Don Gralak America's Concertina King

DON GRALAK

1952 - 2004

Slovenian Style Polkas

Wisconsin Style Polkas

Donald R. Gralak began his career at the early age of six. His parents’ love of music prompted his father to bring home a small accordion for Don’s amusement. Instead of learning to play, however, Don decided to entertain himself by disassembling the instrument. After several accordions, Don’s dad finally brought home a concertina since it was harder to take apart. From that point on the two were inseparable. Throughout the years, Don’s family tree had included several concertina artists including his grandfather, uncles and a second cousin, Erv Matti. For several years, Don studied the concertina with local Milwaukee virtuoso Stan Nowicki. At the age of nine, Don began his public career with several radio and television appearances on WTMJ’s “Joe Shot and the Hot Shots”. By the age of ten, Don was playing solo for parties, bridal showers and small functions. When Stan Nowicki became ill and suffered the loss of his eyesight in 1963, Don took over Stan’s students and continued to teach the concertina for the next 18 years. Throughout the 1960’s Don created his own band and performed with it throughout the Milwaukee area. In 1969 Don released his first album, “Introducing Don Gralak” on the Cuca label. Several other LPs would follow, with the release of “Encore”, “Saloon” and “Happy Polkateers”, being distributed nationally on the Crescendo label. For most of Don’s recording career, Joe Grilli played drums, and Jerry Beniek or Jerry Krahn played banjo and guitar, and for a period of time Kenny Brandt joined the band on saxophone. Don’s playing was very unusual in that he played mostly Slovenian-style music on the concertina, which was traditionally a Polish or German band instrument. Don passed away suddenly at age 51 on Janurary 24, 2004 from a congenital heart defect.

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