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Vrazels Polka Band to retire after 55 years
They announced their retirement from the polka and waltz industry on Sunday, posting a statement on the band's Web site. "It was a very tough decision to make and it took us a long time," said Alfred Vrazel in a phone interview from the tiny farming community of Buckholts. "Over the years we have met many wonderful people who have touched our hearts and we sincerely hope that in some small way we may have touched their hearts as well. "We would like to take this time to thank first and foremost our families for their support, patience, and understanding. "The good Lord let us go for 55 years and that's a long time. We'll miss the polka family so to speak," said Alfred. Brother Anton echoed his sentiments "What we enjoyed most is the nice people that came to our dances and supported us," said Anton. That's what kept us going." "We just want to thank our fans from the bottom of our hearts for all their support all these years. We couldn't have done it with without them."
But they'll play closer to Wharton at the East Bernard Kolache-Klobase Festival on June 14. They've have played at five other venues in the county - El Campo, New Taiton, Hungerford, Hillje and Wharton. The Vrazels celebrated their 25th Anniversary at the Cultural Activities Center in Temple, and their 40th, 45th and 50th Anniversary at Seaton Star Hall. Alfred will continue to host his Sunday afternoon radio show on KMIL, AM 1330 in Cameron. It's been on the air for 45 years. The band had played anywhere from 100-125 dates a year from the 1960s through 1980. "We were going to cut down on the bookings to maybe two to three a month but we have calls for almost 100 bookings a year to perform. Selecting those made it tough for the band. It wouldn't be fair to decide who you are going to play for and who you're not going to play for." Alfred says some things have changed over the past 55 years The band has played over 100 dance halls all across the Lone Star State. They've played in Dallas, Corpus Christi, San Angelo, and everything in between. They even played and toured in Las Vegas The band has performed in Tuscon, Ariz.; Wichita, Kansas; Las Vegas and on a Caribbean Cruise out of New Orleans and an Alaskan Cruise out of Vancouver, B.C. Alfred singled out the Washington D.C. engagement, when they played for the Smithsonian Institute in 1976, as being their favorite. "It was one of the highlights or our playing career," said Alfred. They also played at the Kennedy Center in 1991 at Washington D.C. The Vrazels never strayed from the traditional style of playing polkas and waltzes and even country. "We've kept our own style for all these year and the audiences are just as friendly as they were," said Alfred. Current band members include drummer Thomas Strmiska, who has been playing with the band for 34 years. "I've enjoyed every one of them," said Strmiska. "I consider it a privilege and a great honor to have been a part of the band. Not only are all of my fellow band members great guys and great musicians, they're friends. I believe the chemistry between the band members is what makes the band special. "We've met so many great folks and have made so many friends over the years. These include dancers, listeners, musicians, the folks who run the halls - the list goes on and on. My biggest regret will be not being able to see them as often as we do now, but as Alfred said, 'We've got memories to last a lifetime.'" Brother Patrick Strmiska plays lead, rhythm and steel guitar. He rejoined the band three years ago after sitting out for over 10 years. Their late father Georg played with the band over 40 years and was a stellar lead guitar and saxophone players. Other current members include Albert Heselmeyer of Taylor, who is featured on the bass guitar. He has been with the Vrazels' for 27 years. David Trojacek has been with the band for five years and plays the tenor and alto saxophone, lead guitar and performs vocals. Some of the other musicians that played with the Vrazels over the years included Bill Collins, Franklin Hruska, Tony Chudej, Daniel Dubec, Albin Matus, Lawrence Vrazel, Glenn Marek, Joe Klepac, Jerry Adamek, Julius Duback, Larry Olejnik and George Stramiska. "We've had a lot of good members over the years," said Anton. Their interest in music started early in life. At the age of ten, Alfred talked his parents into buying him his first accordion. He purchased a tworow Horner button accordion from Sears for $32. A short time later, Anton began playing the piano accordion and Alfred switched to playing the tenor and alto saxophones and guitar. The band was originally known as the Vrazels' Playboys and consisted of Alfred, Anton and their three cousins, Leo, Louis, and Ladis Vrazel. The band made their first recording in 1959 and has recorded since that time twenty 45 RPM records, nine 8-Tracks, 13 LP albums, two videos, six cassettes, and three CD's. They have performed for the Texas Folklife Resources - Accordion Kings Festivals held in Austin, Dallas, Eagle Pass, Houston and Plano. Some of the bands they shared the stage with included Joe Patek, Lee Roy Matocha, Bobby Jones , The Red Ravens, The Dujka Brothers, Jodie Mikula, The Baca's, Leo Majek Orchestra, The Combinations, Bill Mraz, Jimmy Brosch, Shiner Hobo Band, Central Texas Sounds and many more. "It was always fun playing with other bands," said Alfred. I first heard in the band in the 1960's when they were part of the Big 3 Polka Fest with the Lee Roy Matocha Orchestra and Joe Patek at Riverside Hall in East Bernard. It's hard to believe that I've been associated with the band for almost 40 years, introducing them at festivals and writing CD reviews. I feel it's been a privilege working with the band in some capacity or another over the past 40 years. And I was truly honored whey they played for my wedding dance 10 years ago. Their music will be missed from thousands of their fans all over the state. |
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