Senate Resolution No. 5756

BY: Senator GRIFFO

COMMEMORATING the 40th Anniversary of Fritz's
Polka Band

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and
commend those musicians who have brought entertainment and cultural
enrichment to the citizens of the great State of New York; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
commemorate the 40th Anniversary of Fritz's Polka Band; and

WHEREAS, Fritz's Polka Band (FPB) was formed in 1978 by lead
accordionist, the late Fred Scherz Sr., and his eight-year old son,
Fritz, for whom the band was named; and

WHEREAS, With the passing of Fred Scherz Sr. on November 14, 2009,
FPB members vowed to carry on his legacy; the members include: Fritz
Scherz, piano accordion, button-box accordion, vocals; Gabe Vaccaro,
bass guitar, guitar, vocals; Frank Nelson, guitar, vocals; and Mike
Faraino, drums; and

WHEREAS, Playing everything from modern-style polka to country to
rock and even blues, Fritz's Polka Band performs an eclectic mix of
musical styles, and is renowned for breaking the "polka" stereotype; and

WHEREAS, Fritz's Polka Band is the first polka band to perform at a
Woodstock Festival, and on October 7, 2010, the band was inducted into
the Syracuse Area Music Hall of Fame; and

WHEREAS, Sponsored by Coldcock Whiskey, Fritz's Polka Band has made
18 recordings, which have achieved international airplay; and

WHEREAS, As a group, Fritz's Polka Band has performed on stage with
Canada's Polka King and Grammy Award winner Walter Ostanek, America's
Polka King and Grammy Award winner the late Frank Yankovic, Grammy
nominated LynnMarie Rink, and Glen Burtnik; and

WHEREAS, Individually, Fritz has performed on-stage with Steve
Augeri, the former lead singer of Journey, and Charles Giordano, the
current accordionist/keyboardist for Bruce Springsteen; and

WHEREAS, Fritz's Polka Band has performed at B.B. King's Club, The
China Club, and The Metropolitan Club too; in 2011, the band also had
two different songs appear in episodes of the hit cable television show
"Breaking Bad"; and

WHEREAS, Additionally, Fritz's Polka Band has shared the stage with
Skid Row, Sean Kingston, New Boyz, Jimmy Sturr and BeauSoleil, to name a
few; and

WHEREAS, It is most fitting that we take time to celebrate the music
of our Nation, to honor our artists and musicians, and to express our
appreciation to everyone who patronizes the arts; as we celebrate the

music, we celebrate and give thanks to our American freedom, the only
atmosphere in which artists can truly create and in which music is truly
the expression of the soul; and

WHEREAS, The arts, in whatever form presented, are central to human
expression; they are truly a universal language and their contribution
to the development of friendship and understanding among all peoples
cannot be underestimated; individuals who provide a means of preserving
a part of our rich American past and which contribute to the community
in such noble endeavors as aforementioned, are held in the highest
regard by this Legislative Body; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 40th Anniversary of Fritz's Polka Band; and be it
further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Fritz's Polka Band.