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Joe Marcissuk
Living Category - 1991
Joe Marcissuk was born in Hamtramck, Michigan. After high school he
joined the Armed Forces spending two years in World War II. In 1946 he
married Wanda Kawucha and had three children, Patricia, Ronald and
Sandra.
In September 1958, he engaged in his first polka promotion. Obtaining
sponsorship from the Am Vets, he brought into Detroit Li’l Wally to the
Veterans Memorial Ballroom. Because of its tremendous success and the
enjoyment which it brought to the many polka fans of Detroit, he began
what was later to become his lifetime career in the polka industry.
During the succeeding years, Joe brought into the Detroit area many
bands such as Li’l Wally, Marion Lush, Happy Louie, Johnny Hyzny, the
Casinos, the C-Notes, the Ampol Aires, the Buffalo Hi-Notes, the Golden
Brass and Charlie Tansek.
In 1965 Joe again was not satisfied with just promoting polka music
through dance promotions. He was able to gain a one hour polka show on
WGPR-FM called the “Polka Express”. Joe then took the name of “Polka
Joe” which he carried ever since. After a year on the air Joe added an
additional hour.
“Polka Joe” made his first remote broadcast from Bills Bar in
Wyandotte, following shortly thereafter from the Senate Café in
Hamtramck. All the Polka Express shows were remote broadcasts. Others
originated at Fredrick’s Lounge in Wyandotte and the Holy Cross Council
K of K in Detroit. In 1966 the Polka Express program made a direct
broadcast from Cobo Hall during the International Polka Convention.
Wanda joined him on the Polka Express Show and became known as
“Waltzing Wanda”. In 1968, WGPR informed Joe that his polka show no
longer fit in with the format of acid rock. The show moved to WBRB for
four hours each week. Broadcasts were live remotes on Thursday and
Saturday evenings from the Senate Café. After six months, the show
gained an additional two hours a week.
In 1964 Joe opened his own record distributorship, known as “Heights
Record Distributors”, promoting polka music by selling polka records to
various record stores in the Detroit area and also to juke box owners.
Six years prior to their leaving the airwaves Joe and Wanda took up
another cause, which became an annual event. This was the Muscular
Dystrophy Polkathon, which raised $374,000.00 in 17 years by 1991. He
was active in the International Polka Association for many years, but is
now deceased. |
