Multi-talented women make their mark on polka music
Polka Road
by Basia Szydlowski
Last week we looked at some Polish females who were musicians. This week it’s a peek at Polish American women who made their mark in polka music.
A Polish American singer, composer of folk music was Marisha Data, a.k.a. Aggie Klepaczka. She was also known in radio and stage as a radio announcer, operatic and concert singer as well as a comedienne. With her voice and acting talent, she used her abilities well.
As a soloist, she performed in the Midwest and San Carlo Opera Company in "II Travatore," "Hansel and Gretel," "Barber of Seville" and various other operas. She frequently performed in concerts in Grant Park, and for two seasons at Music Round in Skokie in "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes." In addition Marisha was an accomplished character actress and singer and her specialty was comedy.
She is known in the polka field for her hit songs "Wishing Well Waltz" and "Violins Play for Me Polka." In 1950 she recorded her first album "Mother Someone is Knocking/Wishing at the Wishing Well" followed by many recordings including "Aggie Klepaczka Przy Telefonie" in 1952. In my record collection I have "More of Aggie's Telephone Gems" featuring "Baseball Game" and "The Twist" that are written by Marisha Data and recorded on the Chicago Polka Label.
In her 30 years as a radio announcer on WHFC, she raised over $10,000 through the Marisha Data radio program for the restoration of the Salvatorian Fathers Seminary in Trzebina, Poland. In addition over $1,000,000 was raised for U.S. War Bonds. Marisha Data’s continual personal appearances helped garner thousands of dollars for Infantile Paralysis and the Red Cross through various clubs and organizations.
Working for ten years she made personal appearances for yearly benefits for Crippled Children in Poland as well as working for Father Kolbe Orphans in Nagasaki, Japan. For many years Marisha worked for veterans and senior homes with donations through her radio program and personal appearances.
From 1969 to 1972 she had been sending help with donations from radio listeners for Blind Children in Laski, Poland.
Marisha who worked for church benefits and made patriotic appearances, never received any pay for doing some of the projects mentioned. All these charitable works were done with a love to help others.
Data passed away on Oct. 12, 1972. In 1974 the International Polka Association inducted Marisha Data into the Polka Hall of Fame posthumously.
• • •
Regina Kujawa, stands by herself as truly one of the great female vocalists for she sings in many languages and is an accomplished accordionist. She was honored by the International Polka Association as the "Best Female Vocalist" three times. Regina "The Polish Song Bird" started her career as a teenager winning first prize in a Talent Hunt sponsored by a New York Radio Station.
Born on March 8, 1916 in the U.S., however she was educated in Poland, where she studied opera with Joseph Kulini of operatic fame. Returning to New York, it was a short time before Regina’s talents were discovered. Upon seeing her perform, the president of the International Ladies Garment Workers Union, David Dubinsky offered her a leading role in one of Broadway's longest running musical hits "Pins and Needles." She toured the United States and Canada with the show.
After the show closed, Regina started performing at concerts, television appearances, and recordings. She recorded on the Rex label with the Larry Chesky Orchestra. She released Regina Kujawa sings International Favorites on the Rex label and Live Polish Party with the Larry Chesky Orchestra on the Tifton International label. Regina continued to entertain at various events and clubs on Long Island as a singing solo entertainer.
In 1996 Regina was the Grand Marshal of the General Pulaski Memorial Parade in New York City. Regina passed away at the age of 94 on July 3, 2010. She is survived by her son and daughter.
• • •
A singer who achieved national acclaim in polka music was Wanda Pietrzak. However they were the only mother and daughter team in polka music – Wanda and Stephanie. They became known as "America's Polka Sweethearts" and recorded many albums. Wanda scored a No. 1 polka hit in 1971 with a song she wrote "Lover Oh Lover."
In the 1950s Wanda and her mother sang and played at parties. Wanda was versatile on various instruments such as the accordion, piano and bass. When Stephanie was born she showed the same musical talents whereby Wanda taught her the accordion. Stephanie taught herself the concertina and eventually her father developed the "Golden Stars" named "The Newest Sensation Throughout the Nation" and "America's Polka Sweethearts."
During the 1967 International Polka Festival they were discovered by polka star Marion Lush in Depew, NY. Proponents of the honky Chicago polka style, they became part of the contingent of top Chicago bands. They recorded their first album with Eddie Blazonczyk in Chicago on the Bel-Aire label followed by many albums.
Wanda was twice honored as the best Female Vocalist by the International Polka Association and received many citations and awards.
She was a bandleader, singer, composer, songwriter and entertainer for over 30 years. Wanda and Stephanie toured extensively across the United States and Canada performing in ballrooms, festivals and polka conventions.
Wanda gave her final performance two weeks before she died suddenly on March 2, 1996. In 1999 Wanda was inducted into the International Polka Hall of Fame posthumously.
• • •
Mollie Busta Lange, known as Mollie B in the polka industry, is a multi-instrumentalist. She began her career performing with the Jim Busta Band when she was only a child. Mollie started singing in the band at the age of three and by the age of eight she joined on the piano. Mollie played several instruments in choirs and high schools as well as in her father's band. During her high school years, Mollie arranged songs for the Jim Busta Band and created her own original compositions.
Mollie B received a bachelor of arts in music in trumpet and voice from Luther College. In 2005 she joined Ted Lange's Bratwurst Boy. However, in 2007, Ted and Mollie changed the name to Squeeze Box. She continued to play several instruments and sings vocals with Squeeze Box.
In July 2011, she created Mollie B Polka Party which airs on RFD-TV. Mollie is the creative director and co-producer of the shows. In 2018 Mollie B and Squeeze Box appeared in the Warner Brothers movie, "The Mule" directed and starring Clint Eastwood. For the past eight years, Mollie has been named the International Polka Association Favorite Female Vocalist /Favorite International Style Female Vocalist.
From 2009-2011 Mollie was named United States Polka Association Favorite Female Vocalist. In 2018 Mollie B became the youngest inductee into the International Polka Association Polka Hall of Fame.
by Basia Szydlowski
Last week we looked at some Polish females who were musicians. This week it’s a peek at Polish American women who made their mark in polka music.
A Polish American singer, composer of folk music was Marisha Data, a.k.a. Aggie Klepaczka. She was also known in radio and stage as a radio announcer, operatic and concert singer as well as a comedienne. With her voice and acting talent, she used her abilities well.
As a soloist, she performed in the Midwest and San Carlo Opera Company in "II Travatore," "Hansel and Gretel," "Barber of Seville" and various other operas. She frequently performed in concerts in Grant Park, and for two seasons at Music Round in Skokie in "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes." In addition Marisha was an accomplished character actress and singer and her specialty was comedy.
She is known in the polka field for her hit songs "Wishing Well Waltz" and "Violins Play for Me Polka." In 1950 she recorded her first album "Mother Someone is Knocking/Wishing at the Wishing Well" followed by many recordings including "Aggie Klepaczka Przy Telefonie" in 1952. In my record collection I have "More of Aggie's Telephone Gems" featuring "Baseball Game" and "The Twist" that are written by Marisha Data and recorded on the Chicago Polka Label.
In her 30 years as a radio announcer on WHFC, she raised over $10,000 through the Marisha Data radio program for the restoration of the Salvatorian Fathers Seminary in Trzebina, Poland. In addition over $1,000,000 was raised for U.S. War Bonds. Marisha Data’s continual personal appearances helped garner thousands of dollars for Infantile Paralysis and the Red Cross through various clubs and organizations.
Working for ten years she made personal appearances for yearly benefits for Crippled Children in Poland as well as working for Father Kolbe Orphans in Nagasaki, Japan. For many years Marisha worked for veterans and senior homes with donations through her radio program and personal appearances.
From 1969 to 1972 she had been sending help with donations from radio listeners for Blind Children in Laski, Poland.
Marisha who worked for church benefits and made patriotic appearances, never received any pay for doing some of the projects mentioned. All these charitable works were done with a love to help others.
Data passed away on Oct. 12, 1972. In 1974 the International Polka Association inducted Marisha Data into the Polka Hall of Fame posthumously.
• • •
Regina Kujawa, stands by herself as truly one of the great female vocalists for she sings in many languages and is an accomplished accordionist. She was honored by the International Polka Association as the "Best Female Vocalist" three times. Regina "The Polish Song Bird" started her career as a teenager winning first prize in a Talent Hunt sponsored by a New York Radio Station.
Born on March 8, 1916 in the U.S., however she was educated in Poland, where she studied opera with Joseph Kulini of operatic fame. Returning to New York, it was a short time before Regina’s talents were discovered. Upon seeing her perform, the president of the International Ladies Garment Workers Union, David Dubinsky offered her a leading role in one of Broadway's longest running musical hits "Pins and Needles." She toured the United States and Canada with the show.
After the show closed, Regina started performing at concerts, television appearances, and recordings. She recorded on the Rex label with the Larry Chesky Orchestra. She released Regina Kujawa sings International Favorites on the Rex label and Live Polish Party with the Larry Chesky Orchestra on the Tifton International label. Regina continued to entertain at various events and clubs on Long Island as a singing solo entertainer.
In 1996 Regina was the Grand Marshal of the General Pulaski Memorial Parade in New York City. Regina passed away at the age of 94 on July 3, 2010. She is survived by her son and daughter.
• • •
A singer who achieved national acclaim in polka music was Wanda Pietrzak. However they were the only mother and daughter team in polka music – Wanda and Stephanie. They became known as "America's Polka Sweethearts" and recorded many albums. Wanda scored a No. 1 polka hit in 1971 with a song she wrote "Lover Oh Lover."
In the 1950s Wanda and her mother sang and played at parties. Wanda was versatile on various instruments such as the accordion, piano and bass. When Stephanie was born she showed the same musical talents whereby Wanda taught her the accordion. Stephanie taught herself the concertina and eventually her father developed the "Golden Stars" named "The Newest Sensation Throughout the Nation" and "America's Polka Sweethearts."
During the 1967 International Polka Festival they were discovered by polka star Marion Lush in Depew, NY. Proponents of the honky Chicago polka style, they became part of the contingent of top Chicago bands. They recorded their first album with Eddie Blazonczyk in Chicago on the Bel-Aire label followed by many albums.
Wanda was twice honored as the best Female Vocalist by the International Polka Association and received many citations and awards.
She was a bandleader, singer, composer, songwriter and entertainer for over 30 years. Wanda and Stephanie toured extensively across the United States and Canada performing in ballrooms, festivals and polka conventions.
Wanda gave her final performance two weeks before she died suddenly on March 2, 1996. In 1999 Wanda was inducted into the International Polka Hall of Fame posthumously.
• • •
Mollie Busta Lange, known as Mollie B in the polka industry, is a multi-instrumentalist. She began her career performing with the Jim Busta Band when she was only a child. Mollie started singing in the band at the age of three and by the age of eight she joined on the piano. Mollie played several instruments in choirs and high schools as well as in her father's band. During her high school years, Mollie arranged songs for the Jim Busta Band and created her own original compositions.
Mollie B received a bachelor of arts in music in trumpet and voice from Luther College. In 2005 she joined Ted Lange's Bratwurst Boy. However, in 2007, Ted and Mollie changed the name to Squeeze Box. She continued to play several instruments and sings vocals with Squeeze Box.
In July 2011, she created Mollie B Polka Party which airs on RFD-TV. Mollie is the creative director and co-producer of the shows. In 2018 Mollie B and Squeeze Box appeared in the Warner Brothers movie, "The Mule" directed and starring Clint Eastwood. For the past eight years, Mollie has been named the International Polka Association Favorite Female Vocalist /Favorite International Style Female Vocalist.
From 2009-2011 Mollie was named United States Polka Association Favorite Female Vocalist. In 2018 Mollie B became the youngest inductee into the International Polka Association Polka Hall of Fame.