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By Earl Bugaile

John Huchrowski is one of those people who can entertain you in a number of ways.

If you want a good story, or you want to hear some fascinating facts about music or show business, he is the one most likely to make that the story you will remember. He can entertain you with any number of jokes. He can give you insider information on what it was like to play in some of the famous polka bands.

John Huchrowski has been performing with his violin for nearly 80 years

And...oh, yes...he can play a pretty mean fiddle.

Now at 86 years of age, the Rostraver native still maintains an active lifestyle of performing alone or in a group. It's something he has been doing since he picked up his first violin and began taking lessons.

One of 13 children, he listened to his father's suggestion to learn to play the violin, or fiddle. "I was six years old, and I had no idea what a fiddle was," Mr. Huchrowski said. "We didn't have television or radio and I never heard anyone play it, and I didn't know what to do with it," he laughed.

He took lessons from Walter Smith and Joe Guzik, in Wall, PA near his Wilmerding home. While learning to play, he attended St. Leocadia School and later graduated from Westinghouse High in Wilmerding in 1946. He became so proficient on the violin that he was chosen to represent his high school in the All-State Orchestra in Harrisburg and then was invited to join the Pittsburgh Youth Symphony with conductor Stanley Levin. He recalls playing concerts in Carnegie Music Hall in Oakland every Wednesday, while a member of the Youth Symphony.

"I was a high-brow for a time," Mr. Huchrowski panned, when he recalled his entry into performing with area polka bands.

"My teacher (Smith) said that he had a Polish wedding coming up and he wanted to know if I wanted to play some polka music," Mr. Huchrowski said. "I had never done anything like that before and when it was over I got paid and never had such a good time in my life. I played four years with the Youth Symphony and all we got was a hot roast beef dinner once a year. When I got $35 for playing polkas, I thought I was a millionaire."

That first "gig"at the Grand Hotel in Glassport opened new doors for Mr. Huchrowski. He spent the better part of the next few years playing in bands every week. "Different bands would call me to play, until I started my own band."

His list of performances with various polka bands in Pittsburgh and in the U.S. is impressive by anyone's standards. He played with the legendary bands of Lil' Wally, Frankie Yankovic, Stephanie, Johnny Vadnal and Gary Seibert. He also performed with polka Hall of Famers Joe Mlakar, Sam Pugliano and Lou Trebar.

His work led to appearances on television in Pittsburgh and around the country. In Pittsburgh, he appeared on a KDKA-TV Polka Show hosted by Marie Torre and Joe Fiedor. He appeared on television shows in Los Angeles, and was featured in a Polka Party Band that once had a program on Channel 53 in Pittsburgh.

Mr. Huchrowski directed four of his own polka bands during his career. They included "The Stardusters" from 1944-1955; "The Highlights" from 1956-1966; "The Polka Dynamics" and "The Ol' Goats Orchestra". As a testimony to his career of making polka music, Mr. Huchrowski was the recipient of the Certificate of Achievement from the International Polka Organization.

Mr. Huchrowski also became an accomplished "button-box" musician, and performed with a number of button-box bands in the region and in other parts of the country.

Now when many performers have retired, Mr. Huchrowski continues to play at parties and events as a strolling musician. He also continues to play polkas whenever they are called for by the people seeking entertainment. "Entertainment" is a key word for Mr. Huchrowski. It is something he never tires of doing.

"When I see a smile on somebody's face as to what I do, it's paid in full right there. I want people to enjoy every little thing I'm doing," Mr. Huchrowski said.

Asked what keeps him going after all these years, Mr. Huchrowski ponders a moment, chuckles, and then states, "That's a good question." Chuckling again, he says. "I think to be good at anything, baseball or whatever, you have to be motivated. I was always pretty motivated to play, and I think that's what it comes down to."

Click on "Gallery " for more photos of John Huchrowski.

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