December, 2009–The International Polka Association (IPA) is bringing the holiday season into full swing on Sunday, December 13, 2009, with the annual IPA "Breakfast With Santa." The celebration takes place at Polonia Banquets, 4604 South Archer Avenue, Chicago, Ill. Doors open at 10:30 a.m. with a full breakfast served at 11:00 a.m.

Santa will arrive to greet each child and present him or her with a gift. In addition, there will be games and activities for children of all ages.

Polka music and Christmas caroling commence after breakfast. The musical entertainment will be provided by Lenny Zielinski & the D Street Band and continues until 4:00 p.m.

This event replaces the regular membership meeting, so it is free for IPA members. It is also free for all children under 12 years of age. Admission for non-members over 12 is $10.

Reservations are required. Call (312) 315-2215 to reserve your place.

December, 2009—The Festival of Chicago Polka Bands, sponsored by the International Polka Association (IPA), actually starts off this year a day early and with a band that is not based in Chicago.

A Pre-Festival Warm-Up Dance will be held on Saturday, January 16, 2010, with music by Full Circle, one of the nation’s most popular bands. The event takes place at Polonia Banquets, 4604 S. Archer Ave., Chicago, Illinois. Doors Open 5:00 p.m. and music is 6:00-10:00 p.m. Tickets are $12.00 and a $1.00 discount will be given to persons with an IPA membership card.

The next day, Sunday, January 17, 2010, the IPA holds its annual Festival of Chicago Polka Bands at Glendora Banquets, 10225 S. Harlem Avenue, Chicago Ridge, Illinois. Doors open at 11:00 a.m. with music by eleven bands starting at 11:30 a.m. and continuing until evening. As the Pre-Festival Warm-up, tickets are $12.00 and a $1.00 discount will be given to persons with an IPA membership card.

Performing during the day will be Full Circle, Music Company, Downtown Sound, Freeze Dried, New Phaze, Jake Mikrut & His All Stars, Joe Walega’s Happy Hearts, Lenny Zielinski & the D Street Band, Brighton Park Connection, Eddie Korosa Jr. & the Boys from Polonia and Tony Blazonczyk & New Phaze.

A 2-day pass, including both the Pre-Festival Warm-Up Dance and the Festival of Chicago Polka Bands, is available for $20.00. The daily discount does not apply to purchase of the pass.

Food will be available for purchase at both venues.

December, 2009—The International Polka Music Hall of Fames and Museum Chairman, Leon Kozicki, strongly urges any recording company and/or polka band that has released a recording during the calendar year of 2009 to notify and submit that recording to him as soon as possible.

The submission is necessary to determine eligibility for the 42nd Annual Polka Music Awards, which will be presented at the annual festival at the Polka Music Hall of Fame and Music Awards banquet to be held in Cleveland, Ohio.

Registered companies will receive affidavit forms which must be completed and returned to the International Polka Music Hall of Fame and Museum Chairman, Leon Kozicki, by the deadline of February 14, 2010. Only those recordings that were produced during 2009 will be accepted. The recordings determined to be eligible will be placed on a master list, which will be mailed to the IPA electors. The favorite song and favorite album of 2009 will be selected from the list.

The IPA electors represent the various geographical areas within the United States, as well as Canada.

The awards have been presented for the past 41 consecutive years to deserving bands and vocalists. It is advisable that eligible copies be sent to the IPA, if that has not already been done at the time of release.

All correspondence regarding the submission should be sent to Leon Kozicki, Chairman, Polka Music Hall of Fame, 13405 Tall Pines Lane, Plainfield, IL 60544.

ALEX TRUSZKOWSKI DIES IN
WILKES-BARRE AT AGE 64

April, 2009—Alexander L. "Jolly Joe" Truszkowski, 64, of Chestnut Street, Hanover Township, passed away April 23, 2009, at the Wilkes-Barre General Hospital.

Truszkowski was born in Warrior Run, Pennsylvania, on June 23, 1944, a son of the late Alexander L. Sr. "Lefty" and Stella Pozarzecki Truszkowski. He was a 1962 graduate of E.L. Meyers High School, and was a U.S. Navy veteran of the Vietnam War.

Alex Truszkowski was well known in the music industry as "Jolly Joe." He served as a polka promoter and bandleader for Jolly Joe and the Bavarians, who played Polish, German polkas, accommodating many varieties of music.

His band was the first to record "The Chicken Dance" in the United States, and also released various recordings. In 1983, he was elected as the "Polish Citizen of the Year" by the Polish American Journal. He was involved in the polka music business for over 52 years. His passion was spending countless hours spreading the joy of his music to a variety of groups. He especially enjoyed going to nursing facilities and spending time with fellow veterans.

Truszkowski was a Polka D.J. for over 37 years at various radio stations throughout the Wilkes-Barre and Scranton areas, most recently with WICK (1340 AM, Scranton, Pa.) hosting his original Jolly Joe’s Bavarian Bandstand.

Jolly Joe's dedication to the polka industry has not gone unseen. In 1983, The Polka News, a Michigan based publication, named him their 1983 Polish Citizen of the Year. "That’s an honor the will stay with me the rest of my life," said Joe. "I’ll cherish it until the day that I die."

At the time of his death, Truszkowski was a nominee for the International Polka Association’s annual Polka Music Hall of Fame inductions.

He was a member of the Good Shepherd Polish National Catholic Church, Plymouth. He was very loyal to his country as a patriotic citizen, and was a member of AMVETS Post 59, Hanover Township, VFW Post 5267, formerly of Hanover Township, Catholic War Veterans Post 274, Ashley, Vietnam War Veterans, Pittston, D.A.V., Dupont.

Alex Truszkowski is survived by his wife of 28 years, Bernadette; sons, Michael Truszkowski and Alex (Truszkowski) Halter; sisters, Christine Kopacz, Lorraine Hoech; brother, Peter Truszkowski; and several nieces and nephews.

April, 2009—Popular polka personality Johnny Hyzny passed away on April 14, 2009, after a heart attack and short stay in the hospital. He would have been 79 years old on April 25.

Johnny Hyzny was born in Chicago, Illinois, in 1930 to Joe and Ann Hyzny. His brother, Joe, played the accordion at a very early age, but John had always had his eye on the drum and finally received a set one Christmas.

His first professional job, for which he received $3.00, was a wedding that he played with his brother Joe. A few years later, John played with a six-piece groups called The 4 Hamms, featured at local clubs like Pep’s Club and the Sabre Room. During this time, John’s brother was playing at the Casino Lounge with and another band, whose drummer passed away. John replaced him and played at the Casino Lounge three nights a week. At that time, John Korosa was doing a radio show from his Club Irene every Sunday, where John and Joe finally had the chance to play. Then Eddie Korosa opened the Baby Doll Polka Club and John became his drummer for four years, playing every Sunday on radio, appearing on WGN-TV, and all the band’s road trips.

A few years later, Johnny went out on his own with, of course, brother Joe on accordion and four other musicians. The band went under the name of Johnny Hyzny and his Music Makers. They appeared on Ron Terry’s polka party on WGN-TV and throughout Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Ohio. The band recorded on both Jay Jay and Ampol record labels. Some of the other musicians that played with Johnny were Don Ptak (trumpet), Frank Seliga (bass), Jerry Rajewski (piano), Eddie Benbenek (sax and clarinet) and Tony Paliga (trumpet). 

In addition to playing, in the early 1960s Johnny Hyzny and Leon Kozicki along with Marge Vassiv, Lorraine Zawada Benbenek, Marion & Elaine Nowak and Evelyn Golon, published the first polka magazine, called the Polka Guide. A few years later, Johnny formed the International Polka Convention, held in Buffalo, Detroit, and at Polonia Grove in Chicago.

In January, 1968, Johnny Hyzny, Leon Kozicki, Joe and Jean Salomon, Eddie Blazonczyk and Don Jodlowski met to discuss plans for the next convention. After a series of meetings, they began preparations for the formation of the International Polka Association (IPA). In October, Johnny resigned as President and named Leon Kozicki to replace him until an election could be held. 

In 1965, Johnny became the owner and operator of the Personality Lodge banquet facilities. The name of his business was taken from a title bestowed on him by polka fans, bandleaders and promoters in 1963: "Mr. Personality."

Hyzny was an active participant in civic and community affairs for many years. He was Vice-President for Encephalitis Fund of Chicago and Vice-President of the Chicagoland Polka Disc Jockey Association. He was a member of numerous organizations, including the American Legion, Lions, Greater Midway Economic Development Committee, Bill Bonnett’s Social Athletic Club, Polish American Police Association and many others. He was the recipient of numerous awards and commendations for his efforts in behalf of charitable and other worthy causes.

In March, 1984, Johnny celebrated his 30th year on radio, which over the years included remote broadcasts from New York and Michigan plus numerous local festivals and carnivals.

Johnny Hyzny was the Founder and President of the United Polka Association (UPA). He led a successful drive to erect a monument to deceased polka musicians in suburban Chicago, which came to fruition shortly after his decease.

He and his wife, Lorraine, had two daughters, Roseann and Diane, three sons, John Jr., Wayne, and Gary, and a grandson, Matthew.

In the words of John’s late father, "Remember, Life is short. Enjoy yourself." Happily, he did. Johnny Hyzny died on April 15, 2009.