Myron Breezy Orchestra: Golden Sounds from Schmit’s Ballroom

“Hot Stuff Polka'' recorded on February 8, 1975 in Grafton, Wisconsin

Feb 02, 2024

The “Hot Stuff Polka'' was recorded at Schmit’s Ballroom in Grafton, Wisconsin on February 8, 1975. It’s on the Golden Sounds from Schmit’s Ballroom LP on KL Recording Service, and it’s this week’s album of the week.

I don’t know a ton about Myron “Breezy” Brzezinski (brah-ZHIN-ski) other than what’s in his obituary. He was born on June 3, 1932 in Bevent, WI. He was a Korean War veteran who loved playing polka music with his band in Milwaukee for around 30 years. He liked fly fishing, ice fishing, hunting and wood working.

The fun thing about recording AOTW is it’s an excuse to take a closer look at these records and who is playing on them. I googled names like Joe Koss (second trumpet) and Lloyd Stankowski (accordion) whose obituaries had passing references to their dedication to polka music. Roman Guse’s obit (Drums) had a list of other bands he’s played with, but none of the copies in my collection had his name on them.

In tuba player Elroy Liesner’s (LIE-zner) obituary, there was a long list of other bands he had played with. I started digging into the copies of albums by those bands to try to find Elroy’s name. I landed on one LP by The Village Brass. I’ll play the “Snowmobile Party Polka” off of the album Just For You on this week’s episode too.

Listen to this week’s episode of Polka Time with DJ Shotski to hear the “Snowmobile Party Polka” by the Myron Breezy Orchestra as well as his rendition of the “Chimney Sweep Polka.” The show will air live on 98.7 FM WVMO on Sunday, February 4. Tune in on your terrestrial dial in Monona or on Madison’s east side. It will rebroadcast on participating stations the following weekend.

All stations stream on the web at the links below. All times CST.