TEXAS DANCEHALL STANDARDS: Jimmy Brosch / Our Blacksmith (Náš Lesetinsky Kovář) / 1960s

Jimmy Brosch (9/24/1923-3/1/2013) of Praha, TX, led Czech polka bands for 50 years: Jimmy Brosch and his Playboys (1946-1950), and Jimmy Brosch and his Happy Country Boys (1951-1996).

[From his obituary:] “Brosch grew up in Praha where he learned to play the fiddle at a young age. He emulated country music he heard on the radio as a child. He later learned to play the saxophone. When he started playing in polka bands, Brosch incorporated elements of country into his playing. One of his bands even featured a steel guitar.

“One of his most famous compositions was the “Corn Cockle Polka,” which is now a standard among central Texas Czech bands.

“Brosch was also a pilot. He served as an Army Air Corps mechanic in India during World War II. After the war, he learned to fly and earned his pilot’s license. He retired from Southern Pacific Railroad after working 38 years.

“Later in life, Brosch worked to preserve polka music’s rich history in central Texas. He teamed with author Theresa Cernoch Parker . . . to document some of the great Texas polka bands in the book Jimmy Brosch Remembers Twenty Legendary Texas Czech Polka Bands.”

Theresa Cernoch Parker recalls: “He was a pilot, motorcycle rider, speed boat captain, railroad switchman, egg salesman, car salesman, horse rider, bull charmer, molasses maker, boxer, fiddle player, harmonica player, saxophonist, band leader, dancer, singer, entertainer, writer, artist, comedian, beer drinker, Catholic, Democrat, businessman, friend, husband, dad and grandfather.”

[Obituary by Andy Behlen, Schulenburg Sticker: http://www.fayettecountyhistory.org/o...]
[Jimmy & Theresa’s book: http://polkabeat.com/merchandise/jimm...]

Texas Dancehall Preservation: https://texasdancehall.org/

Polka Playlist:    • Polka Time  

[Our Blacksmith (Náš Lesetinsky Kovář), Jimmy Brosch & the Happy Country Boys, Country Boy's 102, recorded 1960s, matrix LH-3122; uncertain if this song is related to ‘Kovárna v lese’ (Forge in the Forest/ Schmiederei im Walde) by Emil Štolc, published by Vitak/Elsnic.]
The flip side of this disk is Sunshine Polka (Slunéčko Jasně):    • TEXAS DANCEHALL STANDARDS: Jimmy Bros...