Pioneer Category - Inducted 1991
John Check was born near Rosholt, Wisconsin. When he was 14, he had saved a total of $15 from picking cucumbers on his father's farm and used this money to purchase his first single reed concertina. Within several days he had learned to play several simple melodies. Buying additional concertina music from the Vitak-Elsnic Company, he learned to play these new selections with the usual pattern of reading numbers instead of notes. Within a short while it became obvious to him that playing the concertina by numbers was not an adequate approach to becoming versatile on the instrument. Without the aid of an instructor, he mastered reading musical notes and transferring these to the music he had in his possession.
John's musical career really had its inception in 1935 when he entered the local high school. There he assembled three other boys and formed his first band. Soon after John joined his cousin in a small 4-piece group called Tom's Live Wires.
In 1939 John entered college at Stevens Point to work on his degree in teaching. That same year he organized his seven-piece polka band. Also at this time John had begun not only composing his own music but also writing simple arrangements for his orchestra. Throughout his undergraduate and graduate work he maintained his band. After receiving his Doctor's degree in June of 1959, he sold his band and moved to Flint, Michigan to accept a professorship with the University of Michigan. After several months had lapsed, Dr. Check prepared new arrangements for the seven piece band which he called the Michigan Dutchmen.
After an interview with the program director of WJRT-TV and an auditioning of a 20-minute show, the Michigan Polka Party had its debut over WJRT Channel 12. The show ran until September of 1966.
In 1966 Dr. Check left Michigan to accept a position as Chairman of the Educational Psychology Department at the University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh. Soon after moving to Wisconsin John Check researched the field for competent musicians and by December had formed a new band. It is interesting to note that almost all of the band personnel had their Master's or Doctor's degrees.
On January 28, 1967 the premiere show of the Polka Festival was introduced over WLUK, Channel 11 in Green Bay. The show continued until December, 1971, after which the Polka Festival moved to WFRV channel 5 in Green Bay.
INTERNATIONAL POLKA ASSOCIATION
Promoting Polka Music Everywhere
John F. Check passed away at the Sanford Medical Center on June 5, 2013 in Vermillion, SD, at the age of 91. He was the youngest son of Joseph and Valeria (Kiezewski) Check; the husband of Teckla (Kurzinski) Check; and the father of Gregory, Deborah, Patricia and John David.
John was born on the family farm outside Rosholt, WI August 22, 1921. Eschewing the agricultural life, he started his teaching career in a one-room schoolhouse while still in his teens. Because he so enjoyed the field of education, he sought to advance himself by teaching at different schools, going on to earn a PhD from the University of Wisconsin Madison in 1959.
John taught at the University of Michigan Flint for seven years before coming in 1966 to the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, where he taught for over 20 years. In 1969, he received the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh Distinguished Teaching Award, and was named to the Outstanding Educators of America in 1970. He was sought after for speeches and seminars and wrote a number of articles published in scholarly educational journals.
For nearly 60 years John led his own dance band, producing numerous recordings on 78s, LP albums and CDs. He wrote over 200 compositions in the polka/waltz idiom, with his first, the "Two Eddies Polka," being recorded by numerous bands. Works of his have been placed in the Mills Music Library of the Wisconsin State Archives and in archives of the National Music Museum in South Dakota. One of his CDs received honorable mention in the folk music category and was acquired by the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C.
John received many accolades for his musical avocation including the Concertina Hall of Fame in 1981, the International Polka Hall of Fame in 1991, and the Wisconsin Polka Hall of Fame Lifetime Achievement Award in 2005. First with the Michigan Dutchmen, then later with the Wisconsin Dutchmen, he appeared on a weekly TV show for more than a decade. He also hosted a radio show at various stations featuring "the best in recorded polka music".
Knowing he would miss his dear friends in Wisconsin, he chose to move to Vermillion in 2009 to be closer to his daughter, Debbie. While in Vermillion, he continued to entertain people with his music and would often serve as a reader at St. Agnes Church.
John was preceded in death by his wife Teckla in 1988.
John Check was born near Rosholt, Wisconsin. When he was 14, he had saved a total of $15 from picking cucumbers on his father's farm and used this money to purchase his first single reed concertina. Within several days he had learned to play several simple melodies. Buying additional concertina music from the Vitak-Elsnic Company, he learned to play these new selections with the usual pattern of reading numbers instead of notes. Within a short while it became obvious to him that playing the concertina by numbers was not an adequate approach to becoming versatile on the instrument. Without the aid of an instructor, he mastered reading musical notes and transferring these to the music he had in his possession.
John's musical career really had its inception in 1935 when he entered the local high school. There he assembled three other boys and formed his first band. Soon after John joined his cousin in a small 4-piece group called Tom's Live Wires.
In 1939 John entered college at Stevens Point to work on his degree in teaching. That same year he organized his seven-piece polka band. Also at this time John had begun not only composing his own music but also writing simple arrangements for his orchestra. Throughout his undergraduate and graduate work he maintained his band. After receiving his Doctor's degree in June of 1959, he sold his band and moved to Flint, Michigan to accept a professorship with the University of Michigan. After several months had lapsed, Dr. Check prepared new arrangements for the seven piece band which he called the Michigan Dutchmen.
After an interview with the program director of WJRT-TV and an auditioning of a 20-minute show, the Michigan Polka Party had its debut over WJRT Channel 12. The show ran until September of 1966.
In 1966 Dr. Check left Michigan to accept a position as Chairman of the Educational Psychology Department at the University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh. Soon after moving to Wisconsin John Check researched the field for competent musicians and by December had formed a new band. It is interesting to note that almost all of the band personnel had their Master's or Doctor's degrees.
On January 28, 1967 the premiere show of the Polka Festival was introduced over WLUK, Channel 11 in Green Bay. The show continued until December, 1971, after which the Polka Festival moved to WFRV channel 5 in Green Bay.
INTERNATIONAL POLKA ASSOCIATION
Promoting Polka Music Everywhere
John F. Check passed away at the Sanford Medical Center on June 5, 2013 in Vermillion, SD, at the age of 91. He was the youngest son of Joseph and Valeria (Kiezewski) Check; the husband of Teckla (Kurzinski) Check; and the father of Gregory, Deborah, Patricia and John David.
John was born on the family farm outside Rosholt, WI August 22, 1921. Eschewing the agricultural life, he started his teaching career in a one-room schoolhouse while still in his teens. Because he so enjoyed the field of education, he sought to advance himself by teaching at different schools, going on to earn a PhD from the University of Wisconsin Madison in 1959.
John taught at the University of Michigan Flint for seven years before coming in 1966 to the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, where he taught for over 20 years. In 1969, he received the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh Distinguished Teaching Award, and was named to the Outstanding Educators of America in 1970. He was sought after for speeches and seminars and wrote a number of articles published in scholarly educational journals.
For nearly 60 years John led his own dance band, producing numerous recordings on 78s, LP albums and CDs. He wrote over 200 compositions in the polka/waltz idiom, with his first, the "Two Eddies Polka," being recorded by numerous bands. Works of his have been placed in the Mills Music Library of the Wisconsin State Archives and in archives of the National Music Museum in South Dakota. One of his CDs received honorable mention in the folk music category and was acquired by the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C.
John received many accolades for his musical avocation including the Concertina Hall of Fame in 1981, the International Polka Hall of Fame in 1991, and the Wisconsin Polka Hall of Fame Lifetime Achievement Award in 2005. First with the Michigan Dutchmen, then later with the Wisconsin Dutchmen, he appeared on a weekly TV show for more than a decade. He also hosted a radio show at various stations featuring "the best in recorded polka music".
Knowing he would miss his dear friends in Wisconsin, he chose to move to Vermillion in 2009 to be closer to his daughter, Debbie. While in Vermillion, he continued to entertain people with his music and would often serve as a reader at St. Agnes Church.
John was preceded in death by his wife Teckla in 1988.
Pioneer Category - Inducted 1991
John Check was born near Rosholt, Wisconsin. When he was 14, he had saved a total of $15 from picking cucumbers on his father's farm and used this money to purchase his first single reed concertina. Within several days he had learned to play several simple melodies. Buying additional concertina music from the Vitak-Elsnic Company, he learned to play these new selections with the usual pattern of reading numbers instead of notes. Within a short while it became obvious to him that playing the concertina by numbers was not an adequate approach to becoming versatile on the instrument. Without the aid of an instructor, he mastered reading musical notes and transferring these to the music he had in his possession.
John's musical career really had its inception in 1935 when he entered the local high school. There he assembled three other boys and formed his first band. Soon after John joined his cousin in a small 4-piece group called Tom's Live Wires.
In 1939 John entered college at Stevens Point to work on his degree in teaching. That same year he organized his seven-piece polka band. Also at this time John had begun not only composing his own music but also writing simple arrangements for his orchestra. Throughout his undergraduate and graduate work he maintained his band. After receiving his Doctor's degree in June of 1959, he sold his band and moved to Flint, Michigan to accept a professorship with the University of Michigan. After several months had lapsed, Dr. Check prepared new arrangements for the seven piece band which he called the Michigan Dutchmen.
After an interview with the program director of WJRT-TV and an auditioning of a 20-minute show, the Michigan Polka Party had its debut over WJRT Channel 12. The show ran until September of 1966.
In 1966 Dr. Check left Michigan to accept a position as Chairman of the Educational Psychology Department at the University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh. Soon after moving to Wisconsin John Check researched the field for competent musicians and by December had formed a new band. It is interesting to note that almost all of the band personnel had their Master's or Doctor's degrees.
On January 28, 1967 the premiere show of the Polka Festival was introduced over WLUK, Channel 11 in Green Bay. The show continued until December, 1971, after which the Polka Festival moved to WFRV channel 5 in Green Bay.
INTERNATIONAL POLKA ASSOCIATION
Promoting Polka Music Everywhere
John F. Check passed away at the Sanford Medical Center on June 5, 2013 in Vermillion, SD, at the age of 91. He was the youngest son of Joseph and Valeria (Kiezewski) Check; the husband of Teckla (Kurzinski) Check; and the father of Gregory, Deborah, Patricia and John David.
John was born on the family farm outside Rosholt, WI August 22, 1921. Eschewing the agricultural life, he started his teaching career in a one-room schoolhouse while still in his teens. Because he so enjoyed the field of education, he sought to advance himself by teaching at different schools, going on to earn a PhD from the University of Wisconsin Madison in 1959.
John taught at the University of Michigan Flint for seven years before coming in 1966 to the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, where he taught for over 20 years. In 1969, he received the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh Distinguished Teaching Award, and was named to the Outstanding Educators of America in 1970. He was sought after for speeches and seminars and wrote a number of articles published in scholarly educational journals.
For nearly 60 years John led his own dance band, producing numerous recordings on 78s, LP albums and CDs. He wrote over 200 compositions in the polka/waltz idiom, with his first, the "Two Eddies Polka," being recorded by numerous bands. Works of his have been placed in the Mills Music Library of the Wisconsin State Archives and in archives of the National Music Museum in South Dakota. One of his CDs received honorable mention in the folk music category and was acquired by the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C.
John received many accolades for his musical avocation including the Concertina Hall of Fame in 1981, the International Polka Hall of Fame in 1991, and the Wisconsin Polka Hall of Fame Lifetime Achievement Award in 2005. First with the Michigan Dutchmen, then later with the Wisconsin Dutchmen, he appeared on a weekly TV show for more than a decade. He also hosted a radio show at various stations featuring "the best in recorded polka music".
Knowing he would miss his dear friends in Wisconsin, he chose to move to Vermillion in 2009 to be closer to his daughter, Debbie. While in Vermillion, he continued to entertain people with his music and would often serve as a reader at St. Agnes Church.
John was preceded in death by his wife Teckla in 1988.
John Check was born near Rosholt, Wisconsin. When he was 14, he had saved a total of $15 from picking cucumbers on his father's farm and used this money to purchase his first single reed concertina. Within several days he had learned to play several simple melodies. Buying additional concertina music from the Vitak-Elsnic Company, he learned to play these new selections with the usual pattern of reading numbers instead of notes. Within a short while it became obvious to him that playing the concertina by numbers was not an adequate approach to becoming versatile on the instrument. Without the aid of an instructor, he mastered reading musical notes and transferring these to the music he had in his possession.
John's musical career really had its inception in 1935 when he entered the local high school. There he assembled three other boys and formed his first band. Soon after John joined his cousin in a small 4-piece group called Tom's Live Wires.
In 1939 John entered college at Stevens Point to work on his degree in teaching. That same year he organized his seven-piece polka band. Also at this time John had begun not only composing his own music but also writing simple arrangements for his orchestra. Throughout his undergraduate and graduate work he maintained his band. After receiving his Doctor's degree in June of 1959, he sold his band and moved to Flint, Michigan to accept a professorship with the University of Michigan. After several months had lapsed, Dr. Check prepared new arrangements for the seven piece band which he called the Michigan Dutchmen.
After an interview with the program director of WJRT-TV and an auditioning of a 20-minute show, the Michigan Polka Party had its debut over WJRT Channel 12. The show ran until September of 1966.
In 1966 Dr. Check left Michigan to accept a position as Chairman of the Educational Psychology Department at the University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh. Soon after moving to Wisconsin John Check researched the field for competent musicians and by December had formed a new band. It is interesting to note that almost all of the band personnel had their Master's or Doctor's degrees.
On January 28, 1967 the premiere show of the Polka Festival was introduced over WLUK, Channel 11 in Green Bay. The show continued until December, 1971, after which the Polka Festival moved to WFRV channel 5 in Green Bay.
INTERNATIONAL POLKA ASSOCIATION
Promoting Polka Music Everywhere
John F. Check passed away at the Sanford Medical Center on June 5, 2013 in Vermillion, SD, at the age of 91. He was the youngest son of Joseph and Valeria (Kiezewski) Check; the husband of Teckla (Kurzinski) Check; and the father of Gregory, Deborah, Patricia and John David.
John was born on the family farm outside Rosholt, WI August 22, 1921. Eschewing the agricultural life, he started his teaching career in a one-room schoolhouse while still in his teens. Because he so enjoyed the field of education, he sought to advance himself by teaching at different schools, going on to earn a PhD from the University of Wisconsin Madison in 1959.
John taught at the University of Michigan Flint for seven years before coming in 1966 to the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, where he taught for over 20 years. In 1969, he received the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh Distinguished Teaching Award, and was named to the Outstanding Educators of America in 1970. He was sought after for speeches and seminars and wrote a number of articles published in scholarly educational journals.
For nearly 60 years John led his own dance band, producing numerous recordings on 78s, LP albums and CDs. He wrote over 200 compositions in the polka/waltz idiom, with his first, the "Two Eddies Polka," being recorded by numerous bands. Works of his have been placed in the Mills Music Library of the Wisconsin State Archives and in archives of the National Music Museum in South Dakota. One of his CDs received honorable mention in the folk music category and was acquired by the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C.
John received many accolades for his musical avocation including the Concertina Hall of Fame in 1981, the International Polka Hall of Fame in 1991, and the Wisconsin Polka Hall of Fame Lifetime Achievement Award in 2005. First with the Michigan Dutchmen, then later with the Wisconsin Dutchmen, he appeared on a weekly TV show for more than a decade. He also hosted a radio show at various stations featuring "the best in recorded polka music".
Knowing he would miss his dear friends in Wisconsin, he chose to move to Vermillion in 2009 to be closer to his daughter, Debbie. While in Vermillion, he continued to entertain people with his music and would often serve as a reader at St. Agnes Church.
John was preceded in death by his wife Teckla in 1988.
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