Russ Mancl
As a boy, there were usually polkas being played in our
house, either records, my Dad playing his accordion or Sunday morning polka TV
shows. In the 5th grade, I took drums in school and got my first
drum set for Christmas that year. I was bitten by the “band geek bug” and
practiced a lot…which annoyed my siblings. (I still enjoy annoying my
siblings…but now I do it in other ways.)
I joined my Dad’s band, The Tony Haselberger Trio, as a
teenager. I was playing polkas, making money and hanging out with old people.
What teenage boy could ask for more? In school, I continued with drums in
concert band, marching band, and pep band. In high school, I started playing
the electric bass and played with the jazz band. I also sang in the school
choirs.
During my high school years, I listened to a wide variety of music, mostly jazz, comedy (Spike Jones) and polkas. My polka influences were Eddie, Sr., Stas Golonka, and the local area bands such as Royal Tones, Jolly Harmony Kings, etc.
In early 1979, I got my first taste of playing in a REAL Polish-style band when the Jolly Harmony 7 needed a bass player. I will never forget it (and I forget a lot of things). It was at Wildwood Park in Stevens Point and the first song was “Green is Green Polka.” Instant goose bumps! I was fully hooked! I left the Tony Haselberger Trio and joined the Jolly Harmony 7 full time in January 1980.
I moved to Wausau in 1984 and joined the Benaszeski Brothers, switching back to drums. In this band, I was able to do a lot of musical arranging and singing. We all bonded over lots of beer, lots of Germutlichheits (why Kessler??), lots of polkas and lots of silliness. It was during this time that I met my first groupie, who stole my shoes and my heart. We also recorded a 45 which included Proud that You are Polish and Sunshine Feeling. The Fab Five (Bryan, Bob, Mike, Arlyn and I) along with the “wives and girlfriends” had countless good times together until we disbanded in 1991. The great thing about this gang is that when we get together now, it’s like time has stood still.
For the next 1 ½ years, I was not playing and missed it terribly! I had nothing else to do, so I decided to marry that first groupie. Then Polish Connection called and needed a bass player for 6 months, which led to a full time position. Playing with Wally, Ron R., Mike Schumacher, Tom Mijal and Jim Ewert was great. In _______, PCB recorded “Shot in the Dark,” which was a great learning experience for me. My first stint with PCB lasted until about 1996.
The next couple of years were spent helping out different area bands on bass or drums. One of the bands I was helping out on bass was the Hi-Lites, and they evolved into The Edge in the summer of 1998. The next five years were excellent because they include the birth of my son, Nolan, and playing lots of polkas in The Edge with Dennis Hylok, Gene Hackett, Jim Ewert, Mike Szemborski, and Al Niewiadomski.
When The Edge disbanded in 2003, I joined a country-rock band called Frontier playing bass. They are great musicians covering music ranging from Patsy Cline to Lynyrd Skynyrd to Three Doors Down. While it was fun playing the “other” styles of music, it just wasn’t in my heart. About 6 months later, a chance to re-join the Polish Connection came up and I jumped at it!
I re-joined PCB on bass in early 2004. I really enjoyed the musical creativity Paul Schulfer, Mike Schumacher and I had. With the addition of Curt Traska in 2007, I went back to drums. After not playing drums for 16 years, it was a big change, but it’s been fun nonetheless.
Finally, I want to thank all my fellow musicians that I have been privileged to play with throughout the years. You all have had an influence on me….one way or another! But most of all, I want to thank you, the fans, for supporting polka music, for without you, I wouldn’t be able to play the music that I love!