Looking Polka - Ernie Kucera - Nebraska's Polka King

In the wintertime, do you love Pizza? We sure do! We even went beyond looking and had a piece! Looking Polka!
Nebraska had a King of Polka, and his name was Ernie Kucera.
For more than 50 years, Kucera led a band that played wedding dances and anniversary dances and the annual Bee Barn Dance - the one where the fire department raffles off live poultry.
He toured Texas and Oklahoma and Michigan and even communist Czechoslovakia. He had his own radio show, which aired daily for more than 40 years.
“People used to call him - and he was - the Guy Lombardo of polka music,” said Michael Brecka, who played in Kucera’s band for years.
In 2007, at the age of 87, Ernie left us. His music will live on forever!

[@oldtrio1]

Looking Polka

[@pixibobcat]

I am worried about why this is the last video you've made in 7 months? ARE YOU O.K.? If you're sick, hope you get better soon!!! (Really miss those videos!)

[@fleetingdays]

As the creator of this RUclips channel, I deeply appreciate your comment! This last winter, I took a very bad fall on the ice! I am a senior, you know how that goes. Falls are no good! I've also made a relocation from Minneapolis to Hastings, Minnesota. I've been invited to Kalamazoo, Michigan to play the Concertina at the National Veterans Creative Arts Festival. I took first place in one category of music! (Ethnic Music) El Rio Drive Polka! This was a Vern Meisner tune! I was also blessed with Bob Novak, the builder of the Echo Concertina, helping me repair a 1938 Pearl Queen (Quad Reed) Concertina! It was nothing major. It was just that on one side some of the buttons weren't springing immediately back in place. For a 1938 Concertina, something to be expected. Tuning is solid! I've set up a studio in the house that I'm in and hope to be posting more videos soon! The Polish Festival in downtown Minneapolis will be taking place! Also, the Minnesota State Fair is only 29 days away! There is always some Polka music there! Things are busy with the Czech Area Concertina Club in New Prague, Minnesota. Polka music is alive and well! We did achieve over 6 million views on our RUclips channel, nothing to be ashamed of! We did and will try to bring a little joy into this world! Thank you for your comment! God Bless You Always! Gary Erickson

[@pixibobcat]

Very happy your o.k.! As an 85 yr. old, you don't have to tell me that old age sucks!! Today was all messed up by a Dr. visit which made me so tired. I can't get around without walker. If I had to deal with ice I'd have been a goner ages ago! Happy to hear of your success with the concertina! I used to play accordion but didn't have the strength to play anymore. Anyhow it got ruined by some dampness that somehow got into its case. I feel so sad as I wanted to give it to my son and it's unfixable! You're lucky that concertinas are so much lighter weight. Hope that you are comfortable in your new place and that it is safer place than your old one. I'm so happy you can keep up all that good work! To@@fleetingdaysfrom Leona George (Pixiebobcat)

[@fleetingdays]

@@pixibobcat Thank you for your comment. I agree!