- Sample Because You Love Me
- Sample Thats Where My Money Goes
- Sample Two Clarinets
- Sample Echoes in the Hills
- Sample Moutain Excursion
- Sample Banjo Lullaby
La Crosse Polka Band 2
In a small west central Wisconsin village about 30 miles east of the Mississippi River lived a young farm boy whose roots were embedded deeply into old time folk music. The leader of this La Crosse Polka Band, born in 1965, has carried on a family tradition that goes back to the 1800's. Being the youngest of five children, it was not unusual for his dad and all of the children to sit in the kitchen and play music.
La Crosse Polka Band beginnings
At the age of 3, his grandfather told everyone that he would be a great musician one day. Being a concertina player himself, Grandpa Herman was correct. At the age of 6, the leader of this La Crosse Polka Band began playing the trumpet. After a couple of years, he joined his dad's band playing the second trumpet. Not being fully satisfied he decided to sneak into his dad's closet and try out the concertina. When his dad was off driving school bus he would practice the concertina.
One Sunday afternoon as the family took their afternoon nap, he took his dad's concertina out of the closet and practiced. When his dad woke up from his nap, the leader of this La Crosse Polka Band played "At the Spring Waltz." From that time on the concertina was never locked in the closet and practicing became a 6 to 8 hour daily routine for him. Sometimes he would go and practice in their barn just to give his family a break.
Although he can read trumpet music, concertina music remained foreign to him. Music has naturally come easy to hikm which has enabled him to play from the heart and allow him to compose beautiful songs, one being Kayli's Lullaby. Several of his compositions have been recorded and played by many bands in the Midwest.
La Crosse Polka Band configurations
He started his own La Crosse Polka Band in 1985. It started as a six-piece band. As the years passed by, many larger bands decreased to 3-4 piece bands. However, almost 30 years later, he is one of the few band leaders who still maintains a six-piece band. In his words, the credit would go to loyal side musicians who still love to be part of a big band. This La Crosse Polka Band has secured one of the finest names in old time music, playing the traditional "Dutchmen Style" music!
