The Polka Jammer Network

E-Mail Danny Mack

POLKAS FOR SHOWBIRDS
With Danny Mack
airs Sunday mornings from
10:00am – 11:00am EST
(9:00am  -10:00am CST)

Repeat on Wednesday afternoons from
2:00pm – 3:00pm EST
(1:00pm – 2:00pm CST)

Danny is no newcomer to the polka music business, or the music business in general. He was born in 1943 and began taking music lessons at the ripe old age of four, right after his dad returned from serving in the U.S. Army in the southwest Pacific theater during WWI. His dad, a musician himself, wanted Danny to have a music education, and got Danny an accordion, by trading his 1938 Pontiac for one. The deal was made between Danny’s dad and music teacher who came to the home and gave lessons during those years, while the elder Mack walked to work for several years. Danny grew up in Harvey, IL in Chicago’s south suburbs. The tight knit community in those days was primarily Polish. Before long, Danny was singing and playing in his dad’s band when he was 12 years old to help put some food on the table in those lean post WWII years. The group played weddings, picnics, dances, and taverns. Danny was schooled in classical music and his interests expanded to polka music, and what was known in those days as Country/Western the likes of all those famous singing cowboys of the silver screen, such as Gene Autry, Roy Rogers, Jimmy Wakely and groups like Bob Wills and The Texas Playboys, and The Sons of The Pioneers. By his early teens, Danny had mastered the drums and trumpet.

In 1956 he joined the Chicago area group, Polka Jacks as their full time vocalist and drummer playing weekly live radio broadcasts on the Johnnie Baski Polka Show on radio station WOPA 1490AM in Oak Park, IL (which now is WPNA, Chicago’s foremost ethnic radio station owned and operated by the Polish National Alliance). Danny was playing all the Chicago area hot spots of that era and made frequent appearances at the famous Baby Doll Polka Club owned by the late Prince of Polkas Eddie Korosa and John Korosas’ Club Irene. By 1960, Danny formed his own group The Highlighters and his band were regulars at all the Chicago polka hot spots like Club 505, The Polka Village, Jeanette’s Polka Lounge and regular summer gigs at the Twin Lakes resort in Wisconsin. Danny and The Highlighters recorded their first 45 RPM single on his own All Star label in 1963. Mack wrote the song “My Sweetheart Rosalinda Polka” which was an overnight hit. Since that time it has been recorded numerous times by other popular polka groups.

When Danny wasn’t playing and fronting his own band, you’d find him playing trumpet and doing the vocals with the popular Chicago group The Musical Gems headed up by the late Gerry Stanley on accordion, the late Eddie Nowak clarinet and sax, and Gene Kupiec on drums. On other occasions, you’d find Danny playing drums and doing vocals in local country groups, or you might find him playing trumpet with a 12 piece dance band the likes of the Teddy Lee Orch. In 1966, the Highlighters disbanded and Danny started a new pop variety show group Danny Mack and The Stagemen with a regular engagement 4 nights a week at the popular Melody Mill Ballroom in North Riverside, IL where his group provided the entertainment in the Ivy Nod Room Lounge downstairs and shared the billing with the bands that were featured upstairs in the ballroom, such as Ted Weems, Guy Lombardo, Les Brown and Harry James. Shortly afterwards, Danny was contacted by a brand new Chicago polka group and Bel-Aire Recording Artist: The Casinos. They needed an accordion player and vocalist to replace the Gerry Stanley who ironically ran the Musical Gems group that Danny jobbed with. Gerry decided to branch out with a duo lounge act. Danny Mack joined the Casinos with Don Ptak trumpet, Eddie Madura, sax & clarinet and Joe Kania drums. Danny recorded several singles and one album with the Casinos on Bel-Aire Records. On the album Polka Varieties he wrote most of the songs and did all the vocals. He remained with the Casinos’ playing frequently in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Ohio until he left the group in the mid 70s’ to pursue his writing and recording interests in the country music field. In 1977, he was offered a recording contract with Nashville’s’ oldest independent record label K-Ark Records, whose roster included The Kendall’s (Jeannie & Royce) “Heavens’ Just A Sin Away”, Doug Kershaw (The Crazy Cajun), Christie Lane “One day At A Time” and others. His first single was “Mr. Personality B/W “Fist full Of Dollars”. Meanwhile he was doing solo engagements in Chicago area clubs and was a regular at polka personality Johnnie Hyznys’ Personality Lodge. A versatile and sought after sideman, Danny has played drums with Grand Old Opry recording artist Stonewall Jackson, and in the polka field he has played with Lil’ Wally, The Bal –Aires, Don Jadlowski & The Vibra Sounds, Jerry Pietranczyk & The Polka Sharps, the late Lil” Richard Towalski, and many others.

In 1982, he formed his own record label BriarHill Records, and Syntony Publishing Company affiliated with Broadcast Music Inc. BMI producing and promoting Polka, traditional country, southern gospel and novelty recordings. He has produced polka artists such as Ronnie Vandenboom, Nancy Seibert, The Mark Buza Orch., and his current act Danny Mack & his Sun Coast Syncopation which is billed as Tampa Bays’ Premiere One Man Polka Orchestra. In 1986, Danny was commissioned by Johnnie Hyzny who was President and founder of The United Polka Association to produce a special commemorative awards presentation album on BriarHill Records. The album featured Eddie Blazonczyk, Lenny Gomulka, George Stevens, Gene Mikrut, Gerry Tarka, and Rudy Sienkowski. The album was a huge success as well as a 45 RPM single cut of a song Danny wrote called ‘Everything’s’ Comin’ Up Roses” which was released as a vocal duet by Eddie Blazonczyk and Lenny Gomulka.

Danny has an impressive collection of music industry awards from both the Country and Polka music fields. One of which he is most proud of is The UPA Marion Lush Songwriters Award. With many recordings and songs to his credit, he’s very proud of his award winning 1992 Christmas hit recording of “Jesus Is The Reason For The Season”. He’s also very proud of a song he wrote for his wife Carol called “Ordinary Girl” which was recorded by Jimmy Sturr with The Oak Ridge Boys doing the vocal. The song was on Jimmy’s’ 10th Grammy Winning album Dance With Me. The song had been performed on national TV many times and was also included in a 2nd album by Jimmy Sturr Prime Time Polkas that featured guest artists like Mel Tillis, Brenda Lee, and Willie Nelson. This album was sold on the QVC Television Shopping Network. In 1994, Danny was honored by the former Governor of the State of Kentucky The Honorable Brereton C. Jones by being commissioned a Kentucky Colonel.

*In an interview, Danny explained that the Kentucky Colonel commission has nothing to do whatsoever with chicken! It is in fact the highest civilian award that the Commonwealth of Kentucky can give. The Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels are men and women regarded as ambassadors of goodwill and achievements in humanitarian services. Others who have been commissioned Kentucky Colonels include Winston Churchill, Lyndon B. Johnson, John Glenn, Bing Crosby and Red Skelton.” I think that’s pretty good company Mack commented”.

Danny is also no newcomer to broadcasting. He had his own syndicated southern gospel show in the 80’s called The Danny Mack Good News Report which originated from KCES FM in Eufaula, OK near OK, City, and the same show on an all black gospel station in Chicago WMPP AM. In 2003, Danny relocated from Illinois to Palm Harbor, Florida where he is active entertaining, writing, and recording. He can be found from time to time playing in local bands like The B Sharps, The Florida Honky Polka Band and The Northern Sounds when he’s not playing his single act called Danny Mack and His Sun Coast Syncopation.

His Polkas’ For Snowbirds Show was inspired due to the fact that he found Polka activities in Florida and the Tampa Bay area to be far less than what you would find up north. The folks from up north that we lovingly refer to as Snowbirds come down for the winter, and support the area polka groups, dances and other polka activities. Mack said it’s appreciated immensely, and the show is dedicated to these folks and their families wherever they may be. The Polkas For Snow Birds Show is his way of making loyal polka fans, and supporters from up north feel right at home with great polka music, and plenty of sunshine.

“Music Speaks To The Heart, Where The Spoken Word Sometime Fails!” - Danny Mack

Polka Artists are invited to send Danny their recordings for airplay
at the following address:

Danny Mack
180 Lifestyle Blvd. # 110
Palm Harbor, FL 34684