. A Swedish immigrant's daughter, 'Lorna Anderson' represented California in the Miss America Pageant of 1957 and was selected third runner-up. Her talent was the accordion! Always performing as a soloist, Lorna is now refreshed to be playing with a polka band--enjoying the authentic, masterfully arranged polkas and waltzes of the early to mid-nineteen hundreds. Long may they last!

ANNE CAVE - Anne recently received a Masters of Music from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Some of Anne's many credits include studying voice and theatre in NYC and performing there in off-Broadway productions and childrens' theatre; performing professionally in musical productions in the Southern States; singing with symphony choruses in the South and as a soloist in churches all over the country. She loves to teach music to children and play polka music.

DR. JOHN CAVE - An emergency room physician, John learned to play the clarinet in junior high school. At the university of Illinois, he was a member of the Marching Illini--one of the 'BIG TEN'S marching bands. Performances were selective and limited until he received a call to play with the Polka Dots. John had always wanted to play in a small ensemble.

DR. STEVE ETTERS - has been a trombone player since the age of ten. He lives and loves music--having dedicated his life to performance and music education. Some of his credits include playing professionally in several Top 40 and acoustical groups; playing in symphonies, being a conductor of a symphony orchestra and founding and playing in musical ensembles. He has a BA in Music Education, a MA in Education & Administration and a Doctorate in Music Education & Supervision & Music Curriculum. He loves to play his euphonium in the Polka Dots.

GEORGE HILL - has been a cornet player since the age of twelve. He has experience in high school band, the US Army Band in Europe; most recently with the Queen City Brass Band in Charlotte, NC; Catawba College Community Band, the Salisbury Swing Band, various gigs around Salisbury and now our most special, Polka Dots.

FOSTER OWEN - From Barbershop Quartets and Dixieland Combos to Classical Brass Ensembles, Foster has had music on his mind most of his life. Joining the Polka Dots as its tuba player 'to create music from the old country', has opened up a whole new chapter in his musical life. Stay tuned; no pun intended.