Perennial polka favorite Jerry Voelker celebrated four decades as a Shawano County Fair attraction Sunday when he and his orchestra gave their 40th annual performance at President’s Park.
“It’s been a total joy all these years,” Voelker said, and he gave thanks to former fair manager Charlie O’Brien for getting the tradition started.
“Charlie was brave enough to hire us that first year,” he said.
Voelker said the fairgoers and his audience keep bringing him back.
“All these great people. You can’t beat it,” he said. “We look forward to it. It’s just a total joy.”
Shawano County’s fair was one of three at which Voelker and his orchestra performed this year.
“We just love them. It’s the people,” Voelker said. “The good lord blesses us with the weather and we try our best to play the music they want.”
The selections have broadened over the years, Voelker said.
“We have to do more modern,” he said. “We try our best to stay away from rock, but we do a lot more foxtrots and that.”
The Jerry Voelker & The Jolly Gents Orchestra was formed in the late 1960s and recorded its first LP in 1970.
Since then there have been numerous television appearances, tours, cruise ship performances, CDs, polka Masses, the “Jerry Voelker Polka Show” on WTAQ 1360 AM in Green Bay and, of course, weddings.
“We’ve gotten a lot of weddings because of playing at the fair,” Voelker said.
Voelker’s own wedding, to Rosie, took place more than 53 years ago, and their son, Jeff, is now a member of the band.
Other current band members are David Kopetsky, Tim Flaig and Ralph Kraynik — his original lead trumpet player, who has been with the band since the beginning.
“We keep going,” Voelker said. “It’s the guys that help me.”
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