Piano/orchestral classical concerto's & waltz's

Jens Bohlitz, born in 1965 in a small village in East Germany was considered a child prodigy by the time he was seven years old. He performed throughout Germany and was offered a position for entertaining in California in his late teens.

After many performances in California, he moved to Nashville, Tennessee where he had the opportunity to meet composer, Ray Gay, who originated from Cleveland, Ohio.

Their wives, Lucille (Ray’s) and Rebecca (Jen’s) became immediate friends and soon they were a foursome doing everything together.

With Jens being a previous concert pianist, Ray Gay had written a concerto and classical waltzes and Jens was just the right person to perform and arrange his compositions.

The end result being “My Love’s Concerto” which Ray wrote for his wife, Lucille, and “Reminisce,” a collection of waltzes.

Listen to these beautiful melodies and soon you will feel yourself waltzing with a loved one through the four waltzes.

Jens Bohlitz presently resides in East Germany and performs with his wife, Rebecca for four years. Check the website of: www.firstclass-duo.de to hear their music. Jens composes the music and Rebecca writes the lyrics in English.

Jens’ most recent credit is that he wrote the official “World Cup” song for Hessen for the World Cup Games being played in Germany. He is also the producer of music for Relyon Records and may be reached at www.relyonrecords.de .

One 3/2/06, Ray Gay passed away and left many songs for the world to hear. They included the following on the NORMANDY RECORDS label:

My Love’s Concerto and Reminisce (A collection of waltzes) Performed by Jens Bohlitz

Polka Music Oooh Boy By the Frank Moravcik Band

Polka-Re, Polka-Ra By the Richie Vadnal Orchestra

Since 1948, Ray has had his music recorded on 78s, 45s, cassettes and cds. During the Korean War, he served in the Army with the Military Police from 1952-54 and also entertained troops in Japan and Korea with a musical group called the “Gil-Rays”. He loved telling stories about sharing the stage with Dick Contino (world-famous accordionist) and the late Marilyn Monroe where they met in Japan.

He also was the first American to introduce polkas/waltzes to the Japanese people. At Radio Station WJCR he had a weekly one-half hour show where he spoke in both English and Japanese.

He is best known for his hits of “Polka Music Oooh Boy,” “Are You The Girl?” “Stand Up and Cheer,” a Cleveland Brown’s song, and “Polka-Re, Polka-Ra.” He also has written many country tunes, which may soon be available through CD Baby.

He was a member of ASCAP and has two publishing companies: Ray Gay Publishing, ASCAP and LuJean Publishing, BMI.

His wife, Lucille and son, Ray Gay, continue to promote his music. Music books are available for the two polka albums by contacting them at polkas@cox.net.

Anyone desiring to record any of his music can contact Lucille or Ray at the above e-mail address.

Cleveland-Style of Polka Music

FRANK MORAVCIK

Frank Moravcik has been playing professionally since he was 16 years old. He has played for several popular groups including the Joe Beno Orchestra, and America's Polka King, Frank Yankovic. Growing up in Cleveland, Ohio, Frank was inspired by the music of Jerry Bukac, Johnny Vadnal, and Johnny Pecon, but it was Frank Yankovic that was his biggest inspiration and became the pattern for the Moravcik Band.

The Frank Moravcik Band was formed in 1995 and plays their own brand of Cleveland-Style polka music including Polish, Czech, and Slovak, along with standards, country and rock. They are considered one of the best dance bands around both for their tempo and variety. They are also one of the busiest and most unique bands to come from the Cleveland area.

Frank Moravcik was honored as Musician of the Year from the Collinwood Slovenian Home in Cleveland, Ohio, and in 1997, the band was voted Best New/Young Band form the National Cleveland-Style Polka Hall of Fame. In 2002, the band was nominated for Band of the Year. In 2003, they received four nominations: Band of the Year; Album of the Year; Frank for Musician of the Year; and Dan Peters (second accordionist) for Sideman of the Year. The group has four albums released and working on a fifth. Based in Cleveland, Ohio, the band travels nationally while hosting a number of trips and cruises.

Frank hosts a popular polka radio show, The Czech-American Polka Show, which can be heard every Saturday on WERE 1300 AM from Cleveland, Ohio.

You can e-mail Frank at: http://frankmoravcik.com

Ray Gay has been playing the accordion since the age of nine years old. His idols were Charles Magnante and Johnny Vadnal. At the age of 16, he formed a band known as the "Pleasure Spinners." Together, they won numerous contests and had many bookings. At the age of 12, he started composing songs which eventually led to his first love of writing polkas and waltzes.

His first recording was in 1951 by the Chester Budny Orchestra with a song called, "Are You The Girl?" and "My Nancy Polka" on the Columbia Record label.

Next came recordings by the Ted Powers Orchestra on the Dana Record label with tunes entitled "Just Dreaming", "Turntable Polka", and the "Polka Dale Polka" written especially for disc jockey, Stan Dale out of Cleveland, Ohio.

More reordings were made on the Columbia label with Chester Budny's Orchestra. They were: "Souvenir Polka", "Freeway Polka" and "Sorry Waltz."

In 1952, Ray was drafted in the U.S. Army as a Military Policeman. He was sent to Japan and Korea and was honorably discharged in 1954.

He is a member of:

The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) since 1983

Ray Gay Publishing, ASCAP since 1983

Broadcast Music Inc. (BMI) LuJean Publishing since 1967

Country Music Association (CMA) since 1994

The National Cleveland-Style Polka Hall of Fame, Lifetime member as of 1997

Is President of: NORMANDY RECORDS, Cleveland, Ohio

Ray Gay has had numerous writings about him in various newspapers and magazines. His music has been performed on TV and radio whereby he also appeared as a guest speaker. His repertoire includes: polkas and waltzes, country music, songs for the NFL, notably, "Stand Up and Cheer," a Cleveland Brown's Song; classical music, e.g., "My Love's Concerto" and "Reminisce" (a collection of waltzes).

Most recently, Greg Drust of A+ Radio Productions out of Milwaukee, Wisconsin on www.247polkaheaven.com did a one hour show featuring a personal telephone interview with him and playing a majority of his songs. Sometimes in June or July, 2004, another one hour show will be featuring this talented songwriter.

"Polka Music Oooh Boy" is the fifth record release on the Normandy Record label.

If you wish to record any of the music written by this composer or contact him, you may reach him at: www.polkas@cox.net

World - Polkas/Waltzes

Richie Vadnal's Orchestra began when his brother, Johnny Vadnal retired. They were noted as the Number One Polka Band in Ohio because of their unique sound and harmony. Tony Vadnal, bass player and vocalist, and Bill Srnick, drummer, team up on two new waltz hits, "Mine" and "Always Knew". Richie plays the accordion and the versatile saxaphone stylings are by Frank Mahnic. Last, but not least, you hear Frank Vadnal on both the guitar and banjo.

Ray Gay, composer of all the songs, has re-released the recording from 1972 due to the fact that people have clamored for the Vadnal recordings since their untimely deaths. Richie Vadnal has retired from playing but continues to enjoy living out his retirement with his family and brother, Johnny.

Through the years they have had many Number One hits in the polka field. Polka-Re, Polka-Ra was in the top ten in one week when released in Cleveland, Ohio.

For many years they were featured on TV in a show called, "Polka Varieties" which aired every Sunday afternoon. People all over Ohio watched. Photos on the cd were taken at the TV studio. Their music was and is still heard on Tony Petkovsek's Radio Show from Willoughby, Ohio on WELW 1330 AM. One can also listen to polkas seven days a week, 24 hours a day on the internet at www.247polkaheaven.com.