Fritz’s Polka Band from left are Fritz Scherz, Gabe Vaccaro, Mike Faraino and Frank Nelson.
(Verona, NY – Aug. 2014) Each member of Fritz’s Polka Band (FPB) from Verona has been nominated for national awards by the Cleveland-Style Polka Hall of Fame (CSPHOF) in Euclid, Ohio.
Original remaining FPB members, Fritz Scherz (accordionist/vocalist) and Gabe Vaccaro (bassist/vocalist) have both been nominated in the “Musician of the Year” category, while fellow FPB members, Frank Nelson (guitarist/vocalist) and Mike Faraino (drummer) have been nominated in the “Sideman of theYear” category.
The winners will be announced during the CSPHOF Awards Show, being held on Saturday, Nov. 29 at the Cleveland Downtown Marriott Hotel as part of the annual Thanksgiving Polka Weekend.
“The members of FPB were already looking forward to playing again in Cleveland on Nov. 28th and 29th at the Marriott, as the last time we played there we had a blast,” said Fritz Scherz, band leader of Fritz’s Polka Band. “Now, with each of us nominated for national awards, this has raised our anticipation for Thanksgiving Weekend tenfold. To think we get to play twice this weekend AND attend the awards show as nominees is a fantastic feeling! We encourage our friends to join the CSPHOF and vote for us.”
Fritz’s Polka Band has been performing for over 35 years, and made history in 1999 by becoming the first polka band to perform at a Woodstock Festival in Rome, NY. FPB has made 18 recordings and even appears on “The Manchurian Candidate” DVD, which was released in 2004.
FPB won a Just Plain Folks Music Award in the Best Polka Song category for Bialczak’s Polka in 2008.
FPB won an Upper State Independent (USI) Award in Syracuse in the International Category in 2008 and 2009.
In June 2009, FPB won their first ever Syracuse Area Music Award (SAMMY) in the Best Recording: Other Styles category for their “Reflections” recording.
In 2010, FPB was inducted into the Syracuse Area Music Hall of Fame.
In 2011, Fritz’s Polka Band had two songs (‘Grandparent’s Polka’ and ‘Here Is Fritz’s Polka Band’) included in two different episodes of the hit cable TV show, ‘Breaking Bad.’
FPB was also nominated last year for two USI Awards.
On Nov. 1, 2013, FPB released their 18th recording, a double live CD entitled, “The WSKG Sessions.”
For more info on FPB, email Fritz at: fpolkaband@aol.com or call him at: (315) 363-3509, or visit the band’s website: www.fritzspolkaband.com.