TEXAS DANCEHALL STANDARDS: Lee Roy Matocha / Colonel Polka / Makko 2001 / c1969

“Colonel Polka” derives from the “Colonel Bogey March” written in 1914 by F. J. Ricketts, a British Army bandmaster. By 1939 the tune had acquired racy lyrics impugning the masculinity of the Nazi leadership. A whistled version in the 1957 film, “The Bridge on the River Kwai,” renewed its popularity.

Lee Roy Matocha was born in Plum, TX, and began playing accordion in his uncle Zbranek’s band in 1947 at the age of 14. He joined the Lee Ilse Orchestra in 1952 as a musician, singer, and later band manager. His vocals were featured on many of the band’s recordings for Bess Records and Hummingbird. When Lee Ilse retired in 1964, Lee Roy formed his own orchestra from the remaining members of the Ilse group, touring and recording extensively. Matocha also tape-recorded radio shows of polka band music which broadcast on several different radio stations of south-central Texas from the 1960s until his death. Lee Roy retired from performing in 1998 and passed away in 2003.

[Colonel Polka, Lee Roy Matocha, Makko 2001, recorded c1969, matrix HEC 184 M]
The flip side of this disk is Grandfathers Joy:    • TEXAS DANCEHALL STANDARDS: Lee Roy Ma...  
http://texaspolkamuseum.com/Matocha.html
Texas Dancehall Preservation: https://texasdancehall.org/
Polka Playlist:    • Polka Time