Music is integral to heritage and culture. The Roger Bright Memorial Polkafest in New Glarus is a "must attend" event for everyone who appreciates our regional culture and heritage.
Roger Bright is the local folk hero who performed with legendary polka king, Frankie Yankovic. Roger returned to New Glarus, formed his own band, and developed a tremendous following. He died doing what he loved best, playing at a polkafest in Boulder, Colo.
Roger studied under Rudy Burkhalter, a Swiss immigrant who taught countless students on the accordion. Rudy wrote and performed Swiss music with local performers including Martha Bernet and Betty Vetterli. Past bandleaders who studied under Rudy include Billy Hartwig and Billy Lehr.
We are fortunate to have so many talented local and regional artists who promote this aspect of our culture. Mike and David Austin are excellent accordionists. Keith Zweifel, another excellent local accordionist, and his brother Mike, perform frequently around here. My friend and neighbor, Gary Hendrickson, is one of the best banjo and guitar players far and wide. He frequently accompanies the Zweifel Brothers. Gary's talented wife, Jenny, is featured on some of Roger Bright's recordings.
Greg Anderson is another popular accordionist whose band has a broad following. Steve Meisner of Whitewater has continued the legacy of his famous father, Verne Meisner. Gary Hendrickson usually accompanies the talented Steve Meisner when he comes to Monroe and New Glarus.
Toni Blum Seitz carries on the Swiss yodeling tradition. She has an excellent CD, accompanied by David Austin on the accordion. Rosalie Huntington is another popular accordionist around here. All this is in addition to the Swiss singing and yodeling groups in Monroe and New Glarus.
The Polkafest this weekend is a great opportunity to see many of these artists in person. On Friday evening David Austin and his band, including local banjo player, Cliff Penniston, will pay tribute to Roger Bright. David also will be featured under the tent on Saturday. The Zweifel Brothers will be featured at two sessions Sunday.
Grant Kozera, one of Frankie Yankovic's protégés, will be over from Milwaukee. New Glarus' own Karl Gmur, who has long played bass for Roger Bright, will join Grant Kozera at Puempel's Tavern on Saturday and at the New Glarus Hotel on Sunday. They always put on a great show.
Polkas and accordions go beyond the Polkafest. Turner Hall has weekly dances featuring many of the above musicians. Local accordionist Del Heins and Bill Neiderberger from Verona entertain Friday nights at Turner Hall.
Then there is a bunch of us, led by Del Heins, who get together every third Tuesday at Turner Hall for Squeezebox Night. Bobby Edler brings her rich-sounding Excelsior from Cedarville. Steve Palm comes from Rockford to play mostly Irish songs. Diane Whitney (Billy Lehr's daughter), and Ruth Marty often join us. John Wegmueller sometimes joins us with his Schweitzerorgli. Carol Armstrong brings her Cajon accordion. Then there is ace accordionist, Henry Blumer. Jerry Hastings accompanies us on the banjo and Herb Swingen on the bass.
My parents started me on the accordion with Rudy Burkhalter. But I had no idea of the gift they tried gave me - instruction under the maestro himself. After a couple of years, like an idiot, I dropped out. But I retained my love for the accordion, polkas and Swiss music.
It was several years later at a high school FFA banquet. As usual, the speakers were boring. But the entertainment was terrific. Students Henry Blumer and Rudy Rothenbuehler livened up the place with an accordion duet, "The Ski Waltz." It sounded just as good as Lawrence Duchow's recording of that energizing waltz. Henry tells me he doesn't remember the occasion. But Henry and Rudy's performance convinced me - I had to take up the accordion again.
My instructor was Yvonne Metz, another of Rudy Burkhalter's students. I was crushed when Yvonne quit teaching to get married. Not only did I lose my instructor, but believed that no man was worthy of attractive Yvonne.
But I had other priorities anyway - service in the Marine Corps, college, marriage and family of my own, and a career as an economist, beginning at the University of Minnesota. Daughter Kara played the piano. As son Johnny saw me occasionally pick up my accordion, he decided to go with it.
A simple duet at one of his grade school functions led to a most unlikely scenario. A local lanky Norwegian with a wry sense of humor had a daily early-morning radio show out of a hole-in-the-wall studio in old St. Paul. It was near Christmas and his guest was to be a woman singing a couple of Swedish Christmas carols. There was no piano in that studio for accompaniment. My neighbor Julie, a friend of the singer, recommended that I accompany her with my accordion.
Heck, I had no experience, limited talent, and was out of my element. I was scared stiff. But on the strength of the singer, it went well. After the show, I went to my campus office. The beautiful singer drifted away in the cold December early morning mist and I never saw her again. The lanky Norwegian ascended to stardom and national acclaim. His name was Garrison Keilor and his show was - and still is - The Prairie Home Companion.
Squeezebox night at Turner Hall is a lot of fun. Happily, the diners keep returning. Along with Turner Hall, Hans Lenzlinger of the New Glarus Hotel, and Puempel's Olde Tavern in New Glarus should be applauded for their role in preserving these colorful musical traditions.
And those talented performers at the Polkafest should be appreciated and celebrated for promoting this colorful aspect of our regional culture. Don't miss this grand event.
After all, it's who we are and what this region is about.
- Monroe resident John Waelti is a native of Monroe Township. He can be reached at jjwaelti@charter.net.
Roger Bright is the local folk hero who performed with legendary polka king, Frankie Yankovic. Roger returned to New Glarus, formed his own band, and developed a tremendous following. He died doing what he loved best, playing at a polkafest in Boulder, Colo.
Roger studied under Rudy Burkhalter, a Swiss immigrant who taught countless students on the accordion. Rudy wrote and performed Swiss music with local performers including Martha Bernet and Betty Vetterli. Past bandleaders who studied under Rudy include Billy Hartwig and Billy Lehr.
We are fortunate to have so many talented local and regional artists who promote this aspect of our culture. Mike and David Austin are excellent accordionists. Keith Zweifel, another excellent local accordionist, and his brother Mike, perform frequently around here. My friend and neighbor, Gary Hendrickson, is one of the best banjo and guitar players far and wide. He frequently accompanies the Zweifel Brothers. Gary's talented wife, Jenny, is featured on some of Roger Bright's recordings.
Greg Anderson is another popular accordionist whose band has a broad following. Steve Meisner of Whitewater has continued the legacy of his famous father, Verne Meisner. Gary Hendrickson usually accompanies the talented Steve Meisner when he comes to Monroe and New Glarus.
Toni Blum Seitz carries on the Swiss yodeling tradition. She has an excellent CD, accompanied by David Austin on the accordion. Rosalie Huntington is another popular accordionist around here. All this is in addition to the Swiss singing and yodeling groups in Monroe and New Glarus.
The Polkafest this weekend is a great opportunity to see many of these artists in person. On Friday evening David Austin and his band, including local banjo player, Cliff Penniston, will pay tribute to Roger Bright. David also will be featured under the tent on Saturday. The Zweifel Brothers will be featured at two sessions Sunday.
Grant Kozera, one of Frankie Yankovic's protégés, will be over from Milwaukee. New Glarus' own Karl Gmur, who has long played bass for Roger Bright, will join Grant Kozera at Puempel's Tavern on Saturday and at the New Glarus Hotel on Sunday. They always put on a great show.
Polkas and accordions go beyond the Polkafest. Turner Hall has weekly dances featuring many of the above musicians. Local accordionist Del Heins and Bill Neiderberger from Verona entertain Friday nights at Turner Hall.
Then there is a bunch of us, led by Del Heins, who get together every third Tuesday at Turner Hall for Squeezebox Night. Bobby Edler brings her rich-sounding Excelsior from Cedarville. Steve Palm comes from Rockford to play mostly Irish songs. Diane Whitney (Billy Lehr's daughter), and Ruth Marty often join us. John Wegmueller sometimes joins us with his Schweitzerorgli. Carol Armstrong brings her Cajon accordion. Then there is ace accordionist, Henry Blumer. Jerry Hastings accompanies us on the banjo and Herb Swingen on the bass.
My parents started me on the accordion with Rudy Burkhalter. But I had no idea of the gift they tried gave me - instruction under the maestro himself. After a couple of years, like an idiot, I dropped out. But I retained my love for the accordion, polkas and Swiss music.
It was several years later at a high school FFA banquet. As usual, the speakers were boring. But the entertainment was terrific. Students Henry Blumer and Rudy Rothenbuehler livened up the place with an accordion duet, "The Ski Waltz." It sounded just as good as Lawrence Duchow's recording of that energizing waltz. Henry tells me he doesn't remember the occasion. But Henry and Rudy's performance convinced me - I had to take up the accordion again.
My instructor was Yvonne Metz, another of Rudy Burkhalter's students. I was crushed when Yvonne quit teaching to get married. Not only did I lose my instructor, but believed that no man was worthy of attractive Yvonne.
But I had other priorities anyway - service in the Marine Corps, college, marriage and family of my own, and a career as an economist, beginning at the University of Minnesota. Daughter Kara played the piano. As son Johnny saw me occasionally pick up my accordion, he decided to go with it.
A simple duet at one of his grade school functions led to a most unlikely scenario. A local lanky Norwegian with a wry sense of humor had a daily early-morning radio show out of a hole-in-the-wall studio in old St. Paul. It was near Christmas and his guest was to be a woman singing a couple of Swedish Christmas carols. There was no piano in that studio for accompaniment. My neighbor Julie, a friend of the singer, recommended that I accompany her with my accordion.
Heck, I had no experience, limited talent, and was out of my element. I was scared stiff. But on the strength of the singer, it went well. After the show, I went to my campus office. The beautiful singer drifted away in the cold December early morning mist and I never saw her again. The lanky Norwegian ascended to stardom and national acclaim. His name was Garrison Keilor and his show was - and still is - The Prairie Home Companion.
Squeezebox night at Turner Hall is a lot of fun. Happily, the diners keep returning. Along with Turner Hall, Hans Lenzlinger of the New Glarus Hotel, and Puempel's Olde Tavern in New Glarus should be applauded for their role in preserving these colorful musical traditions.
And those talented performers at the Polkafest should be appreciated and celebrated for promoting this colorful aspect of our regional culture. Don't miss this grand event.
After all, it's who we are and what this region is about.
- Monroe resident John Waelti is a native of Monroe Township. He can be reached at jjwaelti@charter.net.
