Joe Zalewski

Joe Zalewski was born in Toledo, Ohio, on June 26, 1963, the oldest of five children born to Rosemary (Bullinger) and Stanley Zalewski.

Joe’s first instrument is Drums, and he also plays Bass Guitar. Joe’s first band was called the Peanuts Polka Band and included his brothers Jim and John. In May 1978, Joe got his big break. At a wedding reception, Joe’s family was seated with IPA Hall of Famer Chet Zablocki. The next day Chet announced on his radio show that a young drummer was looking to play in a band. By that afternoon, Joe received a call from Dale Zielinski’s Golden Eagles. Joe joined the band and performed with the Golden Eagles from 1978 to 1980. In 1980, Duane Malinowski approached Joe to join his new group, the Polka Jamboree. Joe performed with both bands for a few months, eventually leaving the Golden Eagles to play with Polka Jamboree until early 1981.

Then Joe began playing bass guitar under the tutelage of Randy Krajewski. In May 1981, Joe joined Barb Zielinski’s Holy Toledo Polka Stars. Joe finally had the opportunity to travel the Midwest and East Coast to perform at many of the major polka events like Idora Park, Pulaski Park, Seven Springs, and Erie Polka Days. In January 1983, Barb Zielinski announced that she was retiring and disbanding Holy Toledo. That evening, Joe, Eddie Biegaj, Mike Tylinski, and Frank Dramczyk decided to stick together, and with the addition of Steve Zilka and Tim Berger, Toledo Polkamotion (TPM) was formed. TPM played its first gig in April 1983 for a live broadcast of Chet Zablocki’s Polka Party show.

TPM, under Joe’s leadership, became one of the most popular and influential polka bands of its era, appearing at dances and festivals throughout the United States and Canada, making over 2300 live performances. TPM recorded over 250 songs and had recording contracts with several record labels, including LeMans Records, WRS Records, and Sunshine Records. Joe is the only member of TPM to appear on every recording and play with the band from start to finish.

In its twenty-plus-year history, TPM has received many accolades, including a Grammy Nomination in 1991 for the album “Grand Illusion.” TPM also won several awards from the USPA, including Band of the Year three times, Song of the Year twice, and Album of the Year for “Grand Illusion.” In 1992, Joe decided to pursue a career as a full-time musician and polka promoter. At the time, every member of TPM agreed to play polka music full-time.

In 1997, Joe was elected to the International Music Association (IMA) Polka Hall of Fame. The IMA was a non-profit organization based in Toledo, Ohio; it was founded by Bob Earl, Sr. in 1982. The mission of the IMA was to promote all styles of polka music.

In 1997, 1998, and 1999, TPM was named the Favorite Ethnic Entertainer by the Lake Erie West People’s Choice Awards. In 2000, TPM received the WMUA Favorite Polka Recording for “Timeless”. In 2002, TPM appeared in the Warner Bros. movie “Welcome to Collinwood” and had 2 songs featured in the movie soundtrack. Joe disbanded TPM in 2004 to spend time with his young family and to dedicate his work efforts to growing his company, BizTech.

TPM reunited in 2010 for the Ultimate Polka Cruise and in 2012 and 2016 for an appearance at the USPA Convention and Festival. Three members of the TPM Legacy have been inducted into the IPA Hall of Fame – Eddie Siwiec (2005), Eddie Biegaj (2014), and Ted Lange (2019).

Since 2011, Joe has been a member of the DynaBrass on bass guitar and vocals. Currently, Joe’s son, Aaron (AJ) Zalewski, plays drums for the DynaBrass and has recorded on the last four DynaBrass studio sessions. As another father/son polka combination, recording and playing on stage with AJ is the highlight of Joe’s career.

In October 2015, DynaBrass bandleader Jeff Mleczko suffered a stroke. At the request of Jeff’s family, Joe accepted the duties of interim bandleader of The DynaBrass. Under Joe’s leadership, The DynaBrass continues to perform in Jeff’s absence. In 2016, ToPoMo Records released a CD by The DynaBrass entitled “…and the road begins.” The title song was co-written by Joe and IPA Hall of Famer Kevin Adams. The song was nominated for the 2016 USPA Song of the Year.

In 2017, ToPoMo Records released a CD by the DynaBrass entitled “Dance All Night”. This studio recording features several original songs co-written by Joe. This CD was a major hit for the DynaBrass, earning several 2017 Polka Music Awards and Nominations. The title song, “Dance All Night,” received the IPA Polish Style Song of the Year Award and the USPA Song of the Year Award. The CD, “Dance All Night”, received the IPA Polish Style Album of the Year Award and the USPA Recording of the Year Award. And the DynaBrass was nominated for the 2017 USPA Band of the Year.

In 2020, ToPoMo Records released a CD by the DynaBrass entitled “20/20 Polkas”. This studio recording features several original songs co-written by Joe. This CD was another hit for the DynaBrass, earning several 2020 Polka Music Awards and Nominations. The song, “The Girls Just Wanna Dance”, received the IPA Polish Style Song of the Year Award and the USPA Song of the Year Award. The CD, “20/20 Polkas”, received the IPA Polish Style Album of the Year Award and the USPA Recording of the Year Award. In 2022, ToPoMo Records released a CD by DynaBrass entitled “All In!” which was nominated for the USPA Recording of the Year Award. The song “Some Nights” received the 2022 USPA Song of the Year Award, and the DynaBrass was nominated for the 2021 & 2022 USPA Band of the Year.

Joe married Cindy Lynn on December 10, 1988, and has two children, Aaron (Olivia) Zalewski and Kirsten (Brooks) Gasser, and three (3) grandchildren. Joe has an Associate’s Degree in Business Management and a Bachelor of Business Degree from the University of Toledo. Joe is currently employed as a Senior Sales Executive with Strategic Information Group. Joe is a lifetime member of the IPA and is a member of the Toledo Area Polka Society, Cleveland Polka Association, Polka Booster Club of America, Midwest Polka Association, and USPA.

POLKA PROMOTIONS

Since 1983, Joe has promoted polka dances and festivals at various dance halls, ballrooms, and hotels in the Toledo, Ohio, area, including the DC Ranch Ballroom, LaPark Night Club, and Conn-Weissenberger Hall. Over the years, Joe has hired many of the nation’s top polka bands, including Eddie Blazonczyk’s Versatones, Marion Lush, Lenny Gomulka & Chicago Push, The Dynatones, Polka Family, TBC, and The Boys, to name a few.

Most notably, in 1992, Joe founded Holy Toledo Polka Days, which became one of the premiere Polka Festivals in the United States. For the first three years, Holy Toledo was a Biannual event held each spring and fall. After 13 years and 16 Festivals, Holy Toledo 2004 was the final festival due to the closing of the Quality Hotel. In the mid-1990s, Joe ran 4 additional Polka Festivals at the Maumee Bay Resort in Oregon, OH, and the Holiday Inn Convention Center in Madison, WI. In addition, Joe has run bus trips to polka events and has organized several Caribbean Polka Cruises.

From 1994 to 1999, Joe co-hosted the weekly Polka Music Radio Show “Polka Spotlite” with Bobby Earl on WCWA 1230AM in Toledo, Ohio.

In 2018, Joe announced the revival of Holy Toledo Polka Days. The popular polka festival made its successful return with a lineup of the industry’s top polka entertainers. Future festival dates have been established through 2026. In 2019, Joe formed a partnership with Bel-Aire Enterprises to sponsor the Annual Big Dan’s Party at the Polka Fireworks Festival held at Seven Springs Resort in Champion, PA.

In 2018, Joe became entertainment chairman for the Toledo Area Polka Society (TAPS). Joe served as TAPS Vice President and currently is the Treasurer. Joe is the owner of ToPoMo Music Publishing and ToPoMo Records, which has produced and released polka recordings by Toledo Polkamotion, The Bratwurst Boys, and The DynaBrass.

BAND MEMBERSHIP HISTORY

1976 - 1977: Peanuts Polka Band
1978 - 1980: Dale Zielinski’s Golden Eagles
1980 - 1981: Duane Malinowski’s Polka Jamboree
1981 - 1983: Barb Zielinski’s Holy Toledo Polka Stars
1983 - 2004, 2010, 2012, 2016: Toledo Polkamotion (TPM)
1998 - 2001: The Bratwurst Boys
2011 - Present: The DynaBrass
2022 – Present: Holy Toledo Jam Band

AWARDS & NOMINATIONS - TPM