St. Joseph's Concertina Club

This photo dates from the mid-1970's. It is a group shot of the "St Joe's Concertina Club" of Michigan City, Indiana. This club was founded by a group of concertina musicians and enthusiasts from northern Indiana, many of them members of the St Joseph Young Men's Society (a local Catholic men's fraternal organization).

Stanley Yagelski was a founding member and long time club president. The group initially met for jam sessions at the St Joe club rooms. Word spread of the great music, and soon the club was a "band", playing at festivals, night clubs and other events throughout northern Indiana, Chicago, and southern Michigan. They even recorded an album / cassette.

Front row, second from left: Clarence Tylisz. Clarence had a few bands in the Michigan City area for years. He recently passed away. He was Ken Yagelski's great-uncle, and actually took lessons from Stanley Yagelski.

Middle row, first from left: Casey Bruzdzinski. From Calument City, IL, Casey is David Bruzdzinski's father. A great player in his own right, Casey still plays concertina and can been seen at many polka events in the Chicagoland region.

Middle row, second from left: David Bruzdzinski. Drummer, Concertina player. See Polka Musician Database.

Middle row, fifth from left: Ted Yagelski. The band's drummer, Ted has played with several bands in the Michigan City area for years. Ted is Ken Yagelski's Uncle. Ted and Stanley Yagelski had a band in the 1950's.

Back row, first from left: Ken (The Polish Fireball) Yagelski. The youngest member of the club. That's a Patek he's holding. It was a "newer" type model that had the plastic air valve lever. It sounded good, but pulled hard.

Back row, second from left: Rick Yagelski. Ken's older brother. Their Father, Stanley, taught both to play when we were quite young. Rick owns one of his father's first boxes, made by the International Accordion & Concertina Manufacturing Co.

Back row, third from left: Stanley Yagelski. (Ken's Father) He has played concertina for many years and is well known in the Michigan City area. He is in his 70's, but still gets togther with Ted and other box players to play gigs at anniversaries, church festivals, and the occasional nursing home.

Back row, fifth from left: Dick Kamont. Dick also played 'box in a few bands around Michigan City, IN, but he is best known for hosting the "Polka Party" radio show. This show was broadcast every Sunday afternoon from Michigan City on WIMS (1420 AM). The show was just recently cancelled by WIMS, and Dick has taken the show to a small (low power) local FM station. Dick has always been a great ambassador for polka music.

Back row, seventh from left: Eddie Sienkowski. See Polka Musician Database.

All of the other club members were good players too, some better then others, but they all loved the concertina. Many in the photo have passed away, but their memory lives on. Just like good old polka music.

Ken Yagelski