Synowie Lagrinka (Sons Of LaGrange) - Randy Krajewski & Eric Hite
E-Mail Randy & Eric
Visit Their Website!
Airs Monday nights from
7:00pm - 8:00pm EST
(6:00pm - 7:00pm CST)
Repeat on Thursday afternoons
from
5:00pm - 6:00pm EST
(4:00pm - 5:00pm CST)
Randy Krajewski
The man, the myth, the accordion strap…….
Randy Krajewski was born in a log cabin storefront on LaGrange street in North Toledo at a time when the Polish village was really Polish. In the back room of this store a "guy named Joe" made accordions, so it was only natural that Randy would pick up the accordion at the tender age of five. After surviving Sister Mary "Iron Ruler" at St. Hedwig Catholic grade school Randy attended St. Francis DeSales high school whereupon he ran across an individual wearing a red 3-piece suit and humming Happy Louie riffs in the school library. This unique hummer turned out to be none other than Eddie Bug-eye (more on this match-made-in-heaven later). Subsequently, Randy dropped out of sight for a few years and partook of shock therapy due to 12 years of Catholic education. During this therapeutic time he wandered the upper reaches of Frostbite Falls and discovered a tall, mysterious woman named Natasha, a flying squirrel who could talk and the Canadian Fiddlestix.
Randy's first band was called the Coachmen. This wedding trio occupied his time from eighth grade through high school. A brief stint with the Holy Toledo Polka Stars preceded his work with A Touch of Brass. At this juncture any rational human being would have had enough musical ups and downs and seen the hand-writing on the wall which would have said; "Get out of music, listen to your mother and go to college"........ so naturally Randy formed his own group called Choice and pressed on. Scary isn't it?? (Side note) Randy actually did go to college where he earned a Masters degree in music and taught at Bowling Green State University for 6 years. (Now back to our story) By the end of the Choice years Randy was forced to revisit the shock therapy facility in order to try to "get right" once again. Toward the end of these sessions Randy had a vision and in it a man appeared to him riding on a flaming pie and he said; "You will seek out the one called Eddie Baggage and you will become one of the Carry-ons".
In addition to his time with Eddie Buggy and the Cascades, Randy has "done time" and/or recorded with Marion Lush, the Dynatones, the New Brass, Freeze Dried, the Polish Kid, Bob Zielinski and the Kingsmen, the G-Notes, and many other local Toledo groups. Randy has recorded for PBS, taught music privately, played on cruise ships and still enjoys writing tunes and performing with the Echoes of Poland folk song and dance ensemble. These days he is serving a life sentence with Norfolk/Southern railroad. Occasionally, when he is out on shock probation he can be found squeezing tunes with his current group Badinov.
Randy has been married to ex-polka queen and Ditka enthusiast SueRobb for 21 years, they have two daughters, Alyson and Morgan, and a dog named Stella.
Eric Hite
Eric W. Hite was born in 1977 in Lima, Ohio. He began to study music at an early age and started his first church organist position at the age of sixteen. In 1995 and 1996 he competed in the American Theatre Organ Society’s Young Organist Competition, placing second in his division both times.
Eric has worked for several Toledo-area churches including the Historic Church of Saint-Francis de Sales, Toledo’s first Catholic Parish and Cathedral, and the Church of Saint-Joseph, his Baptismal Parish. Both of these landmarks are located in downtown Toledo. He is a sought-after performer and accompanist and has appeared throughout the country.
In 2003, Eric recorded his first feature-length CD, entitled, “An Hour With Eric,” at the Ohio Theatre in Toledo, OH.
Eric is also no stranger to a microphone. He had his first taste of radio filling in for the late Don King (not the boxing promoter!) on the “Saturday Morning Live” program on WCWA in Toledo, Ohio. This was a “by chance” occurrence in 1997 that led to him getting “ the broadcasting bug!” Eric has also been a co-host on “The Sunday Afternoon Dance hall,” a show which aired on the former WJZE FM 97.3 and later, back on AM 1230 WCWA. There was also a short stint at an afternoon drive- time music and chat program on WCWA. Although this program was short-lived, it further solidified his radio passion and eagerness to be behind the microphone!
Polka bands that Eric plays with include: The Mixx, (1997-present) Encore, (2004-present) Badinov, (2005-present)
Eric has also had the privilege of being the last accordionist, bassist and recording with Crusade, featuring Eddie Biegaj.
Other bands Eric has performed/gigged with include:
The Glass Town Sound, A Touch of Brass, Toledo Polkamotion, Lou's Boys, Stephanie and Her Honky Band, John Stevens and Double Shot, C.J. and the Krue, The Kuszwanc Kids, Doc Lula, The Boyz from Toledo, and John Gora & Gorale from Canada. There have also been a number of groups on the non-polka side that would take substantial space on this page to mention!
In addition to having his own production/DJ company and doing voice-over work, he is currently organist at Advent Lutheran Church in Sylvania, Ohio and also travels and performs with the The Polka Floyd Show band, with whom he has recorded two albums to date. He is also organist of Resurrection Polish National Catholic Church in Temperance, MI and is the proud father of Eric II, Mary and Claire.
