Joseph
Siedlik is better
known as “Big Joe,” or
“
Polka Joe,” in Omaha,
JNebraska, and sur-
rounding areas. Big Joe’s
interest in polka music of all
kinds really stems from his
Polish roots and from growing
up in the ethnic neighbor-
hoods of South Omaha.
While “Big Joe” has always
had an interest in Polka music,
his professional interest began
in Columbus, Nebraska, on
radio station KTTT in 1965
with his inaugural 90 minute
polka show: The Big Joe Polka Show hit the air
and was an immediate hit. Within five weeks,
he was airing five hours each Sunday, with a full
load of sponsors. So popular was his program,
radio stations in neighboring markets fought to
get the Big Joe Polka Show on their air – radio
stations in Ord, Nebraska, and Omaha-Council
Bluffs, Iowa were soon added to the line-up.
Big Joe has always played an equal mix of
Polish, Czech and German Polkas – a little
something for everyone. When his show aired
in Omaha, the demand for diversity increased.
Offut Air Force Base, home to 45,000 polka
lovers from all over the United States, pro-
duced requests for the music of many New
York and New Jersey area polka bands with
stars like Frank Wojnaroski, and the Connecti-
cut twins, Stash and Jash, Big band. Polish
Cleveland wanted Lou Trebar, Johnny Pecon
and the Frankie Yankovic style of polka music,
Minnesota wanted a more conservative sound
with Erwin Suess. South Dakota wanted
Johnny Matusek and the Tabor Czech Brass Band, and on, and on
it went.
With a wider variety of
polka music, the Big Joe
Polka Show grew in popular-
ity, and length, going from
five hours to nine hours each
week. The Big Joe Polka
Show was always number one
in its time period in the
Omaha Market as well as in
Columbus and Ord, Ne-
braska.
After 25 years, and only 12
Sundays off in that time, Big
Joe retired from live radio and
the rigors of 18 hours of
weekly shows.
With the advent of RFD-TV, Big Joe moved
to television and a new audience in rural
America. A perennial viewer favorite, the Big
Joe Polka Show can be seen 12 times each
week on RFD-TV.
Over the years, “Big Joe” has become the
largest owner of polka music master tapes in
the United States with over 550 masters in his
collection. Joe and his wife Marty own and
operate Polka Cassettes of Nebraska. They
feature over 700 cassettes, 300 cds and 100
videos in their warehouse. In addition, Marty
and Joe have contact with over 200 polka
bands across the United States and Canada
wanting to be on the Big Joe Polka Show.
For a free catalogue write to:
Polka Cassettes of Nebraska
P.O. Box 3643 Omaha, NE 68103.
Or call toll free 1-800-257-6552
bigjoepolkashow@aol.com
www.polkacatalog.com |
