The International Polka Association (IPA) is located in Chicago, Illinois and dedicated to the study and preservation of polka music and the cultural heritage of Polish Americans who have made this music tradition part of their heritage. The IPA hosts an annual festival and convention as well as its Annual Polka Music Awards banquet. During the banquet, important figures in polka music are inducted into the Polka Hall of Fame.
History The concept of a national polka convention had been developed and pioneered in Chicago, and the first polka convention was held in 1963. This convention developed into the International Polka Convention which was presented each succeeding year in Chicago, Detroit and Buffalo, New York. In 1968, a steering committee began preparations for the formation of the International Polka Association. The association was officially chartered by the State of Illinois as a "not for profit" corporation and was registered with the County of Cook (Chicago) in August 1968.
As stated in its charter, the International Polka Association was organized as: "An educational and charitable organization for the preservation, promulgation and advancement of polka music and; to promote, maintain and advance public interest in polka entertainment; to advance the mutual interests and encourage greater cooperation among its members who are engaged in polka entertainment; and to encourage and pursue the study of polka music, dancing and traditional folklore".
The IPA is structured to serve as an educational resource. The IPA is also responsible for the continued operation and growth of its Polka Music Hall of Fame. It is through this branch that the association has been able to continue its historical, educational and research goals on behalf of polka music. The IPA Hall of Fame is located atop Polonia Banquets, a century-old dance hall at 4608 S. Archer Ave. in Chicago's Brighton Park neighborhood, and is open by appointment.
Hall of Fame membership +InducteeYear inductedNotesRefAdam BarthaltBilly BelinaMichael "Mitch" BiskupWilliam "Wesoly Bolek" BorekRoger BrightBill CzuptaJohn DemerskiRay DorschnerChet DragonAndy "Day" DziagwaJoe FedorchakEddie FormanWalter Jagiello1969Inaugural classFrankie YankovicEddie Blazonczyk1970Walter Dana1971Eddie Zima1972DeceasedRay Budzilek1973Marisha Data1974Steve Adamczyk1975Johnny Bomba1980Happy Louie Dusseault1982Joe FiedorDeceasedLawrence Duchow1983DeceasedLarry Chesky1985Antonina Blazonczyk1987DeceasedKenny Bass1989DeceasedJoe CzerniakPioneerMyron Floren1990John Check1991PioneerFred Bulinski1992Bill CzerniakJerry Darlak1997Kevin Adams2014Gary Brueggen2018 Inductee Year InductedFritsche, Fezz1984 (Deceased)Fuzzy, Cousin1985 (Deceased)Goetsch, JerryGomulka, Lenny1988Gosz, Romy1979 (Deceased)Goydish, Bernie1984Grebnick, Al1988 (Pioneer)Groller, Walt1986Grybosh, Frankie "Gee"Gulinski, ChetGuzevich, HankHaas, Johnny1988Haller, HankHenry, Ray1972Herzog, Marv1979Hicks, CharlieHoyer, Matt1987 (Deceased)Hyzny, Johnny1983Hudy, FredJarusinski, Raymond "Ray Jay"Jasiewicz, Henry1991 (Deceased)Jasinski, Stan1985 (Pioneer)Johantgen, ViKaras, JohnnyKaras, ThomasKim, AlexKorosa, EddieKowalkowski, Chet1991Kozicki, Leon1977Kryger, Brunon1977 (Deceased)Kryger, Brunon (Bruce)1990Kryger, LucianKucera, Ernie1992 (Pioneer)Lazarz, Joe1977Lesser, AdolphLibera, JackieLibera, Johnny1982Liszka, FrankLoeffelmacher, Harold1975Lucki, DonLush, Marion1972Lyskawa, StanleyMadura, Mattie1973 (Deceased)Maduzia, WallyMaksymowicz, Ted1980 (Deceased)Marggraff, Norman1990Marcissuk, Joe1991Matousek, MichaelMeisner, Verne1989Menko, Johnny1987 (Pioneer)Mikos, Bruno1986Miskulin, JoeyMrozinski, TomNowakowski, MichaelNowicki, AdamOskierko, Eddie1983 (Deceased)Ostanek, Walter1983Paterek, "Joe Pat"1978Peachy, Don2011Pecon, Johnny1975 (Deceased)Pietrzak, Wanda "Koziol"Podgorski, Ignacy1978 (Deceased)Polisky, DennisPiatkowski, AlPillar, Dick1974Pinter, EmilyProhut, Lou1981 (Deceased)Przasnyski, StanleyPrzasnyski, John "Jas"1998Rhamy, GaryRobak, Jan1992 (Deceased)Robel, Jolly Jack1987 (Deceased)Rock, JoeRodgers, Dick1976Rohwetter, CarlSajewski, Alvin C.1978Saleski, Stan E.1980Schafer, Chet1976Seretny, VirginiaSeweryniak, Dave "Scrubby"Siebert, GarySiwiec, EddieSewierski, Casey1981Skinger, EddieSladky, MattSolek, Walt1974Soyka, Al1979Stolzenberg, Ray1981Stras, KeithStruzik, Joe1988 (Deceased)Sturr, Jimmy1984Szczypula, Rev. WalterTimmer, "Jolly" Joe1990Tokarz, RichieTowalski, Li'l RichardTrebar, LouVadnal, Johnny1987Walk, LarryWasielewski, MattWatters, Pat1986 (Deceased)Weber, JimmyWelk, Lawrence1994 (Deceased)Wilczynski, Henry "Will"Wilfahrt, "Whoopie John" 1976 (Deceased)Wisniewski, Gene1973Witkowski, Bernie Wyte1971Wojkiewicz, Joe1985Wojnarowski, Frank1970Wolan, Sylvester "Shep"Zablocki, Chester "Chet"Zapolska, TeresaZavaski, EddieZielinski, Bruno "Jr."1986 (Pioneer)
See also Polka Hall of Fame List of music organizations in the United States
References
External links International Polka Association.