About JZ
JOE ZALEWSKI
BANDLEADER, PROMOTER, MUSICIAN, VOCALIST, SONGWRITER, DJ
Joe Zalewski was born in Toledo, Ohio on June 26, 1963, the oldest of five children born to Rosemary (Bullinger) and Stanley Zalewski.
Joe’s first instrument is Drums and he also plays Bass Guitar. Joe’s first band was called the Peanuts Polka Band and included his brothers Jim and John. In May 1978, Joe got his big break. At a wedding reception, Joe’s family was seated with IPA Hall of Famer, Chet Zablocki. The next day Chet announced on his radio show that a young drummer was looking to play in a band. By that afternoon, Joe received a call from Dale Zielinski’s Golden Eagles. Joe joined the band and performed with the Golden Eagles from 1978 to 1980. In 1980, Duane Malinowski approached Joe to join his new group, the Polka Jamboree. Joe performed with both bands for a few months, eventually leaving the Golden Eagles to play with Polka Jamboree until early 1981.
Then Joe began playing bass guitar, under the tutelage of Randy Krajewski. In May 1981, Joe joined Barb Zielinski’s Holy Toledo Polka Stars. Joe finally had the opportunity to travel the Midwest and East Coast to perform at many of the major polka events like Idora Park, Pulaski Park, Seven Springs and Erie Polka Days. In January 1983, Barb Zielinski announced that she was retiring and disbanding Holy Toledo. That evening, Joe, Eddie Biegaj, Mike Tylinski and Frank Dramczyk decided to stick together and with the addition of Steve Zilka and Tim Berger, Toledo Polkamotion (TPM) was formed. TPM played its first gig in April 1983 for a live broadcast of Chet Zablocki’s Polka Party show.
TPM, under Joe’s leadership, became one of the most popular and influential polka bands of its era appearing at dances and festivals throughout the United States and Canada making over 2300 live performances. TPM recorded over 250 songs and had recording contracts with several record labels including LeMans Records, WRS Records, and Sunshine Records. Joe is the only member of TPM to appear on every recording and play with the band from start to finish.
In the 20 plus year history of TPM, the band received many accolades including a Grammy Nomination in 1991, for the album “Grand Illusion”. TPM won several awards from the USPA including Band of the Year three times, Song of the Year twice and Album of the Year for “Grand Illusion”. In 1992, Joe decided to pursue a career as a full-time musician and polka promoter. At the time, every member of TPM agreed to play polka music full time.
In 1997, Joe was elected to the International Music Association (IMA) Polka Hall of Fame. The IMA was a non-profit organization based in Toledo, Ohio, it was founded by Bob Earl, Sr. in 1982. The mission of the IMA was to promote all styles of polka music.
In 1997, 1998 and 1999, TPM was named the Favorite Ethnic Entertainer by the Lake Erie West People’s Choice Awards. In 2000, TPM received the WMUA Favorite Polka Recording for “Timeless”. In 2002, TPM appeared in the Warner Bros. movie “Welcome to Collinwood” and had 2 songs featured in the movie soundtrack. Joe disbanded TPM in 2004 to spend time with his young family and to dedicate his work efforts to growing his company, BizTech.
TPM reunited in 2010 for the Ultimate Polka Cruise, in 2012 and 2016 for an appearance at the USPA Convention and Festival. Three members of the TPM Legacy have been inducted into the IPA Hall of Fame – Eddie Siwiec (2005), Eddie Biegaj (2014) and Ted Lange (2019).
Since 2011, Joe has been a member of the DynaBrass on bass guitar and vocals. In October 2015, DynaBrass bandleader, Jeff Mleczko, suffered a stroke. At the request of Jeff’s family, Joe accepted the duties of interim bandleader of The DynaBrass. Under Joe’s leadership, The DynaBrass continues to perform in Jeff’s absence. In 2016, ToPoMo records released a CD by The DynaBrass entitled “…and the road begins”. The title song was co-written by Joe and IPA Hall of Famer, Kevin Adams. The song was nominated for the 2016 USPA Song of the Year.
In 2017, ToPoMo records released a CD by the DynaBrass entitled “Dance All Night”. This studio recording features several original songs co-written by Joe. This CD was a major hit for the DynaBrass earning several 2017 Polka Music Awards and Nominations. The title song, “Dance All Night”, received the IPA Polish Style Song of the Year Award and the USPA Song of the Year Award. The CD, “Dance All Night”, received the IPA Polish Style Album of the Year Award and the USPA Recording of the Year Award. And the DynaBrass was nominated for the USPA Band of the Year.
In April 2020, ToPoMo records released a CD by the DynaBrass entitled “20/20 Polkas”. This studio recording features several original songs co-written by Joe. This CD was another hit for the DynaBrass earning two 2020 IPA Polka Music Awards. The song, “The Girls Just Wanna Dance”, received the IPA Polish Style Song of the Year Award and the CD, “20/20 Polkas”, received the IPA Polish Style Album of the Year Award. Currently, Joe’s son, Aaron (AJ) Zalewski, plays drums for The DynaBrass and has recorded on the last three DynaBrass studio sessions. As another father/son polka combination, recording and playing on stage with AJ is the highlight of Joe’s career.
Joe married Cindy Lynn on December 10, 1988 and has two children; Aaron (Olivia) Zalewski and Kirsten (Brooks) Gasser. Joe has an Associate’s Degree in Business Management and a Bachelors of Business Degree from the University of Toledo. Joe is currently employed as a Senior Sales Executive with Strategic Information Group. Joe is a lifetime member of the IPA and member of the Toledo Area Polka Society, Cleveland Polka Association, Polka Booster Club of America, Midwest Polka Association and USPA.
POLKA PROMOTIONS
Since 1983, Joe has promoted polka dances and festivals at various dance halls, ballrooms, and hotels in the Toledo, Ohio area including the DC Ranch Ballroom, LaPark Night Club and Conn-Weissenberger Hall. Over the years, Joe has hired many of the nation’s top polka bands including Eddie Blazonczyk’s Versatones, Marion Lush, Lenny Gomulka & Chicago Push, The Dynatones, Polka Family, TBC, and The Boys to name a few.
Most notably in 1992, Joe founded Holy Toledo Polka Days which became one of the premiere Polka Festivals in the United States. For the first three years Holy Toledo was a Bi-Annual event each spring and fall. After 13 years and 16 Festivals, Holy Toledo 2004 was the final festival due to the closing of the Quality Hotel. In the mid-1990’s, Joe ran 4 additional Polka Festivals at the Maumee Bay Resort in Oregon, OH and the Holiday Inn Convention Center in Madison, WI. In addition, Joe has run bus trips to polka events and has organized several Caribbean Polka Cruises.
From 1994 to 1999, Joe co-hosted the weekly Polka Music Radio Show “Polka Spotlite” with Bobby Earl on WCWA 1230AM in Toledo, Ohio.
In 2018, Joe announced the revival of Holy Toledo Polka Days at a new venue, the Renaissance Toledo Downtown Hotel. The popular polka festival made its successful return with a lineup of the industry’s top polka entertainers. Future festival dates have been established with the venue annually through 2024.
In 2018, Joe became entertainment chairman for the Toledo Area Polka Society (TAPS). In 2021, Joe served as Vice President and currently is the Treasurer. Joe books the bands for all TAPS events.
In 2019, Joe formed a partnership with Bel-Aire Enterprises to sponsor the Annual Big Dan’s Party at the Polka Fireworks Festival held at Seven Springs resort in Champion, PA.
Joe is the owner of ToPoMo Music Publishing and ToPoMo Records, which has produced and released polka recordings by Toledo Polkamotion, The Bratwurst Boys and The DynaBrass.
Just heard Säkkijärven Polka on the Sunday Morning Polka Show! Awesome job! I had to order the CD. But please note that there is only one “a” in jarven (järven). And you know the interesting history surrounding the song, too! Those Finns were very smart and creative to defend themselves against the Russians like they did!
Thank you for the feedback. Yes, interestingly in my research there were several different names and spelling for the song. You are referring to the Finnish spelling and are correct.