Czech Harvesters

Continued from page 5 vocals to it, and their arrangement of Play Me a Polka is heard every Monday morning on KULP as Clinto starts your week.

The Czech Harvesters wasted no time jumping into the music business. Their first gig, Mike’s 25th birthday, was at the Czech fraternal hall in Dallas in 1978. The next several gigs were at the SPJST lodges in Dallas and Ennis. Within a month, they were playing for a SPJST function on the outside terrace on the 17th floor of a building in Dallas - quite a step up from single-story dance halls. That New Year’s Eve they played a battle dance with The Polka Patriots at the Dallas SPJST lodge. A memorable night in their early days was a dual dance with the Vrazels at the time when The Black Gypsy Waltz was first released by the Vrazel band. The hall was packed to the rafters with fans.

For several years, the Harvesters focused on playing in the Dallas-Ennis-West area as they developed their sound and adjusted their personal lives. One of their favorites was the Czech Club in Dallas, where a good time was guaranteed. For bookings the 90-mile circle was being utilized (never book a gig, where you return too early in the morning.)

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