Czech Classics Then and Now

24/08/2024

New podcast/polka show is up! Gonna try to start uploading one a week or so, so check back often.

13/07/2024

Summer heat is here, cool off with a brand-new "Czech Classics Then and Now" podcast! Click the link below and let the music flow!

May 22, 2024 Note: if you are trying to download the show using Google Chrome and get an error message, CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO Like classic country music? Check out my brand new podcast "Back to the Country" Episode #2 3/25/23! (These will not be archived, so right-click to download if you want to...

05/07/2024

Need some help identifying the artist, let me know if you recognize this and know who it is

22/05/2024

I'm back! I'm back in the saddle again... A new "Czech Classics Then and Now" podcast, chapter 5 in our "Polkas A to Z" series, is now up and running, go Czech it out!

March 21, 2024 Note: if you are trying to download the show using Google Chrome and get an error message, CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO Like classic country music? Check out my brand new podcast "Back to the Country" Episode #2 3/25/23! (These will not be archived, so right-click to download if you want....

14/04/2024

Roadhouse Antiques in Giddings if anyone is interested, far right lp bin, $5, already have a copy, hate to see it just sitting there

10/03/2024

Flowers are blooming, trees are budding, birds are singing, Spring is in the air. And sprouting out of the Internet soil is a brand new "Czech Classics Then and Now" podcast! Part 3 of my look at "Polkas A to Z", go check it out!

February 13, 2024 Note: if you are trying to download the show using Google Chrome and get an error message, CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO Like classic country music? Check out my brand new podcast "Back to the Country" Episode #2 3/25/23! (These will not be archived, so right-click to download if you wa...

15/02/2024

Out on the town tonight, but the new show is up and running! Click the “About” button to see the link, or go to

January 13, 2024 Note: if you are trying to download the show using Google Chrome and get an error message, CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO Like classic country music? Check out my brand new podcast "Back to the Country" Episode #2 3/25/23! (These will not be archived, so right-click to download if you wan...

13/01/2024

New year, new show!!! Don't freeze your p***l off this weekend, keep warm dancing to some great polkas and waltzes, or just sit by the computer with a nice warm mug of your favorite beverage (apple cider and rum sounds good to me!). Let me know what you think of my new series, "Polkas A to Z!". Stay warm out there!

December 5, 2023 Note: if you are trying to download the show using Google Chrome and get an error message, CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO Like classic country music? Check out my brand new podcast "Back to the Country" Episode #2 3/25/23! (These will not be archived, so right-click to download if you wan...

05/12/2023

Back from my 3-month tour of Europe, Scandinavia and the Sub-Continent (5 internet points if you get that reference), I have returned bearing gifts, well one anyway, a new polka show! Click on the link below for over an hour of really cool polkas and waltzes!

August 10, 2023 Note: if you are trying to download the show using Google Chrome and get an error message, CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO Like classic country music? Check out my brand new podcast "Back to the Country" Episode #2 3/25/23! (These will not be archived, so right-click to download if you want...

04/10/2023

I DO have a new polka show in the works, coming very soon. In the meantime, I'm about to make a huge upload of polka videos to my Youtube Channel, so if you haven't already subscribed, hit that button, that way you'll know the minute something gets uploaded. Bobby Jones, Lee Roy, Majeks, lots of Nebraska bands, good stuff.

Texas Czech polkas & waltzes

13/08/2023

New polka show just got uploaded! Y'all make sure to catch Alfred, Nonito (KMIL) and/or Michael Craig (KRXT) live on the radio right now, but when they're done, give the new "Czech Classics Then and Now" show a listen, lots of requests on this one, I think I got just about all of them in! Thanks!

July 10, 2023 Note: if you are trying to download the show using Google Chrome and get an error message, CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO Like classic country music? Check out my brand new podcast "Back to the Country" Episode #2 3/25/23! (These will not be archived, so right-click to download if you want t...

03/08/2023

About to put a new show together, anybody got any requests? Let me know in the next day or so and I will get them on the next podcast, thanks!

10/07/2023

Tanned, rested and ready to go! We are back, baby! The new "Czech Classics Then and Now" polka show is ready and waiting just for you to give it a listen. Find it at the link below, lots of cool stuff on this show, so much I had to break it up into two sections, almost 2 hours! Enjoy!

April 20, 2023 (25th ANNIVERSARY SHOW!!!) Note: if you are trying to download the show using Google Chrome and get an error message, CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO Like classic country music? Check out my brand new podcast "Back to the Country" Episode #2 3/25/23! (These will not be archived, so right-cli...

05/07/2023

Well hello there, my it's been a long long time...

Yep, took some time off due to busy band schedule, vacation, etc, but am ready to get back in the swing of things. New show will be up before you know it, but in the meantime here's some fun facts from the first 25 years of Czech Classics Then and Now (and its various different names over the years...)

In all the shows that are available on the website, there were a total of 5889 songs played. That's just the "official" shows, not after-shows or anything extra. 3127 polkas, 2358 waltzes, and the rest were a variety of country/cajun/conjunto/two-steps, Christmas, dances (schottische etc), Czech folk songs, latin and swing.

The top 20 bands played over the years were:
20 - Dujka Bros
19 - Cloverleaf Orch.
18 & 17 (tie) - Al Grebnick & the Boys, Romy Gosz Orch.
16 - Red Ravens
15 - Gil Baca Orch.
14, 13 & 12 (tie) - Jodie Mikula Orch., Leo Majek Orch., Hi-Toppers
11 - Brave Combo
10 - Litt'l Fishermen
9 - Adolph Hofner
8 - Bill Mraz Orch.
7 - Bobby Jones Orch.
6 - Harry Czarnek & the Texas Dutchmen
5 - Vrazels Polka Band
4 - Czech Melody Masters
3 - Dancehall Boys (my bands, of course I'm going to play them)
2 - Lee Roy Matocha Orch.
1 - Joe Patek Orch. (big surprise...)

and the top 10 songs played over the years:
10 (tie) - A Ja Sam, Annie's Polka, Lazy Farmer Waltz, Orphan Waltz, Red Rose Polka, Roaring Mountains Polka, Snow Flower (Our Katy) Polka
9 - Beer Barrel Polka
8 (tie) - Arise My Darling (both polka and waltz versions), Barbara Polka, Corn Cockle Polka, Cradle Polka
7 (tie) - Black Gypsy Waltz, Happy Go Lucky/Strasidlo Polka, Nemelem/Grinders Polka
6 (tie) - Red and White (both waltz and polka versions), Red Raven Polka
5 (tie) - Green Meadow Waltz, Musicians Come Out and Play Polka
4 - Julaida Polka
3 - At the Mill Polka
2 - Dreamland Waltz
1 - The Shnier Song/Farewell to Prague/Praha Polka

20/04/2023

A little trip back through time, does anyone remember newsgroups? Pre-message boards, pre-facebook & twitter... Well, 25 years ago today, this little blurb popped up in the alt.music.polkas newsgroup. Never in my dreams did I imagine this little polka show would still be going 25 years later. Thank you to everyone out there for continuing to listen, 25th anniversary show is coming up later today!

16/04/2023

New show coming soon, picked up some nice vinyl today, already had these but nice to have physical copies

25/02/2023

Very sad to find out that Jimmy Heinsohn passed away a few days ago. Jimmy was a fantastic musician, trumpet, steel guitar, he was a master of both. Played with so many bands and made them all better. I first met Jimmy back in 1995, John Ondrusek brought him in when we recorded our first Dancehall Boys album. We crossed paths over the years, and I guess the last time I saw him was maybe 4 years ago, I sat in with the Texas Legacy Czech Band and got to play alongside Jimmy one last time. Jimmy was so quiet and humble. The audience may not have always known who he was, but I guarantee us musicians did. Not many of his kind left, a true gentleman and professional. Rest in peace sir. (This is from our first album, me and Jimmy playing together. The video was made by David Byler, "Canovals", another friend who is dearly missed...)

Stari Teksikanski Očuvanje ProjektaThe Dancehall Boys - Behind the Blacksmith Shop 1995John Ondrusek - Accordion, vocals, music arranger, band leaderDennis S...

25/02/2023

Welp, this is not good. I've got a new show in the can, ready to be uploaded for your listening enjoyment, but my web hosting service seems to be down. Can't connect to upload the new show, any changes made to my pages are not showing up... Hopefully this gets resolved soon. The website still works, just can't make any changes. I'll let you all know when it gets resolved...🤬

09/11/2022

So sorry to hear about the passing of A.J. Drabek. He had a great band in the Dutchmasters. I'll be featuring some tunes on the next polka show on Thursday. Enjoy.

10/08/2022

Putting a new show together, any requests? Get them in by 5pm or so tomorrow and I will add 'em if I got 'em...

01/08/2022

New month, new polka show! Featuring the new Czechaholics CD, a tribute to Alice Sulak and much more, go Czech it out! https://www.czechpolka.com/radio/index.html

July 15, 2022 Note: if you are trying to download the show using Google Chrome and get an error message, CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO

16/07/2022

I promised you a new show before midnight, here it is!!! Burn the midnight oil and get your polka on! https://www.czechpolka.com/radio/index.html

July 15, 2022 Note: if you are trying to download the show using Google Chrome and get an error message, CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO

16/07/2022

Back from vacation/time off.. I have a new show ready to go, just need to record my parts. Out relaxing/having a few beers now, but about to head home. If I get 10 likes by ten o’clock tonight (an hour from now) I will pull a late-nighter and get a new show out tonight-otherwise, it will come tomorrow or Sunday…