Hall of Fame

Kevin Adams is an accomplished musician, composer, producer and recording artist, having recorded on Trumpet, Clarinet, Guitar and Piano. His work is featured on over 40 recordings of which 11 have received Grammy® nominations from the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences. Kevin has been performing polka music across the country for nearly 40 years with numerous nationally touring polka bands including lengthy stints of extensive road work with the band of IPA Hall of Famers Dick Pillar, Eddie Blazonczyk and Lenny Gomulka. Other bands that he has played or recorded with include IPA Hall of Famers Joe Czerniak and Eddie Skinger as well as the Swinging Brass, Dobosenski Brothers and the Cavaliers, Brass Dimension, Pete Shalins and the Michigan Connection.

Jerry M. Darlak has devoted his whole life to the promotion of polka music. In his many years as a working musician, he has performed and recorded with the nation's most prestigious polka orchestras. His love of polka music is indisputable. He continued this tradition with his own band and work as a promoter. All too often, musicians like Jerry Darlak are overlooked for honors that are bestowed upon the industry's most identifiable names. However, Jerry has been much more than a professional sideman; for over 25 years his sole occupation was that of a polka musician, an achievement that warrants the attention of both his peers and those who have enjoyed the contributions. Jerry has made a contribution to the polka industry.

Fifty years is a long time. During that time span Andy has entertained polka fans throughout the United States with a distinctive style of musical talent all his own. Andy "Day" Dziagwa started his polka career in 1942 at the age of fourteen. He started to perform on trumpet with the late Joe Durlak Orchestra, the band also made several recordings on Rondo Records. During this time he and the band would perform every Wednesday evening on Chicago radio station WGES. The Durlak Orchestra was one of the most popular bands in Chicago during that era. Performing at least six times a week. In 1948, he left the band to join up with a group that was gaining popularity nation wide. The Eddie Zima polka band is synonymous with great Chicago style polka music and it was indeed a thrill for Andy to begin to perform with this group.

Myron Floren is a highly recognized name in the entertainment world besides his relationship to polka music.  He was born and raised on a farm in Day County, South Dakota.  His interest in the accordion began after hearing a neighbor play at the house parties that the farmers usually had on Saturday night.  While still in school he started in radio on KSOO in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.  At KSOO he played an early morning show that featured many of the familiar waltzes and polkas of both Polish and Scandinavian origin.  As his career progressed he entertained in Camp Shows from 1944 to 1945 in World War 11 in the European Theatre.  In 1946 he joined the country group, the Buckeye Four, in St. Louis and played with them on the Mutual Radio Network from 1946 to 1950.  Also in St. Louis in 1948 he started in television on KSD-TV.

John (Foo) Furmaniak (pictured at right with daughter Christy), was born on August 7, 1948 to Thaddeus (Ted) and LaVerne Furmaniak. He is the oldest of their five children. John became infatuated with the accordion at the young age of 10 when a representative of the Mort Herald Accordion School of Music appeared at his grade school and demonstrated the sound of the accordion. John came home from school that day and asked his dad if he could learn how to play.

Hank Haller of Westlake, Ohio, is a musician, vocalist, bandleader, deejay, has made numerous recordings and leads a traveling band. Mention Hank Haller and visions of oompah music and "lederhosen" [short leather pants], come to mind.  But Haller is more.  He is a very prolific recording artist in the polka field with seventy albums and three videos to his credit, with over one quarter of a mullion albums sold.

Johnny Hyzny was born in Chicago, Illinois April 25, 1930 to Joe and Ann Hyzny.  They also had another son named Joe, who played the accordion at a very early age.  John's father figured that if Joe learned to play the accordion, John could learn from him.  But John had always had his eye on the drums.  Finally one Christmas, John received a set of drums.  Years later, John was taught to play the drums by a man named Bustabo.

Destined to be a prominent figure in the polka circuit, Chet Kowalkowski began his musical career with the accordion at the age of eight. At twelve, he already won his first merit of achievement for the accordion on the John Nieminski WOPA Polka Show. After entering high school, he became fascinated with the trumpet. His expert ability with this instrument earned him the first chair in the school's concert band and shortly after that the position of staff sergeant.

Leon J. Kozicki was born on July 4, 1930 in Chicago.  He attended grammar school at St. Peter and Paul's at which time he first became exposed to music when his father presented him with a button accordion one Christmas.  As a youngster he became ill with pneumonia and upon recovery the doctor recommended a wind instrument to help develop and strengthen his lungs.  He tried the trumpet but settled with the clarinet on which he became very proficient.  While in grammar school he formed his first band, the Rhythm Kids.  While at Holy Trinity High School he formed another band.  His group played showers, weddings, dances and numerous charitable engagements. 

Bruce Kryger has been playing with his own band since 1954.  In 1962 he joined with his brother Lucian and formed what became known as the Kryger Brothers Band.  Bruce played the cordovox accordion and composed many of the arrangements for the band.  The band had several hit recordings including "The Bridal Dance," "The Boys from Wilkes-Barre" and "Mary on a Bike."