Music & Dance
KLANCNIK & FRIENDS BAND
Nashville, Tennessee
Slovenian Polka
A graduate of Michigan State University, Ed Klancnik's musical journey began at the age of two when his parents gave him a Mickey Mouse drum set, on the front of which was an image of Disney characters playing the banjo, guitar, bass, and drums: the four instruments he would ultimately pursue. Ed would spend several hours a week in his family’s basement practicing with his father, the late Gaylord Klancnik and it wasn't long before he began to sit in with Gaylord’s band. At age 13, Ed officially joined the Klancnik Brothers Orchestra. That same year, he played his first official “gig” with the legendary Steve Meisner, whose band played at the Great Lakes Folk Festival in 2002. At 16, he was given the opportunity to play banjo and guitar with The Don Wojtila Orchestra, an experience that would later play a major role in the shaping of Ed’s musical approach. In addition to his father, Ed Klancnik’s next biggest influence was easily that of Jack “Porky” Ponikvar.
Ed began to record music as a part-time hobby and in 1995, he and his father made their first recording together, an original song called “Fast Eddie’s Polka." It would be the first of several Gaylord Klancnik Orchestra tracks to appear on Walter Ostanek Grammy-nominated projects over the next ten years. Klancnik has been associated with 12 Grammy-nominated projects including "Polkas United" which he co-produced in 2004. Twice recognized by the National Cleveland Style Polka Hall of Fame, Ed Klancnik continues to push the boundaries of polka music through his musical and artistic abilities.
The group of musicians that constitute the “& Friends” part of the Klancnik & Friends Band are all stellar musicians in their own right.
Ted Rodick III (Eddie), a child prodigy on the drums at only 2 ½ years of age, followed in his dad, Eddie Rodick’s, musical footsteps. Young Eddie was just four years old when he first appeared on Polka Varieties, one of polka music’s most popular television shows. At age 14, he started playing professionally in his father’s legendary group, the Eddie Rodick Orchestra.
Eric Sthele began his musical career at the age of six when he began playing the hammer dulcimer and piano. At age of eight, he fell in love with the alto saxophone and by the age of nine, Eric was playing steadily along with his parents and brother, John, in his father’s band, the Alpine Polkadots.
Brian O’Boyle started taking lessons at age seven. Brian’s first exposure to Slovenian and German music came when he started button box lessons with Fred Stubert at the age of ten. After only two years, Brian began his performing career as a regular member of Fred’s group, Die Lustige Musikanten. At 14, Brian began studying with renowned accordionist Henry Doktorski, and soon joined Slavjane Folk Ensemble and Jack Tady’s band. Brian’s involvement with Slavjane Folk Ensemble led him to audition for the world-renowned Duquesne University Tamburitzans.
Brian Wiater’s first live performance took place at the age of ten, after his father convinced Gaylord Klancnik and Eddie Adamic to let his son “sit in” on drums during a Mothers Day dance in 1976 being held at the Slovene American Club in Melvindale, Michigan. Impressed by the youngster’s potential, Gaylord immediately offered him the chance to play a song on their band’s upcoming album. Brian went on to become the drummer and featured vocalist of the Klancnik Brothers Orchestra for almost twenty years.
While he was growing up, Jerry Zagar’s parents always had polkas playing at home, so it was only natural for him to take an interest in this style of music. His mother played button box in the Myrtle Beach Button Box Club, which always was struggling to find drummers. At the age of 13, Jerry decided to start taking drum lessons, and he quickly began playing with the group. On a whim, Jerry picked up a bass guitar when he was sixteen and has since become one of the most sought after musicians in the polka field. Together with his wife, Pam, Jerry co-hosts “Prime Time Polkas,” which is one of the most popular ethnic radio shows in the United States. Broadcasting
Links
http://knfband.com
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