Gary "Krew" Krupski

Gary ’Krew’ Krupski is a multi-talented musician, mastering the saxophone, clarinet, trumpet, and drums, along with being an accomplished vocalist in both Polish and English.

Gary's career began in 1958 at the young age of eight. Along with his brothers, Tony and Don, he was part of a three-piece trio called The Krew Brothers. The first instrument he mastered was the soprano saxophone. My mom and dad would drive the boys to many performances as Gary, the star of the group, would imitate the moves of the great Elvis Presley. The trio quickly gained recognition.

A sample of his performance can be viewed on YouTube, where the trio appeared on the nationally televised program The Ted Mack Amateur Hour. Quoting Mr. Mack, "Gary would be a tough fellow to replace, as he does a lot of things." I highly recommend watching this performance, as Gary was only ten years old at the time. Seeing Gary perform at such an early age provides a glimpse into his natural talent.

But what are his contributions to polka music and the polka industry?
As a member of The Krew Brothers from 1958 to 1979, Gary, with no formal music training, picked up a trumpet and taught himself to play. I believe the sound of the double trumpets, combined with his exquisite saxophone and clarinet work, contributed greatly to the success of The Krew Brothers.

In 1979, Gary took on the position of leader of the polka band The G Notes. For fifteen years, he successfully guided the group, performing polka music both locally and across the country. After the group disbanded, he decided to focus on performing rather than the administrative responsibilities of leading a band. He then became a member of the great Eddie Blazonczyk's Versatones for a full year.

Throughout the years, Gary has regularly been called upon to perform with many of the top polka bands, including Polka Family, John Gora, The Buffalo Touch, and he is currently a member of the Concertina All Stars Band.

Back in the 1970s, Gary was a fixture in the polka community. Drawing upon his many relationships within the industry, he brought bands such as The New Brass, Marion Lush, and many others to Buffalo to organize polka dances for Dyngus Day and numerous other occasions.

From the late 1960s through the early 1970s, Gary also arranged for The Krew Brothers to perform at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Orphanage for special occasions. I remember how gratifying and fulfilling Gary found it to see the orphans enjoying the gift of music. A few of those orphans reportedly went on to become musicians because of Gary's influence and enthusiasm.

On many occasions, my brother Gary played "Taps" at military funerals whenever he was called upon. He never refused a request and never accepted compensation for this service.

I'm confident that if you were to speak with other musicians in the polka industry, they would not only praise Gary's personality, character, modesty, and humility, but they would also speak highly of his exceptional musicianship and improvisational skills, which are greatly respected throughout the polka community.

For more than fifty-five years, Gary has demonstrated an unwavering dedication to polka music and the polka industry.

I will close by saying that the Krupski family has always been a very close "Band of Brothers." We spent decades together communicating through music, always looking out for one another and maintaining a close relationship.