Bob Kames
Encyclopedia
Bob Kames was an American
musician
who specialized in genres
such as polka
. Kames is credited with developing and popularizing the modern-day version of the song "Dance Little Bird," which is much better known by its more common name, The Chicken Dance. Kames is a member of the Wisconsin
Area Music Industry's Hall of Fame.
Kames recorded over seventy albums throughout his career. He owned and operated a chain of music stores called Bob Kames Wonderful World of Music, based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
.
in Milwaukee's south side. He began playing the piano
when he was 12 years old.
Kames was drafted into the United States Army
during World War II
. He was a member of the service for approximately one year, when an army chaplain heard his playing the piano. The chaplain reportedly asked Kames if he could play the organ
. He did not know how to play this instrument, but decided to give it a try. As result, Kames earned his first job in music as both the Army chapel
organist, as well as the chaplain's full time assistant
.
Kames earned his stage name, Bob Kames, when an announcer on Armed Forces Radio could not pronounce Kujawa. Kames also began playing for United States
troops during the war. For example, he performed as an accompanist USO dancer named Edith Campbell in 1945.
Kames and Campbell later married in 1955. Their legal married name remained Kujawa, though the couple became known as Bob and Edith Kames.
and continued to record independently. He composed his first pop song, You Are My One True Love, in 1949, which was based on a Polish
folk song. Kames released the song through a Wisconsin record company, as he was rejected by the major record labels. He paid for the first 5,000 copies himself. His luck changed when the song was picked up by London Records, an English
record label. The song became a hit, selling over a million copies, and was later recorded by Frankie Yankovic
and Lawrence Welk
.
Kames' music producer first heard "Dance Little Bird" at a German
music fair in 1982. The producer sent Kames a copy of the song, who recorded his own version, known as "The Chicken Dance". He released it in 1982. The song hit solid gold when it was released in 1983 in Poland
, selling 300,000 copies. He received 2 of the 35 cents from each sale. Since he couldn't take the money out of the country, he donated all of the money for a relief fund
. The success of the song stunned Kames. He commented in a 1995 interview
, "This stupid little thing, it's infectious. It has only two chords
, it doesn't even change for the bridge. It implants the melody
in people's minds—it just sticks in there. That's gotta be the secret...It just keeps on going. People come up to me at jobs and tell me how happy it makes them. You get a song like this once in a lifetime."
Kames released a string of successful albums, including Happy Organ. His recording success eventually led to television
. Kames began producing his first television show, The Bob Kames Family Room, in 1966. He made several family-oriented television specials over the next 17 years. His guests included Bobby Vinton
, Don Ho
, Hildegarde, Frankie Yankovic
and Lawrence Welk. he also performed for a short time with the Lawrence Welk Orchestra. Kames performed at numerous festivals, including Summerfest
, Festa Italiana
, Polish Fest
, and Rainbow Summer.
Kames was hospitalized with a serious case of stomach ulcers in the mid-1960s. Doctors had to completely remove his stomach
. In 1968, Kames took his family to Disneyland following his recovery. His trip to Disneyland inspired Kames to record the theme song to the classic Disney ride It's a Small World. Kames personally asked Walt Disney
for permission to record the song, which Disney granted. Kames became one of the first non-Disney employees to record a version of the song.
Kames suffered from Alzheimer's disease
and prostate cancer
when he died on April 9, 2008. He was survived by his son, Bob Jr, John, and his grandchildren,Brain,Wendy and Rebecca. Kames' wife, Edith, died in 2005, and daughter died in 2001.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
who specialized in genres
Music genre
A music genre is a categorical and typological construct that identifies musical sounds as belonging to a particular category and type of music that can be distinguished from other types of music...
such as polka
Polka
The polka is a Central European dance and also a genre of dance music familiar throughout Europe and the Americas. It originated in the middle of the 19th century in Bohemia...
. Kames is credited with developing and popularizing the modern-day version of the song "Dance Little Bird," which is much better known by its more common name, The Chicken Dance. Kames is a member of the Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
Area Music Industry's Hall of Fame.
Kames recorded over seventy albums throughout his career. He owned and operated a chain of music stores called Bob Kames Wonderful World of Music, based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...
.
Early life
Kames was born Robert Kujawa to his parents Valentine Kujawa and Esther Kujawa. (Bob Kames was his professional, stage name.) His father worked as an aldermanAlderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
in Milwaukee's south side. He began playing the piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
when he was 12 years old.
Kames was drafted into the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He was a member of the service for approximately one year, when an army chaplain heard his playing the piano. The chaplain reportedly asked Kames if he could play the organ
Organ (music)
The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
. He did not know how to play this instrument, but decided to give it a try. As result, Kames earned his first job in music as both the Army chapel
Chapel
A chapel is a building used by Christians as a place of fellowship and worship. It may be part of a larger structure or complex, such as a church, college, hospital, palace, prison or funeral home, located on board a military or commercial ship, or it may be an entirely free-standing building,...
organist, as well as the chaplain's full time assistant
Personal assistant
A personal assistant or personal aide is someone who assists in daily business or personal tasks. It is common in design to have a PDA, or personal design assistant....
.
Kames earned his stage name, Bob Kames, when an announcer on Armed Forces Radio could not pronounce Kujawa. Kames also began playing for United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
troops during the war. For example, he performed as an accompanist USO dancer named Edith Campbell in 1945.
Kames and Campbell later married in 1955. Their legal married name remained Kujawa, though the couple became known as Bob and Edith Kames.
Career
Kames returned to Milwaukee after World War II. He bought a Hammond organHammond organ
The Hammond organ is an electric organ invented by Laurens Hammond in 1934 and manufactured by the Hammond Organ Company. While the Hammond organ was originally sold to churches as a lower-cost alternative to the wind-driven pipe organ, in the 1960s and 1970s it became a standard keyboard...
and continued to record independently. He composed his first pop song, You Are My One True Love, in 1949, which was based on a Polish
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
folk song. Kames released the song through a Wisconsin record company, as he was rejected by the major record labels. He paid for the first 5,000 copies himself. His luck changed when the song was picked up by London Records, an English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
record label. The song became a hit, selling over a million copies, and was later recorded by Frankie Yankovic
Frankie Yankovic
Frankie Yankovic was a Grammy Award-winning polka musician. Known as "America's Polka King," Yankovic was the premier artist to play in the Slovenian style during a long and successful career.-Background:Of Slovene descent, he was raised in South Euclid, Ohio...
and Lawrence Welk
Lawrence Welk
Lawrence Welk was an American musician, accordionist, bandleader, and television impresario, who hosted The Lawrence Welk Show from 1955 to 1982...
.
Kames' music producer first heard "Dance Little Bird" at a German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
music fair in 1982. The producer sent Kames a copy of the song, who recorded his own version, known as "The Chicken Dance". He released it in 1982. The song hit solid gold when it was released in 1983 in Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, selling 300,000 copies. He received 2 of the 35 cents from each sale. Since he couldn't take the money out of the country, he donated all of the money for a relief fund
Humanitarian aid
Humanitarian aid is material or logistical assistance provided for humanitarian purposes, typically in response to humanitarian crises including natural disaster and man-made disaster. The primary objective of humanitarian aid is to save lives, alleviate suffering, and maintain human dignity...
. The success of the song stunned Kames. He commented in a 1995 interview
Interview
An interview is a conversation between two people where questions are asked by the interviewer to obtain information from the interviewee.- Interview as a Method for Qualitative Research:"Definition" -...
, "This stupid little thing, it's infectious. It has only two chords
Chord (music)
A chord in music is any harmonic set of two–three or more notes that is heard as if sounding simultaneously. These need not actually be played together: arpeggios and broken chords may for many practical and theoretical purposes be understood as chords...
, it doesn't even change for the bridge. It implants the melody
Melody
A melody , also tune, voice, or line, is a linear succession of musical tones which is perceived as a single entity...
in people's minds—it just sticks in there. That's gotta be the secret...It just keeps on going. People come up to me at jobs and tell me how happy it makes them. You get a song like this once in a lifetime."
Kames released a string of successful albums, including Happy Organ. His recording success eventually led to television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
. Kames began producing his first television show, The Bob Kames Family Room, in 1966. He made several family-oriented television specials over the next 17 years. His guests included Bobby Vinton
Bobby Vinton
Bobby Vinton is an American pop music singer of Polish origin. In pop music circles, he became known as "The Polish Prince".-Early life:...
, Don Ho
Don Ho
Donald Tai Loy "Don" Ho was a Hawaiian and traditional pop musician, singer and entertainer.-Life and career:Ho, of Chinese, Hawaiian, Portuguese, Dutch, and German descent, was born in the small Honolulu neighborhood of Kakaako, but he grew up in Kāneohe on the windward side of the island of Oahu...
, Hildegarde, Frankie Yankovic
Frankie Yankovic
Frankie Yankovic was a Grammy Award-winning polka musician. Known as "America's Polka King," Yankovic was the premier artist to play in the Slovenian style during a long and successful career.-Background:Of Slovene descent, he was raised in South Euclid, Ohio...
and Lawrence Welk. he also performed for a short time with the Lawrence Welk Orchestra. Kames performed at numerous festivals, including Summerfest
Summerfest
Summerfest is a yearly music festival held at the Henry Maier Festival Park along the lakefront in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA. The festival lasts for 11 days, is made up of 11 stages with performances from over 700 bands, and since the mid-1970s has run from late June through early July, usually...
, Festa Italiana
Festa Italiana
Festa Italiana is an ethnic festival held annually at the Henry Maier Festival Park in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It is the largest Italian-American festival in America and features Italian music, food and entertainment...
, Polish Fest
Polish Fest
Polish Fest is an annual ethnic festival held at the Henry Maier Festival Park in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. One of the largest Polish festivals in the United States, it attracts Polish Americans from all over Wisconsin and nearby Chicago, who come to celebrate Polish culture through music, food and...
, and Rainbow Summer.
Kames was hospitalized with a serious case of stomach ulcers in the mid-1960s. Doctors had to completely remove his stomach
Stomach
The stomach is a muscular, hollow, dilated part of the alimentary canal which functions as an important organ of the digestive tract in some animals, including vertebrates, echinoderms, insects , and molluscs. It is involved in the second phase of digestion, following mastication .The stomach is...
. In 1968, Kames took his family to Disneyland following his recovery. His trip to Disneyland inspired Kames to record the theme song to the classic Disney ride It's a Small World. Kames personally asked Walt Disney
Walt Disney
Walter Elias "Walt" Disney was an American film producer, director, screenwriter, voice actor, animator, entrepreneur, entertainer, international icon, and philanthropist, well-known for his influence in the field of entertainment during the 20th century. Along with his brother Roy O...
for permission to record the song, which Disney granted. Kames became one of the first non-Disney employees to record a version of the song.
Kames suffered from Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease also known in medical literature as Alzheimer disease is the most common form of dementia. There is no cure for the disease, which worsens as it progresses, and eventually leads to death...
and prostate cancer
Prostate cancer
Prostate cancer is a form of cancer that develops in the prostate, a gland in the male reproductive system. Most prostate cancers are slow growing; however, there are cases of aggressive prostate cancers. The cancer cells may metastasize from the prostate to other parts of the body, particularly...
when he died on April 9, 2008. He was survived by his son, Bob Jr, John, and his grandchildren,Brain,Wendy and Rebecca. Kames' wife, Edith, died in 2005, and daughter died in 2001.
Discography
Kames recorded over 70 albums in his career.- Bob Kames in a German Beer Garden, 1960 (Chess)
- Dance Little Bird, 1992 (GNP)
- Melodies of Love, 1995 (GNP)
- Songs I'm Sure You Remember, 1996 (King)
- The Enchanting Organ of Bob Kames, 1996 (King)
- Dad & the Kids (Play for Dancing) (GNP)
- Fun & Fitness Over 50 (GNP)
- The All Stars of Polkaland USA (King)