Скачать или смотреть TEXAS DANCEHALL STANDARDS: The Hi-Toppers / Dancing With You / Renner Records

The Hi-Toppers were a Texas polka band from New Braunfels, TX, formed in 1948 by high schoolers Gordon Zunker (trumpet), Alton Rahe (clarinet), and Darvin Dietert (tuba), who began playing dances in 1949 as the “Ach und Krach Kapelle”. Adding Melford Haag and Allen Moehrig (accordions) and George Fisk (drums), they changed their name to the Hi-Toppers (high school + tops in music), at the suggestion of George’s father.

Their focus was on German music and they played frequently at Gruene Hall and Echo Hall in New Braunfels, and on KWED radio in Seguín and KGNB radio in New Braunfels from 1949-1952. For six years (1958-1963), they played the first Saturday of the month at the American Legion Hall (Post 179) in New Braunfels.

During the Hi-Toppers’ 39 years of existence (1949-1988) Alton Rahe sang and played saxophone, and also became an author and regional historian. Long time members of the band were Darvin Dietert (tuba/bass, 1949-), Karl Zipp (trombone, 35 years, 1952-), Aubrey Constable (saxophone/clarinet, 38 years, 1949-), and Melford Haag (accordion, 1949-1952, 1954-). Other musicians who played in the band over the years included: Kenneth Rheinlander (drums, 1949-1952), William Richter (drums, 1952-), Reggie Ludwig (trumpet), Fred Baetge (saxophone), Rolf Arndt (?bass/tuba), Gary Voight (drums), Roy Haag (saxophone/clarinet/trumpet), Mickey Allen (tuba/bass), Terry Krueger (drums), James Allen (tuba, late 1960s), Eddie Miller, Jimmy Boenig (vocal), and Jerry [?last name].

The Hi-Toppers recorded 4 sides for TNT records, and singles for Guide and Renner. They had LPs released on Guide, Pleasant Peasant and Reelsound.

Original band members in 1949:
Gordon Zunker (trumpet), Alton Rahe (clarinet), Darvin Dietert (tuba), Melford Haag (accordion), Allen Moehrig (accordion), George Fisk (drums).

https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/e...
https://herald-zeitung.com/magazine/p...

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

My Polka Playlist:    • Polka Time  

[Dancing With You, The Hi-Toppers, Renner 2004, recorded 1960s, matrix 2640909-B]
The flip side of this disk is Badger Waltz:    • TEXAS DANCEHALL STANDARDS: The Hi-Toppers ...