Button Box Queen
Kathy Hlad

Polka / Waltz King
Lou Trebar
RIP+ 9-18-08

• Previous versions of this page called Button Box Activity had hyperlinks to Gigs, Jams, Karlin Hall Button Box Bashes, and Recher Hall Super Button Box Bashes, which included pictures taken at the various events. Now I have decided to put them in the navigation menu at the top and bottom of each page rather than originating just from links on this page. I also added the link to Special Events / Concerts, which had been mostly Hudson on the Green summer concerts and included several Polka Hall of Fame bands along with other types of bands and music.

• I started being active in semi-professional polka music in 2003. Some of the pictures go back to 2001. Obviously not all events I played in were photographed. But at this time there are over 1000 pictures here of musical activity.

John Antoniak
Anne Barbish
Elizabeth Bardos
Jim Bebesi
Dick Benetto
Dave Bey
Ray Blaha
Stan Blout
Johnny "B" Bolibrush
Joanne Bowman
Tom Borris
Joe Bortnick
Rose Braidich
Ron Brezinski
Caroline Brush
Pat Candela
Patty Candela
John Carroll
Sue Clarke
Mary Comerford
Anthony Culkar
Mike Dragas Jr
Jennifer Fajtek
Matt Frank
Joe Gabrosek
Lou Galmarini
John Gerl
Gerry Germana
Fran Gondell
Nancy Greitzer
Lou Grzely
Tim Grzely
Hank Guzel Sr.

Hank Guzel Jr.
Mark Habat
Joe Hanslick
Kathy Hlad
Andy Hocevar
Linda Hochevar
Andy Hudak
Bill "Buddy" Howe
Nancy Imburgia
Susan Imburgia
Potsy Jenovic
Rose Marie Jisa
Charley "K"
Gymmie Kalista
Dave Kasper
Eddie Kenik
Norm Kobal
Johnny Koenig
Bert Kohlar
Gene Kovack
Jim Kozel
Bob Kravos
Nick Kuchta
Ron Likovic
"RJ" Likovic
Jim Loncar
Ron Loncar
Frank Loucka
Al Machusic
Kara Maruszak
John Medvesek
Joey Misculin
Ed Morel

Frank Moravcik
John Muhvic
Frank Mullec
Joe Nagy
Denis Novato
Dan Novinc
Stan O'Day
Duffy O'Neil
Fran O'Toole
Pete Oberson
Walter Ostanek
Ed Ostry
Tony Palazzo
John Pastirik
Kathy Paulenich
Brian Papesh
Bob Pengal
Bill Perko
Phil Perko
Jack Perme
Dan Peters
Elmer Phillips
Marie Pivik
Rudy Pivik
Adam Pivovar
Ron Pivovar
Carole Pleskovic
Fran Prijatel
Jim Riley
Jimmy Roboudo
Joe Reboudo
Eddie Rodick

Kim Rodick
John Ross
Frank Sajn
Kay Sefcik
Joe Shumar
Larry Sintic
Marty Sintic
Mary Smrdel
Bill Sneller
Frankie Spetich
Ed Spondike
Dolores Stachurski
Paul Stejskal
Gloria Stoker
Susie Syrus
Jack Tankovich
Joey Tomsick
Wayne Tomsic
Dick Tavenier
Fran Tavenier
Lou Trebar
Jim Udovich
Mitzi Urbanic
Steve Valencic
Domenic Vetturini
Kolman Weindurfer
Paul Yanchar
Ed Zalar
Ken Zalar
Larry Zaletel
Joe Zgonc
Fred Ziwich

American Legion Post 7667
Anthony Party Center
Beachwood HS (ACS)
Bessemer PA Croation Club
Bob Kravos Birthday Party
Borromeo Seminary
Broadview Multicare
Brooklyn Senior Center
Casa di Borally
Concord Twp Special
Conneaut Oktoberfest
Corpus Christi Festival
DTJ Taborville
East 185th Street Festival
Enon Valley PA SNPJ
Fairport Slovenian Club
Fairview Park Summerfest
Forest City Yacht Club
Gateway Manor
Geauga West Senior Center
German Central Farms
Gowanda NY Slovenian Club
Grand Pointe

Greenbriar Health Care
Harpersfield SNPJ
Heather Hill
Hilltop Village
Holy Family Festival
Jindra Park Perme picnic jam
Johnny B anniversary & jam
Karlin Hall BBB
Karlin Hall Wed nite dances
Kirtland Senior Center
Kirtland SNPJ
Klima's Grove
Kristy's Tavern
Lakewood Festival
Legacy Place Twinsburg
Marriott Thanksgiving Bash
Marymount Place
Medina County Fair
Mentor Beach Club
Middleburg Hts Community Cntr.
Middleburg Hts Parade
Painesville Vets Park Gazebo
Parma Elks #1938

Pete Oberson July 4th jam
Puritas Arts Festival
Recher Hall Clubroom jams
Recher Hall Circle 2 SBBB
Regina Health Care, Richfield
Roaming Shores
Slovak Picnic Medina
Slovene Home for the Aged &  Picnic
Sneakee Pete's
Spondike Getogether
St. Charles Alumni Shindig
St Justin Festival
St. Mary's Oktoberfest, Avon
St. Mary's Ukrainian Church Hall
Sterle's (SHA Awards)
Summit County Fair
Sygan PA SNPJ
TAPCO Cabin
Tom Borris picnic jam
West Park Slovenian Club
Westlake FOP Hall
Westlake Senior Care
Willoughby YMCA

Background and Blasts from the Past

Click on thumbnails below to see larger image. Use your browser's back arrow to return here.

• I had some formal piano training when I was in grade school, but didn't get interested in guitar until the late 1950's. I did take some lessons, but for the most part am self taught. As the saying goes, I can read music but not enough to hurt my playing! A friend of mine lent me an arch top acoustic Kay or Stella which had incredibly high action (I needed to capo the 2nd or 3rd fret to actually play it) and welding rod type strings. Needless to say, I over reacted when I got my own guitar in 1964 and got one with nylon strings!

• I started playing basslines with the steel string guitar and thought, this would sound really neat on a "real" bass.  So I got a Fender Bass VI first figuring I could adapt to it easily since I was a six-string "guitar player" already. And although this was true, I soon decided I needed the sound of a "real" Jazz Bass, so I got one in 1964.  My guitar teacher borrowed the Bass VI and went to Memphis or Nashville with it and made a record. The name of the song escapes me (of course).

• My musical influences are '40's and '50's pop, bluegrass, folk, country, '50's and '60's rock, R&B, blues, Cleveland Style polkas and waltzes, and jazz. The First band was bluegrass/folk, the Second was folk/rock and I played in church services later. I played acoustic guitar, electric guitar, and electric bass. I played electric bass with a number of local polka groups starting in 2003.