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Johnny Haas
Living Category -
Inducted 1988
The words Polka Music and Johnny
Haas are synonymous. It is rare that one is said without the other, for
this man of worldwide fame was polka.
But let's find out more about this
legend.
Johnny
Haas says he is half-Polish and half-Pennsylvania Dutch, and he uses
his background to its best advantage. Having been bitten by the "Music
Bug" at an early age. Haas began playing the drums at age 9. As he grew
older, he joined several bands in the Philadelphia area. But feeling
the need to go further, he started his own band in 1949. Haas made sure
that his musical library consisted of both the top tunes of the day as
well as the old favorites, and was always aware of what tunes received
the best response. He found that the Polkas were favored and thus, The
Johnny Haas Polka Band was born.
In 1955, perhaps the most significant event
of Haas' life, both personally and professionally, occurred with his
marriage to Ann Lebid, of Coatesville. Johnny has a warm smile when
talks of his "bride" and attributes much of his success to Ann.
Together they have worked to overcome many of the difficulties and
lonely times that some musicians and their families experience. When
she couldn't be with him, Ann kept the home fires burning while Johnny
was on the road.
Two children, RoseMarie and Ronald came from
Johnny and Ann's marriage. And, of course, the real star of Johnny's
life is his grandson, Nicholas.
Just as Johnny Haas' family grew, so did his
band's popularity and the diversity of its bookings. Gradually, The
Johnny Haas Polka Band was beginning to travel outside of the local area
and was being booked with many of the other big name bands. Haas found
these dates to be both enjoyable and competitive.
These varied band dates led Haas into another
interesting arena. fn 1968, he and Leon Fornel joined together and began
promoting Polka weekends. using the Haddonfield Ice House as their first
hall, the "Cherry Hill Polka Spree" was the first of many weekends.
From there, they were signed as the first event to take place in the
Wildwood Convention Center with their "Polka Spree By The Sea" weekend.
Many more have followed including Polkabration, Polkamotion, Seven
Springs, Erie Polka Days, and most importantly (because he is the
home-town boy) the Sunnybrook Polka Spree.
An individual, known to all as "Happy Louie", was
instrumental in helping Johnny Haas go spread his talents
internationally. When invited to go with "Happy Louie" to Poland,
Johnny's first reaction was "No". But in thinking about it, and
discussing it with the family, he and Ann decided to go. This first
trip led on to four others to Poland. The World Polka Fest made
Haas a Polka Ambassador.
In 1972, Johnny and Ann Haas, and their friend
Josephine Delicat, began giving Polka Dance lessons at Sunnybrook
Country Club, in their hometown of Pottstown, Pa. Johnny's "Polka
Explosion" woke up the people of southeastern Pennsylvania to the
marvelous Polka dances. Sometimes 50 to 100 or more people attended
these classes, and Johnny relished the friendships he gained from
this area of his career. He has passed away. |