Thanksgiving Polka Weekend

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

www.polkafame.com © National Cleveland Style Polka Hall of Fame and Museum, 605 East 222nd Street, Euclid, OH 44123, USA.

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Linda Lee Brown

Lobby Marriot Hotel, Cleveland

Walter Ostanek & Bob Kravos

Main Ballroom Marriott Hotel, Cleveland

Fred Ziwich And His International Sound Machine

Main Ballroom, Marriott Hotel, Cleveland

Squeezebox With Mollie B.

Main Ballroom, Marriott Hotel, Cleveland

The Chardon Polka Band, featuring DJ Kishka

Superior Room, Marriott Hotel, Cleveland

Don Wojtila Orchestra

Main Ballroom, Marriott Hotel, Cleveland

Wayne Tomsic

Main Ballroom, Marriott Hotell, Cleveland

Jeff Pecon

Main Ballroom, Marriott Hotel, Cleveland

George Staiduhar

Main Ballroom, Marriott Hotel, Cleveland

Frank Stanger

Main Ballroom, Marriott Hotel, Cleveland

All-Star Jam Session With Joey Tomsick & Tony Petkovsek

Main Ballroom, Marriott Hotel, Cleveland

Mollie B.

Main Ballroom, Marriott Hotel, Cleveland

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Thanksgiving 2013

50th Thanksgiving Polka Party Weekend

November 28 to november 30,

Marriott Hotel, Downtown Cleveland, OH.

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Frank Stanger Sweeps Polka Hall of Fame Awards

EUCLID, OH - Accordionist and bandleader Frank Stanger scored the first sweep at the Polka Hall of Fame music awards by taking Album, Band, Music and New Song of the Year awards for 2013. The 26th annual awards ceremony was presented by the National Cleveland-Style Polka Hall of Fame and Museum on Saturday, November 30, 2013, at Euclid Auditorium in Euclid, Ohio. Bandleaders Eddie Adamic, Jim Kozel and Frankie Zeitz were inducted for their lifetime achievements in polka music. Former Senator George V. Voinovich was honored for having served as the honorary chairman of the Polka Hall of Fame at its founding in 1987. The gala stage show was the high point of Cleveland's 50th Thanksgiving Polka Party Weekend.

The Downtown Marriott Hotel was the site of the three-day polka event which attracted music-lovers from 27 states and six countries on Thanksgiving Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Orchestras performed in three hotel locations, including the Grand Ballroom, along with impromptu polka jam sessions. A highlight was the Polka Mass, celebrated by Cleveland Bishop A. Edward Pevec and Fr. Frank Perkovich of Minnesota. Entertainers included RFD-TV's Mollie B and Squeezebox, Canada's Polka King Walter Ostanek, Hall of Famer Hank Thunander, the Chardon Polka Band, Polka Revolution, and orchestras led by Eddie Rodick, Joey Tomsick, Wayne Tomsic, Fred Ziwich, Jeff Pecon, George Staiduhar, Ed Klimczak, Don Wojtila, Dan Peters and Anthony Culkar.

The Awards Show showcased polka music across the four seasons and closed with a holiday production number. Performers included three-time Grammy-winner Walter Ostanek; Linda Lee Brown and Wild Bill; and Patty Candela and the young Polka Stars of Tomorrow. The stage orchestra was led by Tom Mroczka with musicians from several states. The master of ceremonies, WELW's Ray Somich, introduced guest presenters, such as Fox 8 sportscaster John Telich; Lili Brunec and Mojca Dela? from Radio Slovenia; John Hasper, a polka webmaster from the Netherlands; Canadian performer Mary Lou Downs; and His Excellency Dr. Božo Cerar, Ambassador of Slovenia, with Hon. Jure Žmauc, Slovenian Consul General. The show was directed by Ray Somich II. The Awards Show was supported in part by the residents of Cuyahoga County through a public grant from Cuyahoga Arts & Culture.

"I play polkas because I love the music and I love the people who love the music," said Eddie Adamic, the Detroit bandleader who was recognized for his 70-year career as a polka bandleader and accordionist.

Barberton bandleader Frank Stanger took home four awards: Musician of the Year, Band of Year and Recording of the Year for "All Keyed Up." His orchestra performed his winning song, "The Punxsutawney Phil Polka." Recipients of annual awards were Kathy Hlad for button accordionist; the Fairport Jammers for button accordion ensemble; Thanksgiving Weekend Chairman Mark Habat for support and promotion; Dale Bucar for vocalist; and the SNPJ Recreation Grounds in Kirtland, Ohio, for cultural heritage. Three side musicians received awards: Mark Habat (Fred Ziwich and the International Sound Machine), Brian Zupancic (Joe Novak Orchestra), and Jack Tankovich (Bob Kravos and the Boys in the Band).

Polka Hall of Fame members voted in two all-time hits songs. "Kamnik Polka," recorded by Andy Blumauer in Cleveland, became a hit in Slovenia. It was introduced by Vera Marsic and performed by the Veseli Godci (Happy Musicians), a local Slovenian-style band. "Hambone Polka," the theme song of the Eddie Habat Orchestra, was released internationally on the Decca and Polydor labels in the 1950s. Mark Habat, son of the late bandleader, presented the song, along with Klancnik and Friends, musicians from Michigan, Pennsylvania and Ohio.

Seven names were added to the Polka Hall of Fame Trustees Honor Roll: polka TV hosts Joe Gabrosek and Gene Kovack; the Mahoning Valley Button Box Club, an accordion ensemble; musicians Bob McGuire, John Zipay and Joe Miklavic; and the Slovenian National Home on East 80th Street in Cleveland. Miklavic recorded with Frank Yankovic, America's Polka King, in the 1940s. McGuire is known for his tune, "Moon over Parma," the original theme song for TV's "Drew Carey Show."

Radio personality Tony Petkovsek began the Thanksgiving Polka Party in 1963 and expanded it into one of the country's largest polka music festivals and the longest-running. He gave an award to Former Senator Voinovich for his long-time support of Cleveland-Style Polka music.

"There's a fresh polka breeze sweeping through America and the Polka Hall of Fame is carried along with it." said Joe Valencic, President of the Polka Hall of Fame and producer of the Awards Show. "The Thanksgiving Polka Weekend and Awards Show bring attention to upcoming Cleveland-Style polka talents as well as to bands that are long-time crowd-pleasers."

Thanksgiving Polka Party 2013