Thank you for visiting the online home of The Klancnik & Friends Band and Ranch Recordings. Here you will find the latest information about the KNF band, our CDs available for purchase, and updates regarding projects that are currently in production. With an eye to the future, our mission continues to be the preservation and further development of American polka music. If this genre interests you, please take the time to learn more about who we are, and what we do.
The nominations for the 2009 National Cleveland Style Polka Hall Of Fame Awards Show have been posted and we are happy to announce that our Gaylord Klancnik CD is up for "Recording of the Year." In addition to this, Brian O'Boyle has been nominated for "Musician of the Year" and Pam & Jerry Zagar are in contention for the "Support and Promotion" category. For more news about the KNF Band and Ranch Recordings, click here.
The Klancnik and Friends Band will be performing May 15-16, 2010 at the Third Annual Polkafest in Regina, Saskatchewan. The event is held at the "Casino Regina" and we will be alternating with The Western Senators, as well as Canada's Polka King, Walter Ostanek. We would like to thank our friend, Brian Sklar, for his continued efforts in the promotion of quality polka music in western Canada! For more information about this festival, please contact us. To view this remarkable venue, visit www.casinoregina.com.
On October 15, 2005, my father and I were forced to abandon an outdoor project due to a rainstorm. Since I was already set up to do some banjo tracks, we decided to record several of the songs that he had been playing live with his band. Our plan was to pick a few of them to put on what was supposed to be his final CD (which we were going to start working on after Christmas). As many of you know, Gaylord was lost on
December 19,
2005 in a tragic automobile accident.I
As a tribute to my father, I produced his final project around the 16 accordion tracks he did that day, in addition to some other ones most people had never heard before. There are numerous musicians on this album which include the members of the Klancnik and Friends Band, Joey Miskulin, Adam Bell, Alex Meixner, and several Nashville session players. It is unfortunate that Gaylord never got to hear his final project, because it is easily his finest release. To purchase this CD, please click here.
Eric Stehle hails from Denver, Colorado where he currently works as a music performer, educator and clinician. He began his musical career at the age of 6, when he began playing the hammer dulcimer and piano. Two years later, he stumbled upon an alto saxophone in the basement and immediately fell in love with the instrument. By the age of 9, Eric was playing steadily in his father’s band, the Alpine Polkadots, along with his parents and brother, John. Over the next several years he would begin to learn other instruments such as clarinet, bass, drums, accordion and button box. Eric has performed at several venues across the United States, Canada and Europe. In 2004, Eric graduated from the University of Northern Colorado with a Bachelors Degree in Music Education. He has performed with famous jazz musicians such as Debra Brown, Terence Blanchard, Maria Schneider, John Hollenbeck and many others. In 2005, Eric had the honor of playing at George Bush’s Presidential Inauguration in Washington, D.C. He has received numerous accolades including Downbeat Magazine’s Award for being an Outstanding Jazz Soloist, in addition to winning a jazz combo award. Despite his affinity for other music genres, Eric Stehle continues to follow his heart and play polka music, the style he grew up on and is the fondest of. Eric has decided to further his education and is currently working on a Master’s Degree in Jazz Studies.To learn more about the members of The Klancnik and Friends Band, click here.
