Josef Slovak, Young Man with a Big Beat

I was born into a generation of polka music. My grandfather, Anton Vrazel, was the accordion player with the Vrazel's Polka Band for 56 years. As a child, I would attend the Vrazel dances with my family and became exposed to polka music at a very early age. The music even rubbed off on me and I began playing accordion as a guest with the Vrazels' off and on until their retirement in 2009.

This is also how another young man got his start in polka music. His name is Josef Slovak and he has been performing on stage since the tender age of three. Josef is the son of David and Michelle Slovak (who are both musicians in the band, Czech & Then Some). Even though the band already has an outstanding drummer (Zeke Martinez), Josef drums with CATS as guest from time to time. Josef is also only 16 years old.

It brings me such great joy when I see young people carrying on the tradition of Texas-style polka. I had the exciting opportunity to interview Josef and gain more knowledge about his life as a musician and his life as an average teenager.

Josef was born in the heart of Ennis, TX, and attends Ennis High School as a junior. Most people know the town of Ennis as the location of the famous National Polka Festival, but to Josef, it's simply known as home.

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