Music & Dance Music-Dance News July-Aug '19 | Page 18

Music & Dance News July/August 2019 Page 18 Mike Wendolek continued and vocals). We played regular venues at ballrooms and social halls. Silver Lake auditorium, New Ger- many Hall, Hamburg Hall, Waverly Hall, Blue Note Ballroom, Pla-mor Ballroom, Lake Marion Ballroom, Paradise Ball- room, and Carver Ball- room were some of the many places we played. Our favorite was the Carver Ballroom, owned by Loren and Edna Huepenbecker. We al- ways had a great crowd, and everyone (including the Huepenbecker fam- ily) had a good time at the dances. Again, as young men starting families and juggling work carreers, it kept getting harder to balance the responsibili- ties of family, work, and the band. My brother decided to end the band in 1979, when the Polish Play- boys’ popularity was still on top, and allow the band members to pursue their own interests. Taking a break from performing, ‘til Wally called For the next 17 years, I did not play with any groups and dedicated my time to my family and working career. Our children gradu- ated from high school and started attending college. One evening, I re- ceived a telephone call from Wally Pikal in Hutchinson, MN, who needed a drummer for an engagement that fol- lowing weekend. I told Wally that I hadn’t played in a very long time, but was will- ing to give it a try. From that first engage- ment, I worked with Wally regularly for the next 17-plus years, until he passed away a couple years ago. I was very fortunate to play with many fine mu- sicians during my time with Wally Pikal, made many new friends, and reacquainted with old friendships. Regulars in the band were Harvey Becker (accordion); Wally Pi- kal (horns and vocals); Steward Johnson (bass horn); and me (drums and vocals). I have the privilege of being on Wally’s last CD recording, “Let’s Have A Party.” On occasion, I would sub in for Mark Alsle- ben’s Wagon Wheelers country band, playing at the Hide-A-Way bar in Green Isle, MN. It brought back a few old memories. Performing again Today, I am a regu- lar in Harvey Becker’s Riverside Dutchmen Continued on page 19 WENDINGER BAND & TRAVEL, INC. Travel Tours Trains Across Colorado Aug. 6-14 • Price $1,198 Nova Scotia – The Land Shaped by the Sea Featuring the Maritime Provinces of Quebec City, Montreal, Halifax, Prince Edward Island Aug. 26-Sept. 7 • Price $2,749 Explore the National Parks of the West • Sept. 11-21 • Price $2,398 Autumn Time in England Including Niagra Falls, NY City, Bos- ton Sept. 23-Oct. 5 • Price $2,498 Hostfest ft. Daniel O’Donnell Sept. 24-27 • Price $849 Christmas in Branson Featuring Daniel O’Donnell’s Christ- mas Show Nov. 11-15 • Price $899 July Band Schedule Wed., 3 – Jackpot Junction., Morton, MN Thurs., 4 – Turner Hall, MN; after- noon Sat., 6 – Firemen’s Dance; Lake City, MN; 3-6pm Fri-12 – Parade & Concert; Comfrey, MN Sat., 20 – Bavarian Blast; New Ulm, MN; time TBD Sun., 21 – Bavarian Blast, Parade; New Ulm, MN Sun., 21 – Gibbon Fun Fest; Gibbon, MN (5 PM) Mon., 22 – Concert in German Park; New Ulm, MN; 7-8pm Tues., 23 – In the Park., Appleton, MN (7-8 PM) Sat., 27 – Parade & Legion; Olivia, Wendinger Band & Travel MN; 3pm parade & 5pm Legion Wendinger 38483 631st Band Ave. & Travel Tues., 30 – Sanborn Watermelon New Ulm, MN 56073 Call [phone] Days; Parade & Concert August Fri., 2 – Benton County Fair; Sauk Rapids, MN; time TBD Sat., 3 – Tour de Tonka; Chaska, MN; morning Sat., 3 – Hallinglag Conference; Best Western Plus; New Ulm, MN, 6:30pm, private Sun., 4 – Sibley County Fair; Polka Service & Concert; Arlington, MN; 11am-2pm Thurs., 8 – Senior Pork Chop Dinner; Blaine, MN; 6-8pm Fri., 9 – Mike Simon’s 50th anniver- sary in the music business celebration; Farm Place; Windom, MN Sat., 10 – Nicollet County Fair; St. Pe- ter, MN; 2-5pm Sun., 11 – Albert Lea, MN; 1-5pm Thurs., 15 – McLeod County Fair; Hutchinson, MN; 1-4pm wendingerbandtravel.com • [email protected]