with my parents at fiedors grove at 12 yrs old when Louie was playing the place was jam packed what a show he put on i will never forget that night my dad purchased 1 of his lp albums louie signed it, with the words good luck to you ed, i still have it, not only that but louie told us he was music teacher in a mass high school which led to me taking accordion lessons and i am still playing today.
This great music brings me back to my memories as a kid growing up, going to summer church picnics in the Scranton, Pa. area. It was a grand time to be alive :)
It was a fabulous time and a privilege to see and dance to Happy Louie and Julcia. Julcia and I have become friends. She is quite a great lady. I am quite fond of her and glad for her friendship.
I attended this show at Station Square in Pittsburgh and it seems like yesterday. Louie was a great performer and one of the best. The thing I remember most about this show was the enthusiasm and heart that he put into every song. You just knew that he loved his heritage and enjoyed playing his music for you.
Bob Yonash Louie is French. Julie is Polish. Her parents had a radio polka show. Jack and Sophie Midura. Louie learned the Polish language and became very inept at it. He continued to perform it for many years. Louie now has Parkinson’s and is wheelchair bound. He has had this terrible disease for 21 years. His lovely wife, Julcia is his loving caregiver. Louie can still captivate an audience. I was at the POLKAS FOR PARKINSON’S Dance last August 4, 2019. An excellent crowd, great food and great music by BOX ON. This year’s (2020) POLKAS FOR PARKINSON’S will be played by the Happy Louie Tribute Band. Louie will turn 86. A truly wonderful man that has contributed so much to the Polka industry.
+Tom Coss Tom: If whomever it was that made that video just knew the future....it would not have been so choppy and sloppy. Very frustrating watching this. Lots of heads in the way too.
If anyone knew John "SUTZ" Maxymczak from dances over the years ??? I am sad to say the GREATEST polka Dancer of ALL TIME has passed away this Jan. This is his son "Little Sutz / Popeye" May he R.I.P.
Louie, mentions a great friend or my fathers here at the end of his show, Mr Joe Fiedore. I wonder if Louis remembers stopping at my house , I know I do. It was one of those time I think he performed at Hartys Pub in Greensburg perhaps this is the place he was recollecting. 1989 for me I would have been 20. Happy Louis was at my house when I was 8... Anyways Joe Fiedoe had a Picnic (THE GROVE) area where he got all the best Polka and Slovenian to play on the weekends and the place would go through 15 barrels of beer or more hardwood floor dance pavillion. and any money he made went right back into the place. Joe Fiedore also Started the Polka Fireworks at Seven Springs Resort that still is an annual event. And our local Mall had 1 week every year with live Polka Bands nightly drawing 1000's. I would go with my Dad Joe Palka Sunday night at 7:00 to WHJB radio in Greensburg to see Joe do (and sometimes help) his radio show...
When I had lived in Newark, DE I used to listen to the late Baron Joseph Dabrowski's Polka shows on radio station WTUX on Saturday & Sunday afternoons. WTUX AM is out of Wilmington, DE. The Baron himself always played a lot of Happy Louie's polkas & also Frankie Yankovic who was the Polka King. I used to also listen to Polkas on one of Scranton, PA radio stations as well.
When I was 12 my uncle took me to Polonia Acres the Polanka in Randolph NJ to see Happy Louie and I was hooked ever since when I started to drive we used to go all to see him he came to Jersey quite a bit in the 70's and 80's, I used to bring my reel to reel tape deck and record I have many recordings then one day Julcia called me to ask if I would send them some of the tapes because they wanted to release a CD of live recordings before I could send them the tapes someone else beat me to it and they released a live CD Julcia sent me a copy, then they released Happy Louie live volume 2 which is a collection of the recordings I made it is available on Amazon and I don't know about ITunes, I sent her a lot of tapes all masters I did record them onto CD before I sent them so I have backups.
i was also 12 parents took me to see louie at fiedors grove in mt pleasant pa the place was jammed pack not even enough room for the dancers and all loved it.
Ron Wisniewski I am assuming you mean the music....not just the words? www.jimmykpolkas.com. I get all my polka music from him. Great guy to do business with.
derail14 Happy Louie just celebrated his 85th birthday. He lives in Massachusetts with his wife, Julcia. He has Parkinson’s disease and is confined to a wheelchair. He has had Parkinson’s for 21 yrs. I went to a dance honoring him a couple of months ago at Pulaski Park in Massachusetts, a benefit, called POLKAS FOR PARKINSON’S. This will be an annual event. I urge anyone that can go.....please attend. A large crowd with BOX ON, out of Michigan providing the music. Louie did sing a couple of songs with the band. There wasn’t a dry eye in the place. A very moving day!
you sound like a really really really sad liberal. theres still hope for you yet. i am not even european yet appreciate the great beauty of this music and most important the cultural gatherings. the fact you dont cherish this memories says a lot about you and perhaps your cultural brainwashing. theres still hope friend.
The greatest polka Band and I agree there was only one Happy Louie.
with my parents at fiedors grove at 12 yrs old when Louie was playing the place was jam packed what a show he put on i will never forget that night my dad purchased 1 of his lp albums louie signed it, with the words good luck to you ed, i still have it, not only that but louie told us he was music teacher in a mass high school which led to me taking accordion lessons and i am still playing today.
This great music brings me back to my memories as a kid growing up, going to summer church picnics in the Scranton, Pa. area. It was a grand time to be alive :)
Beautiful memories of my home town in NE PA when it was prosperous and thriving.
It was a fabulous time and a privilege to see and dance to Happy Louie and Julcia. Julcia and I have become friends. She is quite a great lady. I am quite fond of her and glad for her friendship.
even though he can no longer sing, or remember the words, he will always remain the greatest in my mind!!
There will never be another, Louie was the Greatest.
Chas Hyatt ki
Chas Hyatt ann marie zielinski we used to go dancing to Happy Louie. It was great.
I attended this show at Station Square in Pittsburgh and it seems like yesterday. Louie was a great performer and one of the best. The thing I remember most about this show was the enthusiasm and heart that he put into every song. You just knew that he loved his heritage and enjoyed playing his music for you.
+Bob Yonash Happy Louie was great, but he had French heritage. His wife though was Polish.
Bob Yonash Louie is French. Julie is Polish. Her parents had a radio polka show. Jack and Sophie Midura. Louie learned the Polish language and became very inept at it. He continued to perform it for many years. Louie now has Parkinson’s and is wheelchair bound. He has had this terrible disease for 21 years. His lovely wife, Julcia is his loving caregiver. Louie can still captivate an audience. I was at the POLKAS FOR PARKINSON’S Dance last August 4, 2019. An excellent crowd, great food and great music by BOX ON. This year’s (2020) POLKAS FOR PARKINSON’S will be played by the Happy Louie Tribute Band. Louie will turn 86.
A truly wonderful man that has contributed so much to the Polka industry.
WE ALL LOVE YOU HAPPY LOUIE AND JULIE! GOD BLESS YOU BOTH!!!
+Tom Coss Tom: If whomever it was that made that video just knew the future....it would not have been so choppy and sloppy. Very frustrating watching this. Lots of heads in the way too.
TomCoss
Albert Kaminsky will
If anyone knew John "SUTZ" Maxymczak from dances over the years ???
I am sad to say the GREATEST polka Dancer of ALL TIME has passed away this Jan.
This is his son "Little Sutz / Popeye"
May he R.I.P.
Who says old Pollacks can't be headbangers? HL in my soul.
Louie, mentions a great friend or my fathers here at the end of his show, Mr Joe Fiedore. I wonder if Louis remembers stopping at my house , I know I do. It was one of those time I think he performed at Hartys Pub in Greensburg perhaps this is the place he was recollecting. 1989 for me I would have been 20. Happy Louis was at my house when I was 8... Anyways Joe Fiedoe had a Picnic (THE GROVE) area where he got all the best Polka and Slovenian to play on the weekends and the place would go through 15 barrels of beer or more hardwood floor dance pavillion. and any money he made went right back into the place. Joe Fiedore also Started the Polka Fireworks at Seven Springs Resort that still is an annual event. And our local Mall had 1 week every year with live Polka Bands nightly drawing 1000's.
I would go with my Dad Joe Palka Sunday night at 7:00 to WHJB radio in Greensburg to see Joe do (and sometimes help)
his radio show...
Tim snake onstage Joe Fidore. Man I haven't heard that name in years. Back when the George Almasi polka review was on 1360.
George was my Godfather !!!
By chance did you know a John "Sutzy" Maxymczak ???
Tim snake onstage I remember my mom and dad attending polka dances at Fiedors Grove
gingerchipper where is Fiedors grove located at
Loretta Short From what I understand, it no longer exists. However, it was near Mt. Pleasant, PA
boy,oh boy... i sure remember dancing all night to happy louie's band a lakewood park in pennsylvania!
happy louie&julcia thanks for the memories.
what many do not know louie was french with polish mom.
When I had lived in Newark, DE I used to listen to the late Baron Joseph Dabrowski's Polka shows on radio station WTUX on Saturday & Sunday afternoons. WTUX AM is out of Wilmington, DE. The Baron himself always played a lot of Happy Louie's polkas & also Frankie Yankovic who was the Polka King. I used to also listen to Polkas on one of Scranton, PA radio stations as well.
When I was 12 my uncle took me to Polonia Acres the Polanka in Randolph NJ to see Happy Louie and I was hooked ever since when I started to drive we used to go all to see him he came to Jersey quite a bit in the 70's and 80's, I used to bring my reel to reel tape deck and record I have many recordings then one day Julcia called me to ask if I would send them some of the tapes because they wanted to release a CD of live recordings before I could send them the tapes someone else beat me to it and they released a live CD Julcia sent me a copy, then they released Happy Louie live volume 2 which is a collection of the recordings I made it is available on Amazon and I don't know about ITunes, I sent her a lot of tapes all masters I did record them onto CD before I sent them so I have backups.
i was also 12 parents took me to see louie at fiedors grove in mt pleasant pa the place was jammed pack not even enough room for the dancers and all loved it.
i was also 12 first seen louie at fiedors grove, the place was packed, what a show he put on the place was jumping big time.
You gotta love that retro haircut on Julcia! Raz dwa!
Excellent video and editing job. A friend of mine saw a larger version of it on Cox cable in Cleveland.
Seen him live in Ohio best time ever!
First song is North Shore
Thanks a bunch! Came to the comments for this. Amazing performance!
Jestem z kraju i słucham
The voice at the beginning of this video was Larry Welk of Ohio
Tancowac Hi ......do you mean Lawrence Welk’s son?
I seen HAPPY Louie in Erie Pa
NICE !
Are you married to Basia? If so, I attended your wedding in Saratoga Springs New York. Thomas Bruce
The greatest polka band I've ever heard. Anyone know the name of the first song in this video?
Myles Glime The first song is North Shore Polka. The 2nd song is a medley that starts with Oj Dana
Where can I find HAPPY Louie version of love and peace?
Ron Wisniewski I am assuming you mean the music....not just the words? www.jimmykpolkas.com. I get all my polka music from him. Great guy to do business with.
Is his band still playing ?
he has retired from the band and also is retired as a music teacher from a mass high school were taught music were he was the band director.
derail14 Happy Louie just celebrated his 85th birthday. He lives in Massachusetts with his wife, Julcia. He has Parkinson’s disease and is confined to a wheelchair. He has had Parkinson’s for 21 yrs. I went to a dance honoring him a couple of months ago at Pulaski Park in Massachusetts, a benefit, called POLKAS FOR PARKINSON’S. This will be an annual event. I urge anyone that can go.....please attend.
A large crowd with BOX ON, out of Michigan providing the music. Louie did sing a couple of songs with the band. There wasn’t a dry eye in the place.
A very moving day!
@@mrellen5 Thanks for posting that info. God Bless Louie!
George Almasi introducing him?
I think so, George was my godfather btw.... :)
R.I.P.
I moved out of Pittsburgh and had no idea George died. Jesus, that means my Sunday mornings as a kid are gone.
Marion lush
Marion byla najlepsza!!!!
I like your name!! :P
What ever happened to happy louie?
he has retired from playing music and teaching school.
Is he still alive? I order some classics from him on CD for my dad about 5+ years ago btw.
Gerald Dombrowski Please read my posts up higher. Louie is 85 and sadly suffers from Parkinson’s disease.
I think so, George is my godfather btw.... :)
Ugh-being forced as a kid to go watch this guy is one of my worst memories 🤮
you sound like a really really really sad liberal. theres still hope for you yet. i am not even european yet appreciate the great beauty of this music and most important the cultural gatherings. the fact you dont cherish this memories says a lot about you and perhaps your cultural brainwashing. theres still hope friend.