David "Nigel" Kurdziel

David “Nigel” Alan Kurdziel was born on May 2, 1963, in Buffalo, NY. He was first exposed to polka music at church picnics and from polka shows. Nigel’s cousin, Gino Kurdziel, played for the renowned G Notes. His older brother Mike was a drummer, and his younger brother Kevin played accordion. Nigel started playing guitar at the age of 11 and joined his first band, The Melody Men, at age 12, playing bass with his brother on drums. In 1981, he graduated from the Buffalo Academy of Visual and Performing Arts, where he took music theory and performance classes, played coronet and piano, and auditioned to play upright bass with the orchestra. Nigel considers Vinny Horoschok, Vinnie Bozzarelli, Eddie Blazonczyk Sr, Stas Mikruit, and Joe Dudek to be among his polka music influences.

Nigel’s 48-year polka career encompasses the following milestones:

• Joined Steel City Brass 1978 replacing Ron Urbanczyk. Played for about two years.
• Performed and recorded with The Dynatones from 1979 – 1984.
• Played with the reformed Dynatones from 1988 – 1990.
• Joined and performed with John Gora and Gorale from 1991 – 1994.
• Moved to Grand Rapids, MI in May of 1994 and performed with the Michigan Connection from 1998 - 1999.
• Recorded and played with Frank Borzymowski & Friends during the summer 1999.
• Joined Gerry Kaminski’s Merry Makers in 2001
• Started filling in with Eddie Blazoncyk’s Versatones in 2001 and eventually joined full-time until the band ended in 2011.
• Joined Polka Network in 2012.

Nigel filled in with many other bands over the years, including the Krew Brothers, Skylarks, The Knewz, Happy Richie, and Wanda & Stephanie, to name a few. He also performed on over 70 recordings to date (see Discography below) most notably, Live Wire by The Dynatones and the Grammy Award-winning album, Another Polka Celebration by Eddie Blazonczyk’s Versatones.

Despite his busy musical career, Nigel found the time to help young, aspiring polka musicians. He provided musical lessons to Maria Vinecki, who went on to perform admirably with the talented Box On group. He also gave lessons to Kyle Kohan’s brother, Chris Stamer. Nigel has worked for the greater good of polka music by faithfully performing the important duties of an IPA Elector for over 34 years.

DISCOGRAPHY

ALBUMS / CD’S
1982         DYNATONES – LIVE WIRE
1982         DYNATONES – INTERNATIONAL POLKA FEDERATION LIVE
1983         DYNATONES – FIFTEEN & NINE
1984         BRASS WORKS – IT TAKES PEOPLE LIKE YOU
1985         SUNSHINE – HEAT
1985         THE BOYS – THE BOYS JUST WANT TO HAVE FUN
1985         STEEL CITY BRASS THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS
1986         SUNSHINE – PUT SOME SUNSHINE IN YOUR LIFE
1986         EDDIE BLAZONCYK’S VERSATONES – LET’S CELEBRATE AGAIN
1987         DYNATONES – INTERNATIONAL POLKA FEDERATION LIVE
1987         POLKAS FOR CHILDREN
1987         EDDIE BLAZONCZYK’S VERSATONES – ANOTHER POLKA CELEBRATION
1987         AMPOL AIRES – ONE MORE TIME
1987         JERRY & AL – SQUEEZBOX SERENADE
1988         EDDIE BLAZONCZYK’S VERSATONES – 25^th ANNIVERSARY
1988         DYNATONES – POWER OF TEN
1989         EDDIE BLAZONCZYK’S VERSATONES – GOOD OL' DAYS
1989         DYNATONES – LIVE WIRE II
1990         A KOLBERG SAMPLER
1990         JERSEY POLKA RITCHIE – MR. CONCERTINA
1990         DYNATONES – WHEN THE BAND PLAYS A POLKA
1990         EDDIE BLAZONCZYK’S VERSATONES – EVERYBODY POLKA
1991         EDDIE BLAZONCZYK’S VERSATONES – ALL AROUND THE WORLD
1992         EDDIE BLAZONCZYK’S VERSATONES – ALL AMERICAN COUNTRY FAVORED POLKAS
1992         AN IMMIGRATION STORY
1993         WANDA & STEPHANIE – POLKA DATE
1993         HAPPY RICHIES POLKA BAND – BORN TO POLKA
1993         LIL’ WALLY – NATIONAL HITS (2 CD’s)
1993         STEEL CITY BRASS – OUT OF CONTROL
1993         JOHN GORA & THE GORALE – TAKE A SPIN
1993         EDDIE BLAZONCZYK’S VERSATONES – A NEW BATCH OF POLLAS
1994         EDDIE BLAZONCZYK’S VERSATONES – ALWAYS, FOREVER AND A DAY
1995         DYNATONES – VINTAGE POLKAS
1995         EDDIE BLAZONCYK’S VERSATONES– BETTER THAN EVER
1995         POLISH VILLAGE CHRISTMAS
1996         EDDIE BLAZONCZYK’S VERSATONES – MUSIC, MUSIC, MUSIC
1998         EDDIE BLAZONCZYK’S VERSATONES – SHAKIN' NOT STIRRED
1999         EDDIE BLAZONCZYK’S VERSATONES – SMOKIN’ POLKAS
1999         CHRISTMAS IN CHICAGO (2 TRACKS)
1999         FRANK BORZYMOWSKI & FRIENDS – I PLAYED POLKAS
2000         EDDIE BLAZONCZYK’S VERSATONES – ANOTHER DAY AT THE OFFICE
2001         EDDIE BLAZONCZYK’S VERSATONES – LIVE AND KICKIN’
2002         EDDIE BLAZONCZYK’S VERSATONES – MY FATHERS SHOES
2002         EDDIE BLAZONCZYK’S VERSATONES – PASSION FOR POLKAS PBS DOCUMENTARY (CD/VIDEO)
2002         GERRY KAMINSKI’S MERRY MAKERS – TOP SHELF POLKAS
2003         EDDIE BLAZONCZYK’S VERSATONES – VERSALICIOUS
2004         EDDIE BLAZONCZYK’S VERSATONES – HIGHWAYS AND DANCE HALLS
2005         EDDIE BLAZONCZYK’S VERSATONES – UNDER THE INFLUENCE
2006         EDDIE BLAZONCZYK’S VERSATONES – BATTERIES NOT INCLUDED
2006         STEPHANIE – I CAN'T HEAR YOU
2006         EDDIE BLAZONCZYK’S VERSATONES – POLKATIME 20 OF THE GREATEST HITS
2006         EDDIE BLAZONCZYK’S VERSATONES – GREATEST HITS VOL II
2006         EDDIE BLAZONCZYK’S VERSATONES – CRACKER BARREL ALBUM COMPILATION
2006         EDDIE BLAZONCZYK’S VERSATONES –
2007         MICHIGAN CONNECTION – POLKA PARTY TIME
2008         STEPHANIE – MEMORIES
2008         BRASS EXPRESS – CLASSIC TRACKS
2008         EDDIE BLAZONCZYK’S VERSATONES – SLIPPERY WHEN WET
2010         STEPHANIE – THIS IS POLKA MUSIC
2012         FRANK BORZYMOWSKI & FRIENDS – SAX IS GOOD FOR YOU
2015         SCRUBBY AND SUNSHINE – LIVE
2017         THE PROJECT – 1st AND TEN

Singles

• 1977 - STEEL CITY BRASS – LOVE SICK / THE SHOE GOES ON THE OTHER FOOT
• 1980 - DYNATONES – WHERE WERE YOU / ONLY YOU
• 1980 - STEEL CITY BRASS – ABRACADABRA / YOUNG MAIDENS
• 1981 - BUFFALO’S PO STARO KRASKU – FORTUNES OF WAR / SHOULD HAVE STAYED SINGLE
• 1982 - POLK–E–NOTES – LILLIANS / COALMINER OBEREK
• 1982 - SKYLARKS – CONCERTINA / BOYS AND GIRLS
• 1982 - BUFFALO BRASS – BRIGHT STAR / UNDER THE OAK TREE
• 1985 - SUNSHINE – HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOHNNY / ZOSIA
• 1986 - SUNSHINE – LIVE – WHO STOLE THE KISZKA / NO GONNA DRINK
• 2007 - EDDIE BLAZONCYK’S VERSATONES – CHICAGO BEARS SUPERBOWL XLI TRIBUTE