Ron Raczkowski

Early Days

Ron was supposed to be a drummer. At the age of 5 his grandpa told him he would buy him a drum set when he turned 6. Unfortunately his grandpa passed away that year.

70s

When Ron entered 6th grade at D.C. Everest Middle School Ron took up the trumpet. His father told him that when he got good enough they would form a four piece band consisting of Ron's father, older brother Dan and next door neighbor Bob. The band was called the Music Aires. The Music Aires played a combination of Little Wally style polkas waltzes and obereks along with big band tunes. Ron took to the trumpet very fast and moved up to 1st chair in concert band and jazz band. When Ron moved from Middle School to his freshman year at D.C. Everest High school he skipped two bands and was placed in the senior Symphonic band and senior Jazz band. Ron continued to play in the Music Aires family band throughout his high school years.

80s

After high school Ron moved to Stevens Point and attended the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point as a music major. While in Stevens Point Ron played with a local six piece polish band called the Polish Sounds. After moving back to Wausau a few years later Ron played with the Nutrels Review band and then started an eight year stint with a band from Mosinee Wisconsin called the Versatile Polka Knights. 

90s - Present

After the Versatile Polka Knights called it a career Ron started playing in a band that is known today as the Polish Connection. Polish Connection are entering their 23rd year in the polka industry and are constantly working to improve with new material and recordings. Ron has also performed with other bands most recently with Eddie Blazonczyk's Versatones for their Farewell tour in 2011. When Ron is not playing trumpet in the band he works as an Director of IT Security for Wausau Financial Systems in Mosinee WI.

Some of Ron's influences in the music industry are Maynard Ferguson, Hank Guzevich, Wally Dombrowski, Richie Kois, Kevin Adams and Frank Litzka. Some of Ron's favorite polka bands are Polka Country Musicians, Polka Family, TBC, Dynastics, Eddie Blazonczyk Sr., Dynabrass, The Beat and Toledo Polkamotion.

Discography    

Polish Connection Recordings:           Shot in the Dark
                                                       Go Ahead Make Us Play
                                                       It’s A Happy Life
                                                       Good Clean Fun
                                                       Remember This