Cuca Records
Encyclopedia
Cuca Records of Sauk City, Wisconsin
was founded by James Kirchstein in 1959 and actively produced LP and 45 rpm recordings until the early 1970s. During this period, Cuca recorded and released primarily polka and ethnic music on LP but also issued other musical styles, including pop, rhythm and blues, folk, and traditional jazz. Most musicians recorded by Cuca were from Wisconsin or adjacent states. Consequently, Cuca's recorded documents represent a focused view of Wisconsin musical performance during these years.
The first record issued by Kirchstein (Willie Tremain's Thunderbirds, "Midnight Express" b/w "Frankie's Rock") came out on the Swastika label. Strong negative reaction forced Kirchstein to pull the single and reissue it on the Cuca label (both numbered 1001).
The Cuca studios recorded performers for commercial release on other popular record labels, as well. Its recording of "Mule Skinner Blues" by The Fendermen
(Cuca 1003, rereleased as a 45 rpm on the Soma label
) rose to number five on the Billboard charts in 1960 and sold over a million copies, and its recording of Birdlegs and Pauline's tune, "Spring" (Cuca 1125, rereleased on the Vee-Jay
label) rose to number 18 on the rhythm and blues charts. Other notable musicians recorded by Cuca include bluesman Earl Hooker
, the pop group Corporation, country music legend, Pee Wee King
, and jazz musician, Doc DeHaven. Cuca, which adopted the slogan "World's Largest Line of Old Time Music," is widely known for the host of polka and ethnic musicians it recorded including Alvin Styczynski, Verne Meisner
, Syl Liebl, the Goose Island Ramblers, John Check, Jerry Goetsch, Roger Bright, and the Edelweiss Stars, to name a few.
Citation Records was founded as a division of Cuca, which was notably for signing Paul Stefen and the Royal Lancers, who achieved local success with many of their singles, most notably their cover of The Crickets' "I Fought the Law
."
The Cuca Record Collection forms part of the Wisconsin Music Archives, a non-circulating special collection in the Mills Music Library at the University of Wisconsin–Madison
.
Sauk City, Wisconsin
Sauk City is a village in Sauk County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 3,109 at the 2000 census. The first incorporated village in the state, the community was founded by Agoston Haraszthy and his business partner, Robert Bryant...
was founded by James Kirchstein in 1959 and actively produced LP and 45 rpm recordings until the early 1970s. During this period, Cuca recorded and released primarily polka and ethnic music on LP but also issued other musical styles, including pop, rhythm and blues, folk, and traditional jazz. Most musicians recorded by Cuca were from Wisconsin or adjacent states. Consequently, Cuca's recorded documents represent a focused view of Wisconsin musical performance during these years.
The first record issued by Kirchstein (Willie Tremain's Thunderbirds, "Midnight Express" b/w "Frankie's Rock") came out on the Swastika label. Strong negative reaction forced Kirchstein to pull the single and reissue it on the Cuca label (both numbered 1001).
The Cuca studios recorded performers for commercial release on other popular record labels, as well. Its recording of "Mule Skinner Blues" by The Fendermen
The Fendermen
The Fendermen were a pop/rockabilly duo in the early 1960s.At the time The Fendermen formed, the group was primarily composed of Jim Sundquist , and Phil Humphrey...
(Cuca 1003, rereleased as a 45 rpm on the Soma label
Soma Records (U.S. label)
Soma Records was an American record company based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and owned by wholesale record distributor Amos Heilicher. The Soma name was "Amos" spelled backwards. Heilicher, along with his brother Danny, was also in the jukebox business and owned the Musicland chain of retail...
) rose to number five on the Billboard charts in 1960 and sold over a million copies, and its recording of Birdlegs and Pauline's tune, "Spring" (Cuca 1125, rereleased on the Vee-Jay
Vee-Jay Records
Vee-Jay Records is a record label founded in the 1950s, specializing in blues, jazz, rhythm and blues and rock and roll. It was owned and operated by African Americans.-History:...
label) rose to number 18 on the rhythm and blues charts. Other notable musicians recorded by Cuca include bluesman Earl Hooker
Earl Hooker
Earl Hooker was an American Chicago blues guitarist, perhaps best known for his slide guitar playing. Considered a "musician's musician", Hooker performed with blues artists such as Sonny Boy Williamson II, Junior Wells, and John Lee Hooker as well as fronting his own bands...
, the pop group Corporation, country music legend, Pee Wee King
Pee Wee King
Julius Frank Anthony Kuczynski , known professionally as Pee Wee King, was an American country music songwriter and recording artist best known for co-writing "The Tennessee Waltz"....
, and jazz musician, Doc DeHaven. Cuca, which adopted the slogan "World's Largest Line of Old Time Music," is widely known for the host of polka and ethnic musicians it recorded including Alvin Styczynski, Verne Meisner
Verne Meisner
LaVerne Donald "Verne" Meisner was an American polka musician born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and raised in Whitewater, Wisconsin. He was inducted into five halls of fame, including the International Polka Association Hall of Fame as a "Living Legend" in 1989...
, Syl Liebl, the Goose Island Ramblers, John Check, Jerry Goetsch, Roger Bright, and the Edelweiss Stars, to name a few.
Citation Records was founded as a division of Cuca, which was notably for signing Paul Stefen and the Royal Lancers, who achieved local success with many of their singles, most notably their cover of The Crickets' "I Fought the Law
I Fought the Law
"I Fought the Law" is a song written by Sonny Curtis of The Crickets and became popularized by a cover by the Bobby Fuller Four, which went on to become a top-ten hit for the band in 1966 and was also recorded by The Clash in 1979...
."
The Cuca Record Collection forms part of the Wisconsin Music Archives, a non-circulating special collection in the Mills Music Library at the University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
.
External links
- The Cuca Records Database University of Wisconsin Digital Collections.
- Cuca Records History polkatimes.com
- Cuca Records - official site