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Jerry Goetsch
Pioneer Category - Inducted 1999
It all started when Jerry Goetsch was a small child, his dad
played in a band in the area and his sister and brother also played
musical instruments. At 12 or 13 years of age, he began to fall in
love with the top polka bands at that time, listening to idol Romy
Gosz, Lawrence Duchow, The Six Fat Dutchmen, and Whoopie John.
Listening to them was a dream for him.
 In
1946, Jerry entered High School in Wausau, WI. One of the first
classes he signed up for was band, and he came home begging his dad
to buy him a trumpet. But Dad had not forgotten about my giving up
the violin that I had tried to learn in grade school. Finally, he
gave in and bought me a used Blessing trumpet for $40. I began
lessons.
As I progressed on the trumpet, playing in the high school band,
some of the kids in band talked about forming a band and they liked
the same music I did. Our first practice was in our living room on
the farm. This was the beginning of the Jerry Goetsch Orchestra
(7-piece).
After a short time, our band director let us practice during the
noon hour in the band room. It wasn't long and the teachers asked us
to play in the gym for the noon hour for dancing to old time music.
Our first dance job was for a wedding at Rib Falls Ballroom. From
this start, we continued for 42years. I'm really proud to say that
three of my musicians stayed with me for the entire 42 years.
Through the years, we made recordings on 78 LP's, then 45's,
33's, and then cassettes--traveling throughout Wisconsin and
Minnesota and other locations, during polka fests and dance jobs.
In 1960, we played live shows on WRIG in Wausau, WI and in
1964, we started doing live TV shows on WSAU-TV. Later on, shows
were taped at the studio and at local dance halls--they were played
back at I 1:00 a.m. Sunday mornings before the Packers football
game.
We were on TV for 26 years. We also started the European, Hawaii,
and cruise trips during the years of TV, and our first trip was to
the Oktoberfest in Munich. We filled two stretch jets with 459
people. We incorporated with our TV announcer, Jerry Gertschen, and
became Polka Productions. After 42 years, I retired the band on New
Year's 1992.
Yes, music was my life. Besides the band, my wife and I owned
Jerry's Music Inc., a complete music store in Wausau, WI. We had two
children, Terry Goetsch--who is carrying on with Jerry's Music. I
still have a two piece combo entertaining around the Merrill, Wausau
area and in mobile parks in Florida. Carol and I enjoy the warm
weather in Florida, remembering all the good times and good friends
we made through the music business over the years. |
