Passing: "Wally the Polka King"
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: August 24, 2006
CHICAGO, Aug. 23 (AP) — Walter E. Jagiello, who recorded 110 albums as Lil’ Wally the Polka King and who gained fame as the co-writer of the Chicago White Sox fight song, died last Thursday in Miami Beach. He was 76.
Mr. Jagiello was a drummer and singer largely credited with creating the Chicago-style polka, characterized by a slower beat. He was the first musician inducted into the Polka Hall of Fame in Chicago.
As a musician, his sphere centered on a strip of Division Street on the North Side of Chicago, known during the 1940’s and 1950’s as Polish Broadway. At its peak, the North Side neighborhood had 50 polka clubs.
Mr. Jagiello hit Billboard’s charts with “Polish Polka Twist” and “I Wish I Was Single Again.” He sang fluently in both Polish and English and appeared on “The Lawrence Welk Show” several times.
In 1959 he was the co-writer of “Let’s Go, Go-Go White Sox,” the team’s fight song. It was recorded by Captain Stubby and the Buccaneers with the Lil’ Wally Orchestra and came back into use again last year.
He often said the highlight of his career was performing his song “God Bless Our Polish Pope” at the Vatican for Pope John Paul II.
Published: August 24, 2006
CHICAGO, Aug. 23 (AP) — Walter E. Jagiello, who recorded 110 albums as Lil’ Wally the Polka King and who gained fame as the co-writer of the Chicago White Sox fight song, died last Thursday in Miami Beach. He was 76.
Mr. Jagiello was a drummer and singer largely credited with creating the Chicago-style polka, characterized by a slower beat. He was the first musician inducted into the Polka Hall of Fame in Chicago.
As a musician, his sphere centered on a strip of Division Street on the North Side of Chicago, known during the 1940’s and 1950’s as Polish Broadway. At its peak, the North Side neighborhood had 50 polka clubs.
Mr. Jagiello hit Billboard’s charts with “Polish Polka Twist” and “I Wish I Was Single Again.” He sang fluently in both Polish and English and appeared on “The Lawrence Welk Show” several times.
In 1959 he was the co-writer of “Let’s Go, Go-Go White Sox,” the team’s fight song. It was recorded by Captain Stubby and the Buccaneers with the Lil’ Wally Orchestra and came back into use again last year.
He often said the highlight of his career was performing his song “God Bless Our Polish Pope” at the Vatican for Pope John Paul II.
posted by eric model | 4:14 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home