Larry Chesky
Living Category - Inducted 1985
Since his birth November 17, 1933, Larry Chesky has
resided in Holyoke, Massachusetts. Thanks to his parents, Wanda and
Joe, Larry was introduced to music at the age of six. He was given his
first accordion. Whenever you saw Larry, you saw that accordion. They
were inseparable. With the help of his father, Joe, Larry’s first band,
“The Polka Dots,” was formed when he was twelve years old. After its
first regional radio broadcast, the popularity of the group soared.
Larry changed the group’s name to “Larry’s Polka Dots”.
 At
the age of fifteen, with the help of his mentor and promoter, Joe Tauss
of New York, Larry signed with the Musico Record Company. It as then
that Larry achieved his now famous “Big Band Sound.” A ten-piece
orchestra was formed named “Larry Cheska and His Orchestra.” The
group’s first recording was “Our Gang Oberek” which became a hit.
Although a musical success, Larry returned to
Massachusetts to graduate from high school, and attend the Hart School
of Music. Back on the road again, Larry Chesky and His Orchestra
covered the eastern Polka circuit from New York to Chicago.
Because of the versatility and popularity of the
band, it was invited to perform at the Eastern States Exposition and the
Cobleskill New York Fair. This allowed Larry to work with headliners
such as Barbara Mandrell, Bobby Vinton, James Darin and many of the
Lawrence Welk stars.
During the 50’s, Larry formed the Rex Record
Company. He had a close working relationship with Gene Wisniewski, who
formed Dala Records and Al Soyka, who formed Glo Records. Over many
years these three pioneer Polka recording companies worked together for
promotion and benefit of the Polka industry. Larry has just released
three new albums which brings his total personal recordings to well over
1000, including 100 albums.
In 1974, Larry formed Modern Mail International.
The company was formed to promote Polish heritage through the
distribution of “Proud To Be Polish” products.
Over the years, Larry performed on TV and radio and
is currently completing his first video recording. Although Larry
has had a very busy career, he has found time for a very rewarding
personal life. Larry, with his wife, Pat, had four daughters, Laura,
Linda, Vickie, and Valerie. The “Big Band Sound” long thrived in the
city of Holyoke, Massachusetts, in the person of Larry Chesky.
Chesky is among the true polka stars who has been inducted into the
Polka Hall of Fame. |
