(April 2023)
Jake Spitzack
Staff Writer
After performing European polka in the region for 60 years plus – nearly their whole lives – three South St. Paul natives are about to be inducted into the Minnesota Music Hall of Fame. Tom, Dan and Dave Retka of The Jolly Huntsmen will join the likes of Prince, Bob Dylan, the Minnesota Orchestra and a who’s who of Minnesota musicians as inductees.
“My brother Tom opened the letter and quickly informed my brother Dave and me that we were nominated for the Hall of Fame,” said Dan Retka. “We were all surprised and excited. It’s a tremendous honor.” Dave is still a resident of South St. Paul. Dan and Tom live in neighboring communities.
The band originated in the late 1950s when their father Luverne formed the Schuhplattlers, a nod to a traditional German dance, as a way to give his sons something positive to do. With Tom (age 10) on the accordion and Dan (8) on the drums – Dave was too young at this point – they performed mostly at neighborhood gatherings. As their popularity grew, so did the band. By the mid-1960s Luverne added adult musicians to play alongside his then-teenage sons and the band started playing the local ballroom circuit underits new name.
Throughout the ’60s and ’70s, they performed all over Minnesota and into eastern Wisconsin. They expanded from a 3-piece to a 7-piece polka band and even recorded two vinyl albums. During that time, Luverne did a stint on the drums, Tom transitioned to playing the tenor saxophone and clarinet, and Dave joined on the tuba. The band played Dutchman style polka, typically characterized as having an “oom-pah” sound thanks to the lively tuba beats.
“Back in the ’60s we were dressed in tuxedos and sparkly, flashy tuxedo jackets,” said Dan. “That was the way bands presented themselves on stage back in that day. When the ballroom business began to diminish, the culture changed and ballrooms started to close. My brother Tom decided to take the band in a different direction, with an emphasis not on the ballroom scene but on Oktoberfest venues. In the mid-1980s we began to dress in German costumes: little Bavarian caps along with lederhosen.”
Today, the band performs about 45 times a year at events, ethnic festivals and breweries, mostly in the summertime and through Oktoberfest in the fall. The set list includes traditional polkas and waltzes as well as easy listening rock ’n’ roll and country western tunes.
“We bring a certain feel to the gigs we do,” said Dan. “I think they’re pleased to hear the music, and that we’re playing into their ethnic background. There are many, many people in this part of the world that have a German or Scandinavian background and we can satisfy their need to hear music from their heritage…. It’s a lot of fun to see young people at these events. Maybe we’re the only polka band they’ve ever seen or heard, so there’s a certain amount of joy in doing that.”
Luverne passed away in 2000. After he quit performing, he worked behind the scenes for many years booking the band. With all band members now retired from their professionsthey join the flock of snowbirds migrating from the upper Midwest to Texas. in winter They bring their instruments with them and many days you’ll find them pumping out polka tunes to fans in the Rio Grande Valley.
The Minnesota Music Hall of Fame was formed in 1988 to honor musicians and others who have significantly contributed to the state’s music scene. The induction ceremony is April 14 at Turner Hall in New Ulm. For more information, visit jollyhuntsmen.com.
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