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Whoopee John Wilfahrt
Encyclopedia
John Anthony Wilfahrt, the eldest son of John Wilfahrt and Barbara Portner, was a professional polka musician who recorded with Vocalion
and from 1934, Decca
. He went by the moniker "Whoopee John." Wilfahrt was born in New Ulm, Minnesota
and got his start playing the accordion at local gatherings and concerts in and around his community. In the 1920s Whooppee John and his band relocated to Saint Paul, Minnesota
where they became regulars at live shows and on the radio. Wilfahrt first began recording commercially in the 1920s and would sign with the newly formed U.S. division of Decca Records
in 1934 as the label's second act. (The first act signed to the label being Bing Crosby
.) Wilfahrt and his band enjoyed popularity through the 1940s and 50s on the polka circuit. Over the course of his professional career Wilfahrt would record nearly 1,000 songs, some of the most popular being “Mariechen Waltz” and “Clarinet Polka.”
Vocalion Records
Vocalion Records is a record label active for many years in the United States and in the United Kingdom.-History:Vocalion was founded in 1916 by the Aeolian Piano Company of New York City, which introduced a retail line of phonographs at the same time. The name was derived from one of their...
and from 1934, Decca
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....
. He went by the moniker "Whoopee John." Wilfahrt was born in New Ulm, Minnesota
New Ulm, Minnesota
New Ulm is a city in Brown County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 13,522 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Brown County....
and got his start playing the accordion at local gatherings and concerts in and around his community. In the 1920s Whooppee John and his band relocated to Saint Paul, Minnesota
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Saint Paul is the capital and second-most populous city of the U.S. state of Minnesota. The city lies mostly on the east bank of the Mississippi River in the area surrounding its point of confluence with the Minnesota River, and adjoins Minneapolis, the state's largest city...
where they became regulars at live shows and on the radio. Wilfahrt first began recording commercially in the 1920s and would sign with the newly formed U.S. division of 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....
in 1934 as the label's second act. (The first act signed to the label being Bing Crosby
Bing Crosby
Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby was an American singer and actor. Crosby's trademark bass-baritone voice made him one of the best-selling recording artists of the 20th century, with over half a billion records in circulation....
.) Wilfahrt and his band enjoyed popularity through the 1940s and 50s on the polka circuit. Over the course of his professional career Wilfahrt would record nearly 1,000 songs, some of the most popular being “Mariechen Waltz” and “Clarinet Polka.”
External links
- John Wilfahrt biography - International Polka AssociationInternational Polka AssociationThe 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...