Walt Groller
Encyclopedia
Walt Groller is an American
polka
musician. He is generally considered one of the premier polka musicians in the world.
region of Pennsylvania
, to Austria
n immigrants. By the age of four, he already had learned to play the accordion
and to play and sing folk music
songs. By the age of 12, he was performing professionally. At the age of 14, he started his own orchestra
.
Groller attended Allentown Central Catholic High School
in center city Allentown.
In 1952, at the age of 21, Groller was inducted into the United States Armed Services. He served in South Korea
with the United States Army
. He was discharged two years later, and resumed his orchestra career, performing for live audiences and on radio.
Following the release of his Stella Record albums, Groller started his own production label (Chalet Records, Whitehall, PA
) and released 11 albums through it. Well known hits included "Say Thank You Dear and Give Her Roses" and "Papa, the Old Accordion Man". Groller toured the United States and Europe in support of the albums, gaining an especially loyal following in Austria, Germany
and Switzerland
.
Groller also hosts a weekly television show, Cafe Internationale, which airs on Fridays. A recording of his radio play, Forty Years of Music: The Old Radio Band, was released by Chalet Records.
In 1986 he was inducted in the International Polka Association
's "Hall of Fame". In 1988 he was nominated for a Grammy Award
. In 1990 the government of Austria
presented Groller with the Austrian Decoration of Merit in Gold, an award given in recognition of those who help to preserve Austria's culture. Groller also received a letter of commendation from President Bill Clinton
. In May 1995 he received Polka News Network's "Lifetime Polka Music Award".
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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...
musician. He is generally considered one of the premier polka musicians in the world.
Early years
Groller was born in Allentown, in the Lehigh ValleyLehigh Valley
The Lehigh Valley, known officially by the United States Census Bureau as the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ metropolitan area and referred to locally as The Valley and A-B-E, is a metropolitan region consisting of Lehigh, Northampton, Berks, and Carbon counties in eastern Pennsylvania and...
region of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, to Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
n immigrants. By the age of four, he already had learned to play the accordion
Accordion
The accordion is a box-shaped musical instrument of the bellows-driven free-reed aerophone family, sometimes referred to as a squeezebox. A person who plays the accordion is called an accordionist....
and to play and sing folk music
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
songs. By the age of 12, he was performing professionally. At the age of 14, he started his own orchestra
Orchestra
An orchestra is a sizable instrumental ensemble that contains sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. The term orchestra derives from the Greek ορχήστρα, the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus...
.
Groller attended Allentown Central Catholic High School
Allentown Central Catholic High School
Allentown Central Catholic High School is a private, parochial school located at 301 North Fourth Street in Allentown, Pennsylvania, in the United States...
in center city Allentown.
In 1952, at the age of 21, Groller was inducted into the United States Armed Services. He served in South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
with 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...
. He was discharged two years later, and resumed his orchestra career, performing for live audiences and on radio.
Career
He was signed by Stella Records and produced seven albums and several 45s for Stella. Perhaps his best known album was New Christmas Songs.Following the release of his Stella Record albums, Groller started his own production label (Chalet Records, Whitehall, PA
Whitehall Township, Pennsylvania
Whitehall Township is a township in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is a suburb of Allentown, Pennsylvania, in the Lehigh Valley region of the state.The population of Whitehall Township was 24,896 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
) and released 11 albums through it. Well known hits included "Say Thank You Dear and Give Her Roses" and "Papa, the Old Accordion Man". Groller toured the United States and Europe in support of the albums, gaining an especially loyal following in Austria, Germany
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...
and Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
.
Groller also hosts a weekly television show, Cafe Internationale, which airs on Fridays. A recording of his radio play, Forty Years of Music: The Old Radio Band, was released by Chalet Records.
In 1986 he was inducted in the International Polka Association
International Polka Association
The International Polka Association, IPA is located in Chicago, Illinois and dedicated to the study and preservation of polka music and the cultural heritage of Polish Americans who have made this music tradition part of their heritage. The IPA hosts an annual festival and convention as well as its...
's "Hall of Fame". In 1988 he was nominated for a Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
. In 1990 the government of Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
presented Groller with the Austrian Decoration of Merit in Gold, an award given in recognition of those who help to preserve Austria's culture. Groller also received a letter of commendation from President Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
. In May 1995 he received Polka News Network's "Lifetime Polka Music Award".
Personal
Groller is married with three children, including two sons (Joe and Tom) and a daughter (Anita). Groller's son Tom now plays drums in Groller's orchestra. Groller currently resides in Whitehall Township, PennsylvaniaWhitehall Township, Pennsylvania
Whitehall Township is a township in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is a suburb of Allentown, Pennsylvania, in the Lehigh Valley region of the state.The population of Whitehall Township was 24,896 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
.