- Genres: World
- Instrument: AMG Contributor
Biography
Steve Litwin was probably introduced to polka music shortly after his birth. Born and raised in a Polish-American family in North Tonawanda, NY (A suburb Buffalo), polka music was part of everyday life, whether it be on the radio, on television or with live bands at weddings and dances. At the age of 7 he started taking accordion lessons from his Uncle, a local musician and music teacher. Although, for the most part, he followed the lesson structure he preferred playing polkas, waltzes and obereks. Litwin's Grandfather played harmonica and was a big inspiration in his love for Polish and polka music.In the late 1960s, he began began booking polka bands for club events and spending evenings at polka lounges, clubs and dances in the Western New York area. Litwin began submitting articles to the "Polka News" a monthly published in Connecticut, in the late 1960s.
Marriage, in 1973, relocated him to Binghamton, New York where he and his wife, Adele, continued their activities at polka events throughout southern New York State and northeastern Pennsylvania. Along with teaching polka dance lessons, they started and edited a local polka club news bulletin entitled "Polka Press."
The "Polka World," of Nebraska, solicited his work and his "Accordion to Steve" column became a regular feature of that publication. Throughout the next decade his columns appeared in Polka and Polish-American newspapers including, "Polka News" of Michigan, "Polka Scene" of Cleveland, "Polish American World" of Baldwin, NY, the "Ampol Eagle" of Buffalo, "Polka Insight" of Utica, NY, "Polonia Reporter" of Buffalo, NY, "Polish American Voice" of Buffalo and the "Polish American Journal" of Buffalo.
In December 1989, Mark Kohan, Editor-in-Chief, named Litwin "Polka Editor" of the "Polish American Journal." As "Polka Editor," Litwin is responsible for the five page "Polka Magazine," a regular feature in the monthly "Polish American Journal." His "Polka Insider" column is a regular feature in the "Polish American Journal."
Since the early 1970s, Litwin has written the liner notes for numerous of polka albums including recordings by Heavy Chicago, Bay State IV, The Brass Connection, the John Nyschot Orchestra, Bill Czerniak's Concertina Band, Steel City Brass and Eddie Blazoncyzk's Versatones. He also wrote the liner notes for Polkas For Children, produced by the Polish American Journal and A Kolberg Sampler, produced by the Polish Community Center of Buffalo. He was one of the photographers for the Dynatone's Live Wire album of 1982 and his photography is featured on Eddie Blazoncyzk's Polka Festival album.
In 1976 he started playing concertina and since 1983 has sponsored a Concertina Jam session during the July Polka Fireworks festival at the Seven Springs Resort in Western Pennsylvania. Each year over 30 concertina players, including some of the top Polish concertina players in the country, participate in this annual acoustic event, playing tunes from the Polish heritage.
Although polkas are his main expertise, Litwin's music interests range from Al Jolson to Big Bands to Patsy Cline to The Beach Boys to The Four Seasons.
Desert Island Picks
Polish Village Christmas - Polish American Journal
Vintage Dynatones - The Dynatones
Polish Traditions - Leonard and Patrick Nowak
From the Porch-Old Country Style - Gary Sredzienski
Live Wire -Dynatones
Versatile Versatones -Eddie Blazonczyk's Versatones
Musically Yours -Eddie Blazonczyk's Versatones
A 12 Pack of Polkas Lenny Gomulka and Chicago Push
Here Come the Versatones -Eddie Blazonczyk's Versatones
Polka Hits -Eddie Blazonczyk's Versatones
Another Polka Celebration -Eddie Blazonczyk's Versatones
Li'l Wally's Greatest Hits, Vol I -Li'l Wally Jagiello
Honky Style Polkas -Eddie Blazonczyk's Versatones
Polkas From the Heart of Chicago -The Tones
Mr. Polka Dynamite -Joe Oberaitis
Sounds Like Old Times -The Sounds
Our Polka Hero -Frank Liszka and The Brass Connection
The 6 Million Dollar Band -The Dynatones
Lucky Seven -The Ampol Aires
Most Requested Hits -Lenny Gomulka and Chicago Push
Musical Stars -Marion Lush
Memories of Poland -Marion Lush
I'll Build You a Home -Marion Lush
Na Zdrowie -Marion Lush
Great Polka Hits - The Sounds
Nobody Does it Better Heavy Chicago
Remember The Keynotes
Love and Marriage and more The Goodtimes
In The Digital Mood The Glenn Miller Orchestra
Made In USA -The Beach Boys
Sherry The Four Seasons
The Decca Years Al Jolson
The Patsy Cline boxed set Patsy Cline, All Music Guide
