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John Filipczak started playing polka
music in 1957, at that time playing the trumpet. He picked up the
concertina in 1960 and has been performing both instruments ever
since. John was the original trumpet player with the Jolly Brothers
Polka Band from 1960 to 1964. During his four years with the
"Brothers," John composed and arranged most of the music on the
first two albums by the Jolly Brothers: Polka Special
and Come Dance With Me. During the summers of 1962
and 1963, the Jolly Brothers along with John, toured the upper
midwest with the Golden Voice of Polkas, Marion Lush from the Windy
City of Chicago.
In a musical career that spans over five
decades, John has performed with Lil' Wally, Marion Lush, The
Mrozinski Brothers, Lil' Richard, Joe Tomaszewski's Polish Show
Band, Bill Czerniaks Polka Soul and countless others.
The CLASSICS play Polish-American music,
specifically, polkas, waltzes, mazurkas and obereks. Johns' form of
polka music is called 'Honky Style' and can be compared to a
'Dixieland' style of Polka Music. The trumpet is the main drive and
lead instrument. The clarinet wanders above and below the melody
line. Rhythm is held together by the string bass and drums playing
a strict, solid beat. The concertina plays the melody line, some
solos, and keeps the band together.
John Filipczak's "Honky Style" music is basic,
simple, and from the heart. The listener must be able to 'feel the
music.' Solid, yet loose, disciplined yet fluid, the music offers a
lesson in how something as abstract as a 'feeling' can be released
each time the band starts to play. The CLASSICS also play the best
in variety music from the traditional two-step, fox-trot, rock &
roll from the 50's & 60's, to old and new country.
The current members of John Filipczak and The
CLASSICS are: Robyn Mrozinski plays bass, concertina, violin and
sings Polish and English vocals, Raymond Biernat on clarinet and
saxophone, and Fred Axberg on drums and vocals. Benet Welinski
performs on trumpet . Benet is the younger brother of Marvin
Welinski, who performed with The CLASSICS over ten years and penned
the song, Mayslack’s Polka Lounge Polka. Music is the Welinski’s
family hobby. John Filipczak plays concertina, trumpet, vocals in
Polish and English, composes and does the musical arrangements.
The CLASSICS have recorded sixteen, one hour
television shows called Polka Spotlight that can be
viewed almost daily on local cable access throughout the entire
seven county metro area and western Wisconsin. John & The CLASSICS
have recorded ten TV shows for Bandwagon on the CBS affiliate KEYC-
TV in Mankato, MN. Bandwagon has been on the air every Saturday
over 43 years. They have recorded three albums containing all
original compositions, including Polish and English vocals. The
first album released in 1990 was called Classic Honky Style
Polkas. With the limited number of 'Honky Style' bands in
America, the release of their second album in 1992 titled
Encore, put them second to none in the polka music field.
Back Again, released in 1999 with fourteen original
melodies, again demonstrates their unique 'Minnesota Polish Style'
honky music. The original Polish and English compositions establish
The CLASSICS as an exceptional 'Honky Style' band. In 2004, The
CLASSICS released their fourth CD Simply Honky
featuring the ‘hits’ of yesteryear. The Band has performed
extensively throughout Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio,
New Jersey and Massachusetts. The Band has performed on four live
radio broadcasts from the Minnesota State Fair on the 50,000 watt
CBS affiliate-WCCO 830AM with Dave Lee and The Morning Show.
The Band performed four days at the 2001 Minnesota State Fair on the
Heritage Square Stage and on Sept. 1 & 2, 2002, Labor Day Weekend,
at the Ramberg Center Stage.
In November of 1997, The CLASSICS performed on
two radio broadcasts of A Prairie Home Companion
starring Garrison Keillor. A Prairie Home Companion
show is currently carried on 425 U.S.Public radio stations and on
the Armed Forces Network (Europe and Far East) America One via the
Astra Satellite. A Prairie Home Companion can be
heard on FM radio in dozens of European cities.
World Concertina Congress:
John was inducted into the prestigious World
Concertina Congress Hall of Fame on September 16, 2005. The
induction ceremony was held at the Mystic Lake Casino in Shakopee,
MN and attended by 450 guests. Check all the photos at:
www.concertinaclub.com/wcc/ (click -WCC photos 2005) Surf to
the Czech Area Concertina Club site at:
www.concertinaclub.com
Fred Axberg
joined The CLASSICS in 1993. With a variety of experience from
jazz, rock and roll, country and now polkas, Fred says, “I love to
play with this Band because I’ve learned so much about Polish Music
and the Polish people.” As graduate of Columbia School of
Broadcasting, Fred does voice work for “It’s Polka Time” hosted by
Craig Ebel. Fred also hosted his own Internet show –
The Axman Axberg
Show on www.zmansquest.com
The Axman Show was on the internet over six years.
Gary Jasicki
is one of the original members of The CLASSICS. Gary recorded all
of theprevious albums by The CLASSICS. His solid technique on the
clarinet and saxophone on these recordings compliment the ‘soul
playing’ of John Kurowski on trumpet.
Robyn (Jurek)
Mrozinski has been surrounded
with polka music her entire life. Her grandfather played violin and
her father plays guitar. She started playing piano in church at the
age of 9 and took violin lessons from the fifth through ninth
grade. As a self-taught guitarist, Robyn turned her sights on the
concertina. With a few lessons, the concertina became another
challenge she conquered. Learning to play bass guitar was a high
school project. Since 1994, Robyn has played bass, concertina,
fiddle and vocals with The CLASSICS. She has also been the pianist
and music coordinator at St. Lucas Community Church in Lake Elmo,
Minnesota, a Polka News writer. In 1997-1998, Robyn was crowned the
United Polka Association Queen in Chicago, IL. Currently Robyn and
her husband Peter have their own band – Twin Cites Soundz
John Kurowski
plays trumpet and hails from Green Bay, Wisconsin. Following in the
footsteps of his father who also plays trumpet, polkas have been a
part of Johns life. John has performed with CMA, Taste of
Chicago, Tony Blazonczyk’s Southside Sounds, Jersey Polka Richie,
Roger Majewski and The CLASSICS. In 1993, John traveled to Michigan,
Minnesota and the East coast with The CLASSICS and has played with
the Band when scheduling allows. John enjoys spending his free
time in his woodshop building things for friends.
Raymond Biernat
has played accordion, piano,
clarinet and saxophone for many years with the local Polish polka
bands and other musical groups in the Twin City area. Raymond and
John jobbed together forty plus years ago when John performed mostly
on trumpet before starting his own band in 1983. Raymond currently
performs with The CLASSICS.
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