Kay Bank Custom Pressings

Monday, 28 March 2011

KB-88 - NORTH STAR 2010

IRV GORSEN with the Little Fishermen Band

KB-88A – Tap The Barrel Schottische

KB-88B – Kraser Waltz

NORTH STAR 2010

St Paul, MN

Friday, 25 March 2011

KB-85 - SOMA 1040

ELMER SCHEID

KB-85A - Miller Laendler
KB-85B - Lida Polka

SOMA 1040

Minneapolis, MN

From twincities.com (4th May 2012)

Perhaps the best concertina player New Ulm ever had - Elmer Scheid - died at age 90 on Friday, May 4, in St. Paul. Scheid, whose polka band performed for 50 years, learned to play the concertina as a youngster, watching his father play the instrument. Scheid performed his first professional dance job at age 13 with the John Fritsche Band. He later played with the Six Fat Dutchmen and the Babe Wagner Band. Scheid managed the Wagner Band from 1949 to 1951 before creating his own band in 1951. The Elmer Scheid Band won the popularity contest at the Marigold Ballroom in Minneapolis in 1958.

At the height of their popularity, Scheid and his band played for nearly all of the dances at George's Ballroom in New Ulm. During the 1950s, more than 50 New Ulm area polka bands including Elmer Scheid and his band were actively booked. Many of the bands toured nationally and recorded for major record labels. At the time, New Ulm was known as the "Polka Capital of the Nation."

Featured in The Journal's 2003 Hometown Harmony tabloid publication, Scheid said the advent of rock 'n' roll music in the 1950s made it more difficult to make a living performing old-time music. He worked as a custodian at 3M in New Ulm for six years but traveled with the band on weekends in its later years.

Scheid produced 15 albums and tapes. The band's last recording was done in 1986. He was inducted into the Minnesota Music Hall of Fame in 1995.

Wednesday, 23 March 2011

KB-83 - KAY BANK 83

MARV HATHAWAY and the E-Z-Notes

KB-83A – Wild Roses

KB-83B – Broken-Hearted Stranger

TWIN TOWN 1001

Minneapolis, MN

MARV HATHAWAY and the E-Z-Notes

KB-83A – Wild Roses

KB-83B – Broken-Hearted Stranger

KAY BANK 83

Minneapolis, MN

I'm a bit confused here. The Kay Bank issue has Twin Town Music Co at the bottom of the label, yet the label name is clearly Kay Bank. But I also have it listed as Twin Town 1001. No label shots for that one.

Apparently there were three Hathaway Brothers who all played music and were based in the Elk River area. "Wild Roses" is a nice country shuffler featuring accordian, pretty heavy double bass (finger picked, not slapped), and some nice country guitar. Flip side is heavily influenced by Hank Williams, especially with the take off of Love Sick blues at the beginning. Nice band with a pleasant enough voice.

Label shots: Derik

Monday, 21 March 2011

KB-81 - POTTER 1008

LES WALDROOP and his Carolinas

KB-81A - I Love Dixie

KB-81B - Moonlight’s A Wasting

POTTER 1008

Potter, WI

Les was born in April 1930 in Franklin, NC. After serving in the Korean war, he started playing in bands and writing songs for himself and anyone else who was looking for a tune to record. His first known disc was on Centennial Records (details unknown). He also cut at least one disc on Country Jubilee Records, based in Demorest GA. In between these two, he ended up on the tiny Potter label, from Potter WI. How this came about is a bit of a mystery. It's possible they were simply recorded in Georgia or NC and shipped out to the label.

Les is better known for "Got It Made(In The Shade)" release on Flop records - a Starday Custom from 1963.

Les passed away in 1989.

(Source: Jay Stern)