Wisconsin Polka

Listening to the Stories While We Still Can

There are few things I can personally recall about my grandfather. He passed when I was young. I vividly remember his smile, his kind eyes and his laugh. Then again, many people remember his laugh. He was famous for it. My grandpa was Cousin Bob of Cousin Fuzzy and His Cousins, a polka band that entertained Northeast Wisconsin (and beyond) on one of Green Bay's first live television programs. Grandpa Bob's signature tune was The Laughing Polka.

I've only heard him perform that tune via recordings. And every story I've heard about my grandfather and his polka days has been passed down through the years. The opportunity  to hear the stories from the people who lived them grows smaller every year. Which is why I've started the Wisconsin Polka Project: a series of documentary short films that share the history of polka in the Badger State. 

This project began simply as a way to learn more about my grandfather and the days of Cousin Fuzzy and His Cousins. I began by interviewing one of the last surviving members of the band: Agnes Benz, aka 'Cousin Aggie.' Continue scrolling this page to see the proof-of-concept piece I created from her interview. 

Information from Agnes led me to other famous Wisconsin Polka musicians, which led to finding classic polka halls still in operation in our state, which then led to spending time at Pulaski Polka Days and learning more about the state of polka today. 

I'm currently exploring how deep this Wisconsin Polka History rabbit hole will go. If you have any information you feel I should know or if you have a story or know of one that needs to be told, please share that information with me via the form below. 

Thank You!

Shawn Connelly

Musician, Producer