Hall of Fame

Walter Dana - Wladyslaw Dan Danilowski - a resident of Miami Beach, Florida, was born in Warsaw, Poland.  He began playing piano and composing at the age of seven.  His musical education was obtained at the Warsaw Conservatory and Paris.  He received a law diploma at the Warsaw University.  He worked as press attaché at the Polish Foreign Office and also as an accompanist and musical illustrator with the "Qui Pro Quo" Theatre.  He was the founder conductor and coach of the popular vocal quintet "Chor Dana" making records, films, radio and public concerts all over Europe, and in 1936-38 two concert tours in U.S. Dana wrote many scores and songs for films in Poland, Czechoslovakia and Italy, was director of the light music department of the Polish Radio Network and director of the Tip Top Theatre for which he received decorations of the Polish Gold Cross of Merit from President Moscicki, and the Royal Diamond Pin with Crown from Italy's Queen.

Charlie Hicks is a pioneer in the polka field from the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania area.  At eighteen years of age, he already displayed his musical talent by playing accordion.  In 1930 he formed a small dance band.  In 1937 he made his first recording for RCA Victor.  He then joined the staff of radio station WREN in Philadelphia and provided music for their Polish, Italian, Jewish and American radio shows.  When the Major Bowes Hour was popular on radio back in 1940, Charlie Hicks auditioned and came out a winner.  Because of this contest, Charlie signed a contract to travel and play all over the U.S.  After this tour he organized a 16-piece band and played many campus jobs, hotels and night clubs.  He recorded Six albums on his own label, Goodwill Records.

Michael Nowakowski of Buffalo, New York has been involved in the Polka Music field for over 38 years. He has been successful in all aspects of the industry. In his 20 years as President and Executive Producer of the Sunshine Label, Mike has managed all details of the recording industry. These include not only the development and production of recordings for the nationally-recognized label, but also the manufacturing, artwork, printing, promotion and distribution of product ­for the nearly 120 bands on the Sunshine label.

As a toddler, Joe Oberaitis was already the polka promoter herding the neighborhood kids together and making them listen to his polka records. By kindergarten, Joe was taking accordion lessons. At age seven, he had already appeared on the local television talent show, "The Gene Carroll Show," playing Eddie Zima's "Meet The Missus Polka," which he learned by ear. Through grade school, he regularly played at school functions and then graduated on to Rubbermaid Parties. community clubs and family gatherings.

Ted (Thaddeus) Okrzesik was born in Chicago on July 29, 1937, to Joseph Okrzesik and Emily Scieszka Okrzesik. Ted's dad played the violin and both of his parents enjoyed polka music. His mother said Ted spoke fluent Polish in his early years. Ted was the youngest of three boys. His brothers were Joe and Bob, who also entertained in the polka field. He attended St. Pancratious grammar school and Holy Trinity High School, where he also participated in the school band.

Two words that are virtually synonymous to thousands of fans throughout the country are "polka" and "Pillar," like celery and salt they were made for each other.  Born 34 years ago to Joseph and Stella Pillar Pillar of Uncasville, Connecticut, Richard has been setting toes a-tapping since 1958 when he formed his first orchestra, performing at school dances, weddings, and private parties.  But fame arrived on supersonic wings and the band was soon on the road, appearing throughout New England, the Middle Atlantic States and the Midwest, as well as Canada and Florida. Educated at Norwich Free Academy in Norwich, Connecticut, and at Mitchell College in new London, he also attended the Hartt College of Music in Hartford. 

The polka career of Chet Schafer began in 1950, when, together with Li'l Wally Jagiello, their voices were heard on a half-hour polka program on radio station WCRW in Chicago.  But things didn't roll for Chet until he started his own "Polka Hit Parade" program on station WTAQ, LaGrange, Illinois, in 1952.  On this program he spun the best selling polka records according to the surveys, getting the idea from the then popular television show "Your Hit Parade".  The request and dedication idea caught on and his Sunday morning program flooded with mail.

Jolly Joe Timmer of of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, has a radio show, television show, polka band, music store and picnic grove all strongly promoting polka music.  When asked when and how he became involved in polka music Joe said, "My time started after high school, 1948."

David M. Zychowski was born on October 9, 1953, to John and Catherine Zychowski of Ambridge, PA. His parents met at a Frank Wojnarowski dance in 1949 and later exposed their children to the rise of polka greats such as Li'l Wally, Marion Lush, and Eddie Blazonczyk. It was a given that their two sons, Jan and David, would learn to play polka music.