Gene Wisniewski
Living Category – Inducted 1973
Gene Wisniewski, was the son of Polish immigrants
who settled in Connecticut where his dad, a tailor, worked in the
weaving Mills in Manchester. At the age of 15, with three months of
instruction on the accordion, he played his first jobs at weddings and
taverns with his two
 brothers
on banjo and sax. From then it developed into a nine-piece orchestra.
This new career was interrupted by World War II when he had to serve a
hitch for Uncle Sam as a B-24 pilot. Upon his discharge in 1945, Gene
started teaching accordion. He opened a music studio and record store
in Hartford, Connecticut. It was through this store that Gene became
acquainted with Walter Dana of Dana Records.
Gene found himself making records with his own
band, the Harmony Bells, which developed into one of the most versatile
big bands of the post war years. His first hit was "Open The Door
Polka." The jobs started to come in. Bookings resulted in
Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and then later in Maryland, Canada,
Massachusetts and Rhode Island. As a result, his record sales improves
and his reputation grew. His rich baritone voice was heard on many a
record singing in Polish and in English. He then began free lancing and
started his own label, Dala, on which he cut six albums for himself. He
did some records for Rex, Starr and even came to Chicago to record for
Chicago Polkas.
Gene was the first out-of-towner to make it in the
Chicago area in 1962. Until then only Frank Wojnarowski had
ventured into the area ten years previously. Gene appeared at Polonia Grove for a
"Wishing Well Dance" sponsored by the late Ed Zimmerly. This was
inspired by his hit record "Wishing Well Waltz." Gene is credited with
breaking the ice as other out-of-town bands then started coming in.
All total, Gene cut 35 to 40 albums. His
activities in the Polka field included that of a composer, vocalist,
instrumentalist, recording artist, orchestra leader and record promoter.
Gene married Frances, a German-Irish girl, in
1943. They resided in Rockville, Connecticut, where they reared
two children, Thomas and Jean Ann. Gene Wisniewski
is now deceased. |
