Happy New Year

Photo "Happy 2010" - courtesy of H.Ue
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I don't know who is the author of the verses below. I received them in one forwarded email and knew right away that this is the one I will share with all of you.
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My Wish for You 

in 2010

May peace break into your home 
and may thieves come 
to steal your debts. 

May the pockets of your jeans 
become a magnet for $100 bills. 

May love stick to your face like Vaseline 
and may laughter assault your lips!

May happiness slap you across the face 
and may your tears be that of joy

May the problems you had, 
forget your home address! 

In simple words ............

May 2010 be 

the best year 

of your life!!!
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Joey Tomsick

Polkas International  

2009 Annual Achievement Awards Show

By many who participated the  XXII Awards Show at Slovenian National Home in Cleveland, Ohio, on November 28, 2009 - it was nicknamed "The Year of Joey Tomsick" - due to many awards Joey and his Orchestra won:

• Best Musician - Individual: Joey Tomsick
  
• Best Musician - Sideman: Hank Guzel and Phil Hrvatin (both from Joey Tomsick Orchestra - out of 3 selected)
• Best New Original Polka or Waltz: "Polka Funhouse" - Joey Tomsick / Frank Doblekar
• Recording of the Year: "Polka Funhouse" - Joey Tomsick
• Band of the Year:  Joey Tomsick Orchestra

Joey Tomsick and other musicians at the Jam Session at Tony Petkovsek's Thanksgiving Polka Party in Cleveland, Ohio - November 27, 2009

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And since there are a lot of current pictures and videos of Joey Tomsick and Orchestra around, I chose to add this video from Joey's early beginnings, when he was only 13 years old, playing his button box for about a year, learning from Frank Yankovic and Joey Miskulin.

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Joey Tomsick at age 13 (button box) - playing Joey's Polka on Polka Variety Show, with Frankie Yankovic, Joey Miskulin.

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Ron Likovic

Polkas International  

2009 Annual Achievement Award

Nominees in the category  

Button Box - Individual/Duo were:

• Ron Likovic
• Joe Grkman Jr.
• Joe Novak
• Ron Pivovar
• Fred Ziwich

and voted best was Ron Likovic, one of the musicians that surely won't be forgotten any time soon by anyone who saw him playing at Marriott in Downtown Cleveland this Thanksgiving.

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Ron Likovic playing at Tony Petkovsek's 48th Annual Cleveland-Style Polka Extravaganza in the Grand Ballroom of the Downtown Cleveland Marriott Hotel - after being awarded The Best Button Box Individual Achievement Award for 2009

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"Playing with Passion" middle name would fit Ron perfectly - I am very much convinced about that, even though I've never seen him playing before. No wonder Ron Likovic received the biggest number of votes by polka fans.

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Ron Likovic playing in the Grand Ballroom of the Downtown Cleveland Marriott Hotel on November 28, 2009 - winner of The Best Button Box Individual Achievement Award for 2009

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Ron Likovic playing at the the Downtown Cleveland Marriott Hotel on November 28, 2009 - winner of The Best Button Box Individual Achievement Award for 2009

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Button Box Player of the Year 2009 Ron Likovic playing Grandpa's Polka with the Eddie Rodick Orchestra at the Annual Thanksgiving Dance put on by Tony Petkovsek from WELW and 24/7 Polka Heaven at the Marriott in Cleveland Ohio .

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Yodeling - listen

We probably all agree that yodeling is not the easiest thing to do, this 11 year-old girl in the video below sure mastered it to perfection and all by herself - with a yodeling track and an instruction book - one summer when she was only 7 years old and had nothing better to do. Yodeling - listen to Taylor Ware...

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Taylor Ware yodeling.

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Waltz Christmas songs

While most of the waltz Christmas songs I've been listening to for the past couple of weeks, came from the Home for Christmas CD by (well known to all of us) Canada's Polka King and 3 time Grammy winner Walter Ostanek - I've also been on a mission, searching Internet for some waltz Christmas songs to share with you. I have to say, polka Christmas tunes were much easier to find, though... :)

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♪♫ The Christmas Waltz ♪♫.

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We Wish You A Merry Christmas - Waltz Version.

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Alpski Kvintet - Sveta Noč - Silent Night.

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Alpski Kvintet - Bel Božič - White Christmas.

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Polka Christmas utube

This morning I asked mine and Nick's good friend Phillip from Australia to play a cheerful Christmas Polka for all of us - and this is what he came up with... enjoy!! :)

German Christmas song: "Kling Kling Glockchen Klingelingeling" or in Slovenian: "Zvončki na saneh" 

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Then I discovered "The Merry Christmas Polka" by Freddy Martin and information that This classic 3-part CD set From the 1984 Reader's Digest collection, "Christmas Through the Years" - is no longer sold anywhere and used copies from Amazon or eBay can fetch up to $100 or more. But of course you're more than welcome to enjoy this one song below for free... :)

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The Merry Christmas Polka by Freddy Martin - from "Christmas Through the Years" album.

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Let me wrap this post up with another Christmas classic in polka version, played on accordion by Phillip.

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Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer - Instrumental - One of the most well known Christmas songs out there..

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Merry Christmas

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Photo courtesy of Chobopop

"Good friends are hard to find,
harder to leave, and impossible to forget." 
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With this thought, I wish you a very Merry Christmas,
all the Happiest Holidays
and all the luck the New Year
could possibly bring to you.  

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Done shopping?

If you're now done shopping for all the last minute gifts, it's time to relax and start planning some fun things to do in the next few days - and until everything goes "back to normal"

• after Santa delivers all of his gifts, 
• after all the delicious and calorie-rich Christmas goodies are consumed, 
• after returning the unwanted or unfitted presents to the customer services around the country, 
• after staying up all night, and all the cheering, toasting and kissing on New Year's Eve

it will be a perfect time to join the New Year's Day Dinner Dance at the Suncoast Dance and Party Center - or SNPJ Lodge 778 Hall on County Line in Spring Hill.

When?
January 1st, 2010

Live music by:
Bob Turcola, Youngstown - Ohio
and
Line dancing on CD music when the band takes a break

Dinner choices:

• pork and sauerkraut
• roast beef
• kielbasa

Admission (affordable as always!):

• dinner & dance: $15
• dance only: $10

Time:

• food served from 12 to 1:30 PM
• dance from 2 to 5 PM

RSVP:
For dinner choices and reservations call Mary Ann Hiltz at: 727-376-8486
or
Contact Daria by leaving comment underneath this post.

And - by the way - in case you need a gift for someone and don't have time to shop - or you simply have no idea what to get them, Amazon gift card will make everyone happy. It can be e-mailed (for recipient's instant access) or mailed to anyone's address. I know I would be thankful to get one! :)

See you all on the first day of January 2010.

The Purple Star award

This morning I received the Purple Star award for the third time in a row and I have to admit that it makes my day - sunrise to sunset - every time I receive an email like this one:

Hey Daria,

Good news. Scratch that. GREAT news.

Your lens has been awarded a purple star!

"Green Cleaning Formulas"
http://www.squidoo.com/unusual-cleaning-solutions

Purple stars are awarded weekly to our favorite lenses created by all-star Giant Squids.

Read up on what you get, besides a pretty purple star on the lens and a Lensrank turboboost:

http://www.squidoo.com/purplestar

So go ahead and brag about your lens. We are.

Love,

The SquidTeam
& your faithful Giant Squid Organizers
http://www.squidoo.com/Giant_Squid_Organizers

Purple Star award is a very special award by Squidoo for the high quality of created webpage. Not too many are given away and not every lensmaster qualifies to have their lenses considered for Purple Star.

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Photo "Purple Star Keychain" - courtesy of glittersparkle14

My first Purple Start award

Click below to access the awarded webpage (opens a new window):

Rosemary Herb

I created the Rosemary Herb lens (webpage) - http://www.squidoo.com/RosemaryHerb this past spring. Me and my son were about to give some rosemary herb plants as presents. I propagated them myself and planted them into some neat, decorative flower pots. While I was sure that each and everyone of the recipients will greatly appreciate the herbal gift, I was having second thoughts whether they all knew how to take care of rosemary - or not.

And that was the main reason that I put together this webpage. To include/provide all the basic information on Rosemary Herb care, propagation and use.

Not only did I receive great feedback from several visitors who found the information useful, I also - completely unexpectedly - received my first Purple Star award. It felt like a small miracle at the time...

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Photo courtesy of ViaMoi

My second Purple Start award
Click below to access the awarded webpage (opens a new window):

Do It Yourself Decorative Wall Painting

We lived in this new house for a year or so and I was getting tired of all the walls and ceilings, painted plain white. I started craving for some colors in my home - where I spend most of my time. And here came the solution - an overseas couple that had some ideas about how to solve my hunger for colors.

We started working on the project together and implemented some things that I'd never thought of before. We all liked the results and even after they left, I was still painting for a few more weeks - a little at the time.

I later used the photos to create two lenses on the DIY painting topic since I had a feeling that this was simple enough for many to do - and the ideas were a little different from anything else I was able to find online.

When Do It Yourself Decorative Wall Painting lens received the Purple Star award, I was completely shocked... :)

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Photo courtesy of Glenn Harris (Clintriter)

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My third Purple Start award
Click below to access the awarded webpage (opens a new window):

Green Cleaning Formulas

I know some things about natural ways of living since taking good care of my environment has always been my lifestyle. One day I realized that there are many people out there who could use some advice on how to keep their homes clean without stocking up on toxic cleaners.

Again, I created this webpage with collection of Green Cleaning Formulas, easy to mix and use for anyone, just because I had a feeling that I had something helpful to share.

For the third time - this morning - the Purple Start award came as a total - yet pleasant surprise!

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Photo courtesy of * Nina *

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My Purple Start award conclusion

I am not a big fan of cleaning - or painting for that matter. The truth is that I would much rather avoid the mess (and cleaning afterwards) - whenever possible. ;)

But whenever I decide to do these tasks, I like to keep them simple and safe and I always enjoy the clean or colorful results very much!

At the same time, the world of plants feels like a sanctuary to me. I go out and spend time with everything I'm growing around my house whenever I feel tired, anxious or overwhelmed. Taking care for my plants puts me at peace and I always have some fresh herbs handy to use on my salads, on my home-baked bread, for cooking or just to put in a vase. And that's one of my sources of life's little pleasures - that never fail to cheer me up...

I'd like to thank Giant Squid Organizers and everyone else who thought my lenses were good enough to receive the Purple Star award - and everyone who ever gave any attention to anything I have ever published online. You are all Very Much Appreciated!! :)
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Photo courtesy of -caz-

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Cleveland Style Polka Hall of Fame

My visit to the National Cleveland style Polka Hall of Fame in Euclid - dedicated to the preservation and promotion of polka music, 'the happiest sound around' - was memorable.

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Photo above: Cleveland Style Polka Hall of Fame Euclid Ohio building on 605 East 222nd Street

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The Polka Hall of Fame and Museum is located in the historic, former City Hall of Euclid, Ohio, in close proximity to the Collinwood neighborhood where leading polka musicians lived such as Frankie Yankovic, Johnny Vadnal, Johnny Pecon and Eddie Habat. The Museum has free admission and is open five days a week.

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Even though I've only been learning about the North American polka music scene for the last two years or so, I've seen many familiar faces and names at this international Polka Hall of Fame.

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Photo above: Frankie Yankovic memorabilia at Cleveland Style Polka Hall of Fame Euclid Ohio

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The American Slovenian Polka Foundation, which operates the Museum, was founded in 1987. A volunteer board of trustees is elected by the present 1600 members. The trustees represent all segments of polka music, including musicians, promoters, cultural societies, disc jockeys, and button accordion players.

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Photo above: The Slovenian roots of Cleveland-style display at Cleveland Style Polka Hall of Fame Euclid Ohio

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The Cleveland-Style polka music has its roots in folk music from Slovenia and the influence of American musicians, which has given this polka music style universal appeal and popularity. In the same was as English and Irish music on American ground has evolved into country music style, in the same way polka represents the music of Central Europe.

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Photo above: Some polka legends familiar faces at Cleveland Style Polka Hall of Fame Euclid Ohio: Johnny Pecon, Frankie Spetich, Frank Yankovic, Slavko Avsenik, Richie Vadnal, Walter Ostanek, Verne Meisner

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During Thanksgiving weekend, the Polka Hall of Fame produces an annual awards show. Members vote for annual categories such as Recording of the Year, Lifetime Achievement recipients, and the all-time greates polka hits among others. The honorees receive a Crystal Award trophy. The Lifetime Achievement award is the highest honor presented and includes enshrinement in the Polka Hall of Fame.

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Photo above: More polka legends familiar faces at Cleveland Style Polka Hall of Fame Euclid Ohio: Eddie Habat, Georgie Cook, Lojze Slak, Zarja Singing Society, Paul Yanchar, Tony Petkovsek

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The National Cleveland-Style Polka Hall of Fame Museum is filled with artifacts and memoribilia from polka stars of yesterday and today.

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Photo above: The Vadnals - latest exhibit at Cleveland Style Polka Hall of Fame Euclid Ohio

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Visit Cleveland Style Polka Hall of Fame online at:
http://www.clevelandstyle.com/index.html



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Friday snow

As I'm sitting at my desk in my Central Florida home, sipping jasmine green tea and looking at my laptop screen while thinking about my Cleveland trip, the memory of that early Friday morning in Northfield, Ohio makes me smile.

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Photo above: Friday snow and sunrise in Northfield, Ohio

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When I first woke up that morning I instinctively knew there had to be snow outside. The next thing I remember was the sound of the automobile tires, making their way through the snow slush on the asphalt. Being born in the coldest town in Slovenia, I sure heard a lot of that "song." Some things just seem to stick in one's memory for ever...

I got up and opened the blinds. Everything was white - and after I haven't seen snow in five years the snow covered outdoors looked simply magical to me! :)

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Photo above: Friday snow in Northfield, Ohio

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Thank you, Dave - for taking both of the beautiful photos above!! :)



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Tony Petkovsek Thanksgiving Polka Party

In one of the best hotels Cleveland has to offer, in the Downtown Cleveland Marriott Hotel, there was a traditional Thanksgiving Polka Party going on this past weekend - also known as Tony Petkovsek's 48th Annual Cleveland-Style Polka Extravaganza.

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Photo above: Crowds at the Thanksgiving Polka Party at the Downtown Cleveland Marriott Hotel - one of the jam sessions

I was attending the Thanksgiving Polka Party in Cleveland for the first time this year and during the next few days I'll be posting some videos, photos and my own impressions from all the events and places I've had a chance to attend or visit.

Video above: Mr. Buttons performed by Ron Likovic, Mike Kramer, and RJ Likovic on drums in the lobby of the Downtown Cleveland Marriott during a late night jam session at the Annual Thanksgiving Polka Party November 29, 2009

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Photo above: Irene and Cheryl - Walter Ostanek (Canada's Polka King) wife and daughter at the Thanksgiving Polka Party at the Downtown Cleveland Marriott Hotel

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Photo above: My company: John, Rita, Dave, Jane, Daria and Gloria at the Tony Petkovsek's Thanksgiving Polka Party at the Downtown Cleveland Marriott Hotel 

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Video above: This is the ultimate Jam Session at Tony Petkovseks' Thanksgiving Polka Party. Walter Ostanek, Joey Miskulin, Dick Tady and other musicians played a couple polkas. The music was great. It was a great polka weekend in Cleveland OHIO 

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Piano accordion master

Here's another masterpiece by Štajerskih sedem (Štajerskih 7) and especially their piano accordion player: Slalom za harmoniko (Accordion Slalom) - in case you enjoyed yesterday's post and you have some time to spend on your computer these days.





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Happy Thanksgiving!

Wishing you all a beautiful Thanksgiving Day, no matter where you are and who you're celebrating with - with some quotes and uplifting music videos.

French Proverb:
Gratitude is the heart's memory.

For today's occasion I chose an older group that has been around for decades: Štajerskih sedem. Below is their polka about the happy dancing.

They have always been very popular, their music and performance of high quality and singer Rudi Šantl's voice very distinctive.

He toured Canada and U.S. a few months ago as a vocal with Slovenian group Tramontana. Rudi since received more invitations from this side of Atlantic to come back and sing for Slovenian Clubs again. In an interview (after his return to Slovenia) he stated that he'd be more than happy to do so.

Jackie Windspear:
Grace isn't a little prayer you chant before receiving a meal. It's a way to live.

And a waltz by the same polka band, Štajerskih sedem and Rudi Šantl singing. The lyrics are about one's broken heart - but don't let that bother you. They end with the following verse: "At the end you have to admit, it was beautiful..." (Na koncu si le priznaš, bilo je lepo...)

Both of today's videos are from their live performances in 1995. Rudi is not a member of Štajerskih sedem any more. He is now singing with many different ensembles.

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Happy polka video

I found this video of Slovenian group named Pop'n'dekl - which means carton - in Germanic-Slovenian slang. I won't go into the details of lyrics - so I don't get accused of something ;) - in short, this tune sings about Franček (Frank) who liked his flute and girls, of course.

These guys from Pop'n'dekl group say about themselves that rumors about them being half way nuts is a complete misinformation because they are nuts - all the way... :)

Enjoy!





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Thanksgiving Dinner and Dance

Everyone who attended yesterday's Thanksgiving Dinner and Dance had a good time. Thanks to Eileen, the tables were nicely decorated (we received several compliments for that) and - also thanks to Eileen, we had a nice variety of pies and some other pastries.

The food was good, all the credits go to chef Richard and everyone else who helped with cooking, baking and serving food, the music was a nice mix of ballroom and polka tunes - by Steve Juricic and Tropical Squeeze. Most of the guests were regulars but we also had a few first-timers who sounded quite determined to come back again after yesterday's experience.

Here are some photos from Yesterday's event. I'll add more as I fix them. The light conditions in the SNPJ Hall are usually too low for my Kodak camera which prefers taking outdoors pictures in Florida's sunshine... ;)

Guests and dancers photos:
 

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Steve Juricic and Tropical Squeeze band photos:

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Jam session photos:

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Related posts:

• Steve Juricic and Tropical Squeeze video
• SNPJ 
• Index of SNPJ related pages
  

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Polka music future continued

Response to Polka music future post - by Walt Harfmann

Daria,

This past summer we went to Slovenia, Austria, Germany, and the Czech Republic, as you know.

We were stunned, in Austria, Slovenia, and also southern Germany, at how many young people are very interested in Folk music, or as in Austria & Germany, Volksmusik.

From our last visit in 2001, to this trip, 2009, We would have to say that there is at least a ten-fold increase in the interest of Buttonbox music, Folk music, and Polka music in general, however, true European style.

There are even studios, that teach buttonbox accordion that are new on the map since 2001. One we visited, teaches 400 students a week, in Austria, and they have 8 more studios around Europe.

The crowds at the festivals proved to us that this isn't going away in Europe, but increasing by big numbers.

It is very refreshing to see young people in parts of this world who are deeply interested in their heritage and customs.

Not everyone in this world is only interested in Rap, or being what you are not!

To us, this was re-assuring to know that our heritage, music, and customs, will survive in part of the world. If only some of our young people in America would take an interest, instead of poking fun at their heritage.

We realize, that at this time in our culture(America), their have been many mixed backgrounds to form the current generation, but there are also many close to one, two, or three heritage background people of the current generation, who also don't know about, or even care about, their heritage.

With this attitude, America will become an even more "Lost" bunch of people. Probably why we have so many problems here at home.

Walt Harfmann
Vice-President
S.N.P.J. 778
Spring Hill, Florida

Polka music future

Lately, there's been a lot of discussion (at the meetings as well as certain newspapers) - about Slovenian Style (Cleveland Style) Polka music losing it's followers and popularity in United States.

For some reason this kind of statements don't resonate with me so I did some research.

See for yourself (below) what kind of polka music and performers I discovered.

Video below: Marko Mikiš (button box) and Nick Pehan (vocal) performing for the TV show "Polka in majolka" in Jarenina, Slovenia



Video below: The youngest Turbo Folk Group from Zg. Velka in Slovenia, Turbo Veseljaki: Sara, Teja, Jernej and Marko
performing live on "Polka in majolka" show.

Glasba - music by: Marko Mikiš
Besedilo - lyrics by: Mitja Grmovšek



And the conclusion?

I am quite confident to say that for as long as polka music is performed with such enthusiasm and virtuosity by the youngest generations in the crib of the Cleveland Style Polka - in Slovenia, polka tunes and dancing will live and thrive.

It's all in spreading the word and promoting the happiest music known to man.

You too can help - by telling your friends and family about this post. Thank you!! :)

Related posts:

• Polka music future continued
  

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Steve Juricic and Tropical Squeeze

To give you a taste of music we're going to dance to at this season's first event - Thanksgiving Dinner Dance - here's a video of Steve Juricic and Tropical Squeeze, a Slovenian Style Polka Band.

These guys strut their stuff in the Tampa Bay Area.
Tropical Squeeze is Steve Juricic - Accordion-ItaloBass-Lead Vocal, Mike Pavlin - Bass - Button Box, Bill Rochon - Accordion - X4, Dick Smith - Drums - Vocals and Bob Cunningham - Banjo.

Catch their music next you're in the TampaBay Area.
This video is excerpts from their General Store Concert at Heritage Park in Largo, FL





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