Each year, the International Polka Association recognizes select polka professionals, living and deceased, with induction into the IPA Polka Hall of Fame. The Board of Trustees reviews the qualifications of Hall of Fame nominees to determine if they meet the criteria for placement on the ballot. An academy of 195 electors from across the country uses these ballots to determine those to be inducted in the annual voting cycle.
The pages below detail the accomplishments of each of those individuals.
Steve Adamczyk was born in Chicago, the eldest of four children of the late Stephen and Lottie (nee Kazanecki) Adamczyk. His parents introduced Steve to music at an early age, enrolling him as a student of piano, his first teachers being the Felician Sisters of SS. Peter and Paul Parish. When a school was organized, Steve turned his attention to the saxophone and clarinet.
Music has always played an important part of Frank Borzymowski's life. His first professional gig was at the ripe old age of 14 and it wasn't long after that all of Baltimore's Polonia wanted to book Joe and Anita's boy for their functions. Frank's high school and college years were filled with great memories playing polkas at Baltimore's Polish Home, Blob's Park and all the many Polish parishes through-out the east side of the city.
Mollie Busta Lange, commonly known as "Mollie B," has been active in the polka industry her entire life. She began at age three on vocals with the Jim Busta Band, and to date, has performed in 35 states and eleven countries in addition to appearing on over 35 recordings. Always involving polka music, Mollie has been an educator and role model through her performances, dance lessons, and school workshops.
Ray Dorschner was born in the tiny village of Ziattau, Wisconsin, one of seven children born to Theodore and Berta Dorschner. Theodore owned and operated a sawmill and woodworking business in Zittau and was an old-time fiddler. Dad and sons occasionally played for local parties and dances. Ray started playing button accordion at about five years of age and later switched to piano accordion. Ray attended elementary school in Zittau, high school in Winneconne, Wisconsin, and college at UW-Oshkosh in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. He learned to play clarinet in high school and played in the high school band and the UW-Oshkosh band. While he was in high school, Ray and some friends formed a small band that played for weddings and other events in the area. The name of the group was The Jolly Musicians. He soon learned to play tenor sax, trumpet and tuba.
Lenny Gomulka at age 5 took an immediate interest in polka music. He especially liked the drums which he self-taught himself in spare time. His formal training began at age 11 when inspired by his mother to take trumpet instruction. Before organizing his own polka band, Lenny spent his years as a sideman. He performed with and/or recorded with every top reigning polka band in Chicago during the past 24 years with no exceptions. He attributes his drive, persistence and success to the help of his brother Richie Gomulka, a former bandleader in the 60's and 70's and guided Lenny in his early years.
John Gora was born on July 27, 1959, in Poland and emigrated to Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, with his parents in 1974. He learned to play clarinet and saxophone in 1977. John formed a musical group "Gorale" catering to "Continental" music crowds and they played their first polka engagements in the Catskills and at Erie Polka Days. The band has performed throughout Canada, the United States and Europe. As a DJ heard on several radio stations, he has introduced many new immigrants from Poland to polka music.
It was a long hard haul for Al Grebnick, Nebraska Polka King, (1978), who grew up in the "dirty thirties," on a farm. With only an eighth grade education behind him, because the family could neither afford to board him out or buy him a car so that he could gain a high school education, Grebnick turned to music. His first instrument, a Stradivarius given to him by an uncle when he was 10 years old.
Ed Guca was born on August 7, 1944 to a very musical Polish family in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. His uncle played clarinet in a popular wedding band and was of particular influence in Ed's love for Polka music. It was in his youth that Ed learned how to play the accordion from a teacher who showed him how to play from the heart.
Johnny Karas, lead vocalist and tenor saxophone for the Jimmy Sturr Band, has regaled audiences with his virtuosity for over forty years. His intensity, versatility and creativity on the tenor sax have resulted in most observers describing him as one of, if not the best saxophonist ever in the polka field. His unique vocal styling and phrasing have afforded him the recognition of being one of the finest vocalists in the industry. Bobby Vinton has called Johnny the "heart and soul" of the Jimmy Sturr Band.
Jackie Libera of Charlton, Massachusetts is a musician, former bandleader, deejay, arranger, vocalist, recorded many albums, and a featured performer with various bands. To say that John "Jackie" Libera has been involved with polka music virtually all his life is an understatement.