This is a life story on Casey Siewierski on how he got started in the polka field. I, Casey Siewierski, was born on February 25th, 1921 in Chicago Illinois.. My parents migrated to this country from the village of 'Zropcyc' which is near Krakow Poland. I was the youngest son out of three boys and five girls in the family. We were a musical family as my father was a violinist, and also made his own violins. My father wanted me to play the violin, and this I did, but the concertina is what I really wanted to master, so I took lessons from Patek's Music School whenever I could afford it from my paper route which I had after school hours.

My father had his Aces orchestra and played at weddings and other occasions with my older brothers who he had already broken in. I was in the side-lines and yet to young, but after crying my eyes out I was put in the back of the band and told to play quietly. At the age of eleven, my father brought me an old broken dawn 'Pearl Queen' concertina and took me in his orchestra. If I made a mistake his bow would go across my head so that I knew he was not letting me get away with it. My father had lot of tunes he brought to this country which we called violin music, because your fingers had to move to play it as it should be played. Podgorski wrote the same kind of music.

My father slowly retired from music so we became the Siewierski Brothers' orchestra and had bookings two years in advance. We played at weddings every weekend, plus started music on Division Street which became known as "Polish Broadway.". To this day I remember a young boy who sat outside of one of the taverns singing his heart out. He came out to some of the picnics we played and stood on the side folding his hands and rubbing them together and singing like there was no tomorrow. I found out from my oldest brother who this young boy was, as everyone called him 'YOGI'.

As the time went by I an sure we played at every hall in the Chicago area, and as the war in Europe was getting worse, I married my chilhood sweetheart on the 25th of July 1941. I was called in the service in September of the same year. I I served the Air Corp through October of 1945

When I was discharged I got my family together. After I settled down with a job I went out and bought a new concertina and jobbed around trying to find same key men to organize my own group. One day I heard a young fellow playing drums at a place called The Gold Star Inn with a three piece group. They had a beat which I never heard before, I liked it an soon as I heard it. His singing wasn't bad either. I was playing right across the street from the place he played, he also came to check me out.

Some how we got to know one another. His name was Wally and wanted to form his own band, so I asked him to join my group: Somehow I joined his group, and we an worked hard. We played everything from a bakery grand opening to recordings, radio, and a lot of out of town jobs, infact we were not getting to much time to spend at home.

I had to leave Li'l Wally's band, for I was married now and had a family. I could not take the hassle. I knew wally would make it as that young boy who was rubbing his hands together and singing his heart out called 'YOGI' is to me one of the beat vocalist, performers, in this Polka field, Li'l WALLY Jagiello

I have gone on my own, played all over the country, television, radio, recorded for Balkan Records, Rola Records, Bel-Aire, Jay-Jay Records, and Chicago Records. I have composed over seven hundred tunes, not only for my own use but for other bands to record and also for vocalists.

I owe my success to my wife.who put up with me and pushed me when I was ready to give up. To many fine D.J'S, Promoters and recording companies who had faith in me, and most of all the polka fans, also to my fellow musicians all over the country who backed me up. I am only one and you are many, names mean nothing, because you know who you are.

My father always told me before he past away, "Do not ever let your hat get smaller then your head, just go out there and do your best to satisfy the public." This I tried to do all my life.

Yes, I love music and my biggest satisfaction in this field is not a trophy, a testimonial, not the hall of fame,, but some of the letters I get from people asking for advice in regards to music, or when will I appear in their area, or can I teach by mail, or can I get them a instrument like my concertina. But what puts a tear in my eye is when you get same youngster who gets all shook up and buys my album.