The Polka Jammer Network

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My Aunt Sally's Attic" with
Mike Pacholski can be heard
LIVE from Stafford Springs, CT 
Friday nights from 6:00pm - 8:00pm EST
(5:00am - 7:00am CST)

Mike Pacholski was born in Hartford Connecticut into a family that enjoyed Polish traditions and of course Polka music. In this area of the Northeast during that timeframe, there were several popular Polka and Polish programs airing on AM radio both on weekends and during the week with many live broadcasts from the Polish National Home in Hartford and the famous Crystal Lake Ballroom in Ellington. Some of the DJs were Stan Ozimek (Cousin Ozzie), Andy Szuburla, Connecticut Stas, Victor Zembruski, Walt Solek and many others that promoted the music and the bands of the day. Mike grew up listening to these programs and enjoyed the music.

A favorite aunt of Mike’s was his dear Aunt Sally. She would have him stay with her and her husband on their farm for a couple of weeks during the summer months. It was here that Mike was always free to play his Aunt’s 78 RPM polka records on her old Capehart hi-fi (no stereos yet!) over and over again. She would never tell him to stop playing any particular song and it was this freedom of enjoyment that gave him the appreciation for the music. Some of the bands he used to listen to were Joe Lazarz, Gene Wisniewski, Al Soyka, The Krakowska Orchestra, Walt Solek and many others of the era.

As Mike grew up in the 50’s and 60’s musical tastes and genres changed, demand for polka music waned and many of those programs went by the wayside. His musical tastes also changed pace with the times into the rock and roll of the 50’s and progressive rock and hard rock of the 60’s through the 70’s. Disco wasn’t far behind in the 80’s and then rap, hip hop, indie rock and many others followed suit.

In the early 90’s, his Aunt Sally passed away and his cousin Kevin had found all the 78’s that were left since many had gotten broken or misplaced over the years, and he asked Mike if he would like them. Of course there was only one answer to this question and that is what started his renewed interest in the music he had grown up with. From that point on, he would search and find many old records that had been lost, stored in people’s basements or attics, made their way to outlets that sold used items and the most important, his meeting Polkaman Jack at one of Billy Belina’s polka record swap meets and the friendship that ensued.

So that is how it all started and continues today. Mike Pacholski has his show “My Aunt Sally’s Attic” airing LIVE on The Jammer Network Friday nights from 6:00pm - 8:00pm EST.
(5:00am - 7:00am CST)

So join “The Golden Voice of Internet Polka Radio” for a trip down memory lane as he plays many selections from 78RPM records that haven’t been heard for over 70 years or in some cases ever!

Mike Pacholski, “The Golden Voice of Polka Radio” also has a LIVE polka program which is broadcast on WHUS, Storrs, 91.7 FM (also available on the web at www.whus.org) from the University of Connecticut at Storrs on Saturday mornings from 7 AM to 9 AM EDT. His partner John Hurchala, (O Johnnie!) “The Silver Fox of Polka Radio”, begins his show “As The Polka Turns” at 5 AM on Saturdays and Mike generally joins John at around 6:30 for some banter and to announce the polka calendar.