czech mUSIC in table rock
the frank tomek band
Hit play, and then watch the slide show of Czech bands, below.
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Same recording, pictures of more Czech bands to look at while listening.
the back story to this recordingThis recording came to be posted because Lavon (Larry) Blecha shared it with us. It is in his collection of music from his days of working at a radio station. His sister-in-law Fran Blecha filled us in with some details.
Since Larry isn't on FB, and since he's a very humble guy, I'll give the history of this Frank Tomek Band recording....... |
No microphones were involved ... the music was transferred by direct means with the equipment in the KFNF studio. Then, much later, he was able to transfer those reel-to-reel recordings to CD format. Those original 78 RPM records now belong to Frank & Mae Tomek's daughter, Fran (Tomek) Starck.
Larry has compiled an extensive library of Czech music, and I believe we can all be thankful that he had the forethought to save this precious music for all of us to enjoy. He has shared the music with many who enjoy the old polkas and waltzes.
Larry is himself a musician. He has been playing the accordion since a child, and played on KFNF radio as part of the "Accordion Trio" with Duane Stehlik and Ronald Gilbert in the 1950's. Later they became just the "Accordion Twins", who were just Larry and Duane Stehlik.
Lavon (Larry) Blecha at the old drugstore in table rock
March 21, 2015
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Lavon (Larry) Blecha has been playing accordion since 7th or 8th grade. Back then, with his friend Duane Stehlik, he was one of the award-winning Accordion Twins. In the first three video clips, Larry plays piano accordion. In the third, he tells a bit about himself.
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more about larry BLECHALarry's sister-in-law, Frances Blecha, provides more background:
Since Larry isn't on FB, and since he's a very humble guy, I'll give the history of this Frank Tomek Band recording....... Back in the 1960's, Larry worked for the KFNF radio station out of Shenandoah, IA. He borrowed the original 78 RPM records from his Aunt Mae Tomek (Frank's wife), and transferred the music to reel-to-reel recordings. No microphones were involved ... the music was transferred by direct means with the equipment in the KFNF studio. Then much later, he was able to transfer those reel-to-reel recordings to CD format, and has since shared the music with many who enjoy the old polkas and waltzes. Those original 78 RPM records now belong to Frank & Mae Tomek's daughter, Fran (Tomek) Starck. Larry has been playing the accordion since a child, and played on KFNF radio as part of the "Accordion Trio" with Duane Stehlik and Ronald Gilbert in the 1950's. Later they became just the "Accordion Twins", who were just LaVon Blecha and Duane Stehlik. Larry has compiled an extensive library of Czech music, and I believe we can all be thankful that he had the forethought to save this precious music for all of us to enjoy. |
PRECIOUS NON-PROFESSIONAL TAPE RECORDINGS
The Stehlik family has put music on a CD player in the Stehlik Museum of the Table Rock Historical Society. name to be added. These are the tracks. I don't have the names of the songs. Most start out with a bit of silence and then some conversation, so be patient.