Matys Brothers
Encyclopedia
The Matys Brothers were a rockabilly
musical act made up of the four Matys brothers, and their sister Vera for a time, were born and raised in Chester
, in the Philadelphia area . The quartet's first record, "Muskrat Ramble," released on the Essex Records
label, was a big hit in 1954, and by 1956 the group was part of Bill Haley
's talent and booking stable and recording for Decca Records
.
performing "Muskrat Ramble" and "Crazy Street". "Muskrat Ramble" was a 1954 chart entry in Cashbox and Variety.
In 1958, the Matys Brothers made two records for Haley's Clymax record label, one of which, "Crazy Street," co written by Haley,http://cocatalog.loc.gov/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?v1=10&ti=1,10&Search%5FArg=haley%20bill&Search%5FCode=NALL&CNT=25&PID=i4oUzn--8k61R0orb1OPXpJ0PBGT&SEQ=20090716193237&SID=1 later was considered a rockabilly classic. On this song and the three others recorded for Clymax, the Matys Brothers were backed by members of Bill Haley's band, The Comets
(several of their recordings were also written by members of Haley's group. Later, the Matys Brothers grew to rely on their own instrumentation (Walt: the accordion, John: the bass and fiddle, Emil: the sax, and Gene: the drums. Gene and Emil could play any instrument you put in their hands) and began recording polka
music for the Sunnyside and Select labels during the late 50s and early 60s. "Rummy Polka" was a hit for them in 1959, and the Matys Brothers scored their biggest hit in 1963, "Who Stole the Keeshka
?"
In the 1960s
and '70s, the brothers, John, Walt, Emil and Gene, toured the west coast. They appeared in the 1960s at The Showboat in Las Vegas, The Holiday Hotel downtown Reno, NV, and The Commercial Hotel in Elko, Nevada
. The brothers also incorporated comedy into their act, some rehearsed, but most of them did not.
Some of the brothers struggled, at times, to maintain normal family life due to the late hours and the demanding travel that was a part of their profession. Emil has a daughter, Terri, that was born during his first marriage to Mertis. After a divorce, he then married the band's singer Maria Carmen and they have one son, Marc. Gene had two children with his first wife, Wanda, they were Tom and Diane, that ended in divorce. He then married Pearl and had two sons, including Gene Jr. After his second marriage, Gene married Donna and had two children Ross and Tanna. Emil lived in Elko, NV and died on May 5, 2008; Gene died 12 Oct 1993 in Elko. Both men brought happiness into the lives of their families, when it was possible, at different times in their lives.
Emil was not only remembered for his years of entertaining with the Matys Brothers, but also for the time and efforts he spent voluntarily while working with high school musicians during the last several years of his life in Elko, NV.
Rockabilly
Rockabilly is one of the earliest styles of rock and roll music, dating to the early 1950s.The term rockabilly is a portmanteau of rock and hillbilly, the latter a reference to the country music that contributed strongly to the style's development...
musical act made up of the four Matys brothers, and their sister Vera for a time, were born and raised in Chester
Chester, Pennsylvania
Chester is a city in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States, with a population of 33,972 at the 2010 census. Chester is situated on the Delaware River, between the cities of Philadelphia and Wilmington, Delaware.- History :...
, in the Philadelphia area . The quartet's first record, "Muskrat Ramble," released on the Essex Records
Essex Records
Essex Records was founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1951 by David Miller primarily to record contemporary country and western, rhythm and blues as well as jazz and gospel. Jack Howard was the promotion manager. The label had little popular success. They issued a 1954 single called "Oh, Mein...
label, was a big hit in 1954, and by 1956 the group was part of Bill Haley
Bill Haley
Bill Haley was one of the first American rock and roll musicians. He is credited by many with first popularizing this form of music in the early 1950s with his group Bill Haley & His Comets and their hit song "Rock Around the Clock".-Early life and career:...
's talent and booking stable and recording for Decca Records
Decca Records
Decca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
.
History
On August 28, 1957, the Matys Brothers appeared on American BandstandAmerican Bandstand
American Bandstand is an American music-performance show that aired in various versions from 1952 to 1989 and was hosted from 1956 until its final season by Dick Clark, who also served as producer...
performing "Muskrat Ramble" and "Crazy Street". "Muskrat Ramble" was a 1954 chart entry in Cashbox and Variety.
In 1958, the Matys Brothers made two records for Haley's Clymax record label, one of which, "Crazy Street," co written by Haley,http://cocatalog.loc.gov/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?v1=10&ti=1,10&Search%5FArg=haley%20bill&Search%5FCode=NALL&CNT=25&PID=i4oUzn--8k61R0orb1OPXpJ0PBGT&SEQ=20090716193237&SID=1 later was considered a rockabilly classic. On this song and the three others recorded for Clymax, the Matys Brothers were backed by members of Bill Haley's band, The Comets
Bill Haley & His Comets
Bill Haley & His Comets was an American rock and roll band that was founded in 1952 and continued until Haley's death in 1981. The band, also known by the names Bill Haley and The Comets and Bill Haley's Comets , was the earliest group of white musicians to bring rock and roll to the attention of...
(several of their recordings were also written by members of Haley's group. Later, the Matys Brothers grew to rely on their own instrumentation (Walt: the accordion, John: the bass and fiddle, Emil: the sax, and Gene: the drums. Gene and Emil could play any instrument you put in their hands) and began recording 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...
music for the Sunnyside and Select labels during the late 50s and early 60s. "Rummy Polka" was a hit for them in 1959, and the Matys Brothers scored their biggest hit in 1963, "Who Stole the Keeshka
Who Stole the Kishka?
Who Stole the Kishka?, originally spelled "Who Stole the Keeshka?" is a traditional polka tune, written by Walter Dana , and by Walter Solek , and recorded and performed by various bands...
?"
In the 1960s
1960s
The 1960s was the decade that started on January 1, 1960, and ended on December 31, 1969. It was the seventh decade of the 20th century.The 1960s term also refers to an era more often called The Sixties, denoting the complex of inter-related cultural and political trends across the globe...
and '70s, the brothers, John, Walt, Emil and Gene, toured the west coast. They appeared in the 1960s at The Showboat in Las Vegas, The Holiday Hotel downtown Reno, NV, and The Commercial Hotel in Elko, Nevada
Elko, Nevada
Elko is a city in Elko County, Nevada, United States. The population was 18,297 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Elko County. The city straddles the Humboldt River....
. The brothers also incorporated comedy into their act, some rehearsed, but most of them did not.
Some of the brothers struggled, at times, to maintain normal family life due to the late hours and the demanding travel that was a part of their profession. Emil has a daughter, Terri, that was born during his first marriage to Mertis. After a divorce, he then married the band's singer Maria Carmen and they have one son, Marc. Gene had two children with his first wife, Wanda, they were Tom and Diane, that ended in divorce. He then married Pearl and had two sons, including Gene Jr. After his second marriage, Gene married Donna and had two children Ross and Tanna. Emil lived in Elko, NV and died on May 5, 2008; Gene died 12 Oct 1993 in Elko. Both men brought happiness into the lives of their families, when it was possible, at different times in their lives.
Emil was not only remembered for his years of entertaining with the Matys Brothers, but also for the time and efforts he spent voluntarily while working with high school musicians during the last several years of his life in Elko, NV.
Discography
- CRAZY STREET/REMEMBER 7 inch Vinyl single
- CUT THE MEATBALLS IN HALF Vinyl single
- DRUNK LAST NIGHT/AIN'T THAT NEW YOR 7 inch Vinyl single
- I WANT TO SEE THE SUNSHINE IN Vinyl single
- RUMMY POLKA/HEEL & TOE POLKA Vinyl single
- CRAZY STREET/REMEMBER coral-61941 Vinyl single
- I WANT TO SEE THE SUNSHINE IN YOUR 7 inch Vinyl single
- I WANT TO SEE THE SUNSHINE IN YOUR S Vinyl single
- MY TRULY TRULY FAIR/BEER BARREL POLK 5.90 4.90
- THAT'S A PLENTY/DIXIE DANNY sound-106 Vinyl single
- WHO STOLE THE KEESHKA?/PORTKI select-719 Vinyl single
- WITH FRIENDS LIKE YOU/JASHU FOUND "T fayette-1627 Vinyl single
- Crazy Street Bear Family BCD 15971 MCA 11119 (cd compilation)
- Rock Me Daddy Collector CLCD 4475 (cd compilation)
Sources
- http://rcs.law.emory.edu/rcs/compart/m/mat39310.htm accessed 12/24/08
- http://www.allbutforgottenoldies.net/bands-and-artists/info.php?id=matys-brothers accessed 12/24/08