The Old Lager Orchestra played it's first dancejob May 31, 1974, as a straight polka/waltz band. As the years went by, the library grew to include more and more big band material, and today the band is at ease playing both types of events, or even a mix of the two, depending on what people who hire us want. Today a tango can follow a cha cha just as easily as Gary can calculate the square root of three million four hundred sixty-two thousand eight hundred seventy-one.
The band is an actively working organization and has recorded both polka and big band material. In addition, Gary has done local Wisconsin radio with polka and big band music since October of 1974. The station is 92.3 FM (WJMQ) from Clintonville, and the show airs Sunday evenings.
The band's biggest airtime came from the late Jack Baker of WTMJ-AM radio in Milwaukee. Jack played the band occasionally, and was always complimentary to Gary. Over the years he also supplied Gary with some music for Gary's own radio show in Clintonville.
Back in 2001, Wisconsin state legislator's listened to the Old Lager Band's recording of the Wisconsin Waltz, and made it an official state emblem...so today the Wisconsin Waltz ranks right next to the maple tree, the robin, the muskie, and Gary's favorite --> beer!!!! Incidentally, the Wisconsin Waltz was written by a Wisconsin native, Ethwell Eddy Hansen, who actually made his mark as an organist in Chicago on national radio shows like Amos 'n' Andy. (Hansen actually wrote the tune for Lawrence Duchow, who recorded it the first time on RCA back in the late 40's).
Gary can be contacted by emailing lager247@hotmail.com should you care for additional information on the band or it's recordings. I'd thank you right now but your check hasn't cleared yet.
The band is an actively working organization and has recorded both polka and big band material. In addition, Gary has done local Wisconsin radio with polka and big band music since October of 1974. The station is 92.3 FM (WJMQ) from Clintonville, and the show airs Sunday evenings.
The band's biggest airtime came from the late Jack Baker of WTMJ-AM radio in Milwaukee. Jack played the band occasionally, and was always complimentary to Gary. Over the years he also supplied Gary with some music for Gary's own radio show in Clintonville.
Back in 2001, Wisconsin state legislator's listened to the Old Lager Band's recording of the Wisconsin Waltz, and made it an official state emblem...so today the Wisconsin Waltz ranks right next to the maple tree, the robin, the muskie, and Gary's favorite --> beer!!!! Incidentally, the Wisconsin Waltz was written by a Wisconsin native, Ethwell Eddy Hansen, who actually made his mark as an organist in Chicago on national radio shows like Amos 'n' Andy. (Hansen actually wrote the tune for Lawrence Duchow, who recorded it the first time on RCA back in the late 40's).
Gary can be contacted by emailing lager247@hotmail.com should you care for additional information on the band or it's recordings. I'd thank you right now but your check hasn't cleared yet.
