SQUEEZE PLAY Article Hank Haller

Squeeze Play

Elgin International Club – Hank Haller Ensemble with Fred Ziwich

Article - #1 by Mary Lou Downs & Charlie Tomecek

Situated between London and Chatham Ontario Canada, the Elgin International Club has one of the nicest dance floors in Ontario, and whenever Hank Haller and his band come to the club, the place is packed, drawing polka partiers from all over Southwestern Ontario. Hank Haller has been a bandleader since 1953, one of the longest running acts in the polka music business, and he maintains a schedule even today that would tire the rest of us. His musical performances take him throughout the USA including Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Canada. As a matter of fact, his pretty wife Mary Ann who travels all the time with Hank, told us that the band had just returned to Ohio from playing in Las Vegas Nevada and their suitcases weren’t even unpacked before they had to leave to come here to Canada.

With Hank leading on accordion, the ensemble included Frank Sluzala on drums, Jerry Krocek on trumpet, guitar and vocals, and guest artist Fred Ziwich who played accordion/bass, and button box. Fred is an accomplished musician on many different instruments including piano accordion, button box, drums, saxaphone, clarinet – and besides having his own band, teaches music, and he was the music director for the Polka Hall of Fame awards ceremonies for almost fifteen years. He recently produced a CD and book set for those wanting to learn to play the button box, very timely as there seems to be a resurgence in button box music.

Obviously Hank has been a big influence on Fred’s music career and a mentor of sorts. Back in the early 1970’s Fred played with the Hank Haller Orchestra and told us that the money he earned playing with Hank paid for his college education. We had been told that Hank was of German descent and that Fred was Czech. As a matter of fact, Fred’s parents and Hank’s parents came from the same town - Batschka, Yugoslavia (in what is today Serbia). Because each of their bands play such a wide diversity of music – German, Czechoslovak, Polish, Slovenian, Croation – people were never sure what their ethnic background is. Now you know!

Jerry Krocek has a Czechoslovak background – and if he has not won an award for “Sideman of the Year” yet, then he should. He has a wonderful voice and sings in several languages (English, Czech and German) and plays guitar and trumpet. I have to admit that the trumpet has never been my favorite instrument, but Jerry plays beautifully and doesn’t overpower the rest of the band. When he played the Bert Kampfert classic “Wonderland by Night” it was so beautiful it touched your soul.

Both Hank Haller and Fred Ziwich have been prolific in the recording studio and have a wonderful selection of CD’s and DVD’s for you to enjoy. To get a list of their recordings available for sale contact information is as follows:

Hank Haller Recordings,

27672 Royal Forest,

Westlake, Ohio,

USA 44145

Phone number is 440-835-4407

Fred Ziwich

And his International Sound Machine,

28454 Douglas Dr.,

North Olmsted, Ohio,

USA 44070

Phone numeber is 440-734-2404

Email: fpzism@aol.com