Johnny Vadnal has an impressive string of firsts. He was the first polka band leader in the country to have his own television show in a major market. From 1949 until 1961, the Vadnals performed every Sunday afteroon on Cleveland's WEWS, Channel 5. He also created on of the first polka show bands: when most other accordionists would play sitting down, Vadnal's side men smiled, bounced around, and sang. in 1949, he was the winner of the first polka king contest held in Cleveland. In 1994, he again competed in this popularity contest and won again! Inducted into the International Polka Music Hall of Fame in Chicago in 1987, his name was added to the National Cleveland Style Polka Hall of Fame in Euclid, Ohio in 1988. In 1996, Johnny Vadnal won the Individual Musician Achievement Award in the National Cleveland Style Polka Hall of Fame. He retired from his hometown of Cleveland, moving to Florida where he still collects royalties from records sold all over the world. | |