Polka night at Bluebonnet Opry
Special to The Examiner
BRENHAM – Pull out your dancing shoes and get ready to Polka at Friends of Bluebonnet Opry’s Polka night Thursday, Oct. 20, at Silver Wings Ballroom in Brenham.
The show featuring Gene Hackemack, Kenneth Kristynik and Greg Machac gets underway at 7:30 p.m. with doors opening at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $8 each and are sold at the door. A portion of the proceeds benefits Hospice Brazos Valley.
About the musicians
Gene Hackemack, born in Burton, is a fifth generation Texan but grew up speaking German and is a Vietnam Veteran. He also served 2 years with Imperial Iranian Army Aviation Search and Rescue, built and owned “Hackemack's Hofbräuhaus” near New Ulm with late wife Barbara. They had live Polka Music weekends.
Hackemack and singing partner, Jason Keepers, received plaque from NASA in July 1995 for “1st Polka in Space” for waking up the Shuttle Crew with the “BEER BARREL POLKA.” Retired from NASA 2006.
Currently Gene and spouse Nancy recently moved back to the Burton area but continue to play with the “SEVEN DUTCHMEN” band from New Braunfels. Gene occasionally helps out several other Polka Bands.
Kenneth Kristynik
Kristynik started playing the accordion 60 years ago, 1962, at the age of 8. He played for parties and house dances around Lavaca County until 1965. He then added a drummer and in 1967 added a trumpet player to the group at which time the group became the “Music Ramblers.” In 1971 another member was added, and this group played till 1981, with a few member changes along the way. The Music Ramblers played from 70 to 110 dates per year.
In 1981, Kristynik joined the Red Ravens and played with them until 2019. During these years they played from Dallas to Raymondville, San Angelo to Beaumont, Arizona and performed on six Caribbean Cruises.
Taking some time now to spend with family (children- five daughters and four sons-in-laws, and grand and great grandchildren), he still has found time to play solo gigs and help area bands playing accordion, rhythm guitar and bass guitar. “I’m probably the proudest of the fact that I’ve been able to maintain my Czech heritage in speaking and being able to read Czech,” he said.
Greg Machac
Machac is a retired Houston firefighter, having served 30 years. He began playing music with his dad Paul, and brother Ronnie in 1972, with Jimmy Brosch and the Happy Country Boys.
In Sept. 1977, he began performing with The Telstars and has been performing with the band for 45 years. He also played with Mark Halata and Texavia for the last 15 years. “Music is my heritage and I will keep playing until I’m gone,” said Machac.
Bluebonnet Opry has live shows every third Thursday of the month. The Silver Wings Ballroom snack bar will be open serving hamburgers, hot dogs, sodas and adult beverages. For more information visit www.friendsofbluebonnetopry.com.