Bernie Witkowski
Living Category – Inducted 1971
Bernie Witkowski – Bernie Wyte – was born in New
York, a fourth generation of clarinet players. His talent didn’t stop
with playing the clarinet; he also plays sax, accordion, flute, drums
and organ, writes the words and music to songs, introduces new dances
and finds time to conduct a successful radio show. He studied music at
New York University where he received an M.A. degree.
As an A & R Man of the Stella Recording and
Publishing Company many of his recordings featured the triple-threat
combination of his original composition, arrangement and direction. The Witkowski Orchestra introduced many of the figure dances, namely: "Side
By Side," "Swing And Sway," "Grasshopper," "Merry-go-Round," and
others.
In addition to Stella Records, he recorded on
Victor, Columbia, Decca, Dana, Continental and Standard Records. He recorded the greatest number of selections, more than any other artist.
Among his hits were "Fire Polka," "Hey Krajewski Polka"
and "Hot Pretzels."
Excelling in Polka music, the Witkowski Orchestra
was at home with the cha-cha, twist, fox-trot, rock and roll, etc. …
Bernie and his Orchestra played at the Waldorf Hotel, Latin
Quarter, Star Club, La Conga, Monte Carlo, Havana Madrid and Madison
Square Garden in New York at the Harvest Moon Polka Contest for many
years.
A few years prior to his induction, he competed on the NBC program
"Live Like A Millionaire" and won the contest playing the "Clarinet
Polka." He received interest (2% of one million dollars), a Pontiac,
RCA Color TV, One Week Vacation and a Diamond Ring. As Bernie explained
it, "I enjoyed living like a millionaire, but to tell the truth, I enjoy
it more when people tell me my music sounds like a million bucks."
In his many appearances he made acquaintances
with Frank Sinatra, Sophie Tucker, Milton Berle, Jackie Gleason, Xavier
Cugat, Benny Goodman, Sammy Kaye, Harry James, Vincent Lopez, Henri
Rene, Abbe Lane, Governor Rockefeller, and others.
Polka fans in New Jersey and New York listened to
his radio show now on WEVD-FM Sundays at 8:00 p.m.
He has passed away. |
