National Cleveland Style Polka Hall of Fame and Museum
605 East 222nd Street
Euclid, OH 44123
USA
E-mail: Polkashop@aol.com
Phone: 216-261-3263
Toll Free: 1-800-66POLKA
Fax: 216-261-4134
Originally from Green River, Wyoming. Ernie Benedict came east to launch his dual
career leading the Range Riders, Cleveland's leading country-western band, and the
Polkateers, a versatile Cleveland-style polka band. With guests like Gene Autry,
Roy Rogers and the Sons of the Pioneers, Ernie's "Range Riders" shows on WGAR achieved
the highest ratings on Cleveland radio. His "Polka Picnic" TV shows on WNBK and WEWS
paid tribute to the city's ethnic heritage with polka, waltzes, obereks, tarantellas,
kolos and the czardas. Ernie's prolific career on the airwaves included more than
5,000 local and national broadcasts. Based at Ernie's Harmony Ranch in Chagrin Falls,
both of his bands performed throughout the Midwest, New York, Pennsylvania and Canada.
Their recordings for Standard, Continental and RCA were distributed internationally.
Inducted in 1989
www.polkafame.com © National Cleveland Style Polka Hall of Fame and Museum, 605
East 222nd Street, Euclid, OH 44123, USA.
