John Yanek was born in Star Junction, Pennsylvania, where he lived for 8 years before moving to Youngstown, Ohio. Over the years John has sung for many Slovak organizations and this was his first solo album.

Lou Sikora and his Orchestra, consisting of 5 members, provide the instumentals on the recording. Composing the units are Lou Sikora and Ted Csiky (Violins), George Galombassy (Bass), Ben Gagyi (Piano), and Frank Molnar (Accordian). The orchestra had played for 15 years prior to this recording and are experts at capturing the European sound.

Songs on the album include Czardas, Od Ungvarda, Ves Ti Zajdu, Pod Tym Nasim Okeneckom, Redovy (The Bridal Dance), Hej Slovaci, Nasa Anicka, Bodajze Vas vy Mladenci, and Ja Parobek Z Kapusan.

Available on cassette, this recording sells for $8.00 plus shipping and handling.

Mary Helen Neupauer makes a special guest appearance on this album to sing the Bridal Dance, Redovy.

Songs on the cassette include 790 Polka, Are You the Girl Waltz, Crackerjack Polka, Horienka Hora Waltz, Red Barn Polka, Blue Sky Waltz, O Mother My Mother Czardas, Lite Beer Polka, Erlanger Polka, Forest Waltz, Good Luck to You Polka, Dancers Waltz, Tickle Polka, Mother Married Me Off, The Bridal Dance (Redovy), and The Orange Blossom Special.

Available on cassette, this recording sells for $8.00 plus shipping and handling.

The CD includes both the Slovak Capping Song, Cepenie, and the traditional Slovak Bridal Dance, Redovy. The songs are done in the tradition of the one man wedding band common at so many Slovak wedding receptions.

Songs on the CD include Cepenie (the Bridal Veil Song), Redovy (the traditional Slovak Bridal Dance), Trencianske Hodiny, Slovenske Mamicky, Hej Lucka Siroka, Ked Komara Zenili, Katarina, A Od Presova, Okolo Levoci, Mariana, Od Ungvara, Ej Haj, Na Pondelok Rano, On a Monday Morning, and everyone's favorite, Hej Slovaci.

Available on CD, this recording sells for $16.00 plus shipping and handling. A lyrics sheet is included.

The Slovakaires are joined by the Andy Carroll Trio on Remember Slovakia. The trio consists of Andy Carroll, Mike Goga, and Bucky Banyas.

Although each village, town, and zupa in Slovakia may have had their traditional songs, many of these have blossomed into national favorites and are sung throughout the Slovak Republic and the world because a Slovak folk hit has no geographical bounds and is sung wherever there is a Slovak.

Songs on the album include Hej Slovaci, Kto Za Pravdu Hori, Pridi Janik, Tancuj Tancuj, Preletela Prepelicka Prosa, Boleraz Boleraz, Hej Andy's Oberek, Ten Sarissky Zamok, Hej Pod Krivanom, Stary Nas, Pasol Jano, Tariara, Pridi Ty Suhajko, Flirtation, Sedemdesiat Sukien, Tecie Voda, Vodu Vodu, Hej Javor Javor, Ja Parobok Od Mihalovec, Moje Mile Premilene, Anicka Dusicka, Scarpie's Polka, and Redovy.

The version of the Slovak Bridal Dance, Redovy, on Remember Slovakia has ten Slovak verses and seven instrumental verses. As we mentioned on the Bridal Dance section at the Eastern European Wedding Traditions site, you need a lot of verses when each one is less than 15 seconds long and there are hundreds of people waiting to dance with the bride.

Available on cassette, this recording sells for $9.00 plus shipping and handling.

The music is by the Drietoma Folk Ensemble

If you are a fan of real Slovak Brass Band music, this is a great choice as it will include many of your most favorite tunes.

Available on cassette, this recording sells for $9.00 plus shipping and handling.

Songs on the CD are Nasa Anicka Len Za Janicka, Nechod Janku, Kolo Nas, Popred Na, Pockej Synecku Polka, Vydala Ma Mamka Waltz, Slovak Wedding Song Polka, Ja Parobok Od Mihalovec Czardas, Orphan Waltz, Pekna Zabradecka Polka, Si Moja Mila Polka, Ked Som Isiel, Hledam Galanecku, Neziobte Se Rodicove, Zomrela Ciganka Polka, Uz Troubeji Jeleni, Do Lesicka Na Cekanov, Pod Tym Nasim Okencekom Czardas, Moravan Waltz, Jedna Ruza, Dve Ruze, and Vychodi Siniecko.

The music is a great example of Slovak-American folk music with a delightful blend of Slovak tradition and "Cleveland Style" polka.

This CD was recorded and produced in manufactured in Cleveland, Ohio.

Available on CD, this recording sells for $13.00 plus shipping and handling.

There is only one song on this CD, a 45 minute instrumental version of the traditional Bridal Dance played at Eastern European weddings.

The Bridal Dance has become an American tradition for the children and descendants of immigrants from what is now Slovakia, Poland, and western Ukraine. The CD is also great to use at Anniversary parties to recreate the magic of the original wedding reception. Played by a four piece wedding band, several Grammy nominees were involved in the recording, engineering and production of this CD. The last dance of an Eastern European wedding reception before the bride and groom leave the reception is usually reserved for Redovy (Radovy, Rjadovyj) or the Bridal Dance. All the guests at the reception line up for a last chance to dance with the bride. It is customary to donate money to the newly wed couple for the priveledge of the dance. The money is put into an apron, basket, plate, or decorated box before dancing with the bride. The starosta (master of ceremonies) keeps the line moving, allowing only a few turns before cutting in for the next guest's chance to dance and share with the bride their good wishes before she and the groom begin their new life. After each guest dances with the bride, they may receive a drink and a piece of the freshly cut wedding cake or pastry. Their are many variations in lyrics dependant upon what village the families were from. Each verse, when played or sung at a normal tempo takes about 25 seconds to complete. A dance running 15 or 20 minutes can go through a lot of verses. Like many other Polish, Rusyn or Slovak songs sung by second or third generation immigrants, the words may be familiar but the meaning unknown. The words seem to have a serious and almost religious aire about them but the translation can be a surprise. Some verses are risque, some are just strange. We'll leave the risque verses for you to find on your own but include on this page a few of the more unusual ones..... Put some money in the plate Put some money in the plate for her high veiled bridal cap. for her high veiled bridal cap. Put some money in the plate. Put some money in the plate. Let the whole family help out. Let the whole family help out. The money is not enough. The money is not enough. Let the starosta help out. Let the starosta help out. The Bride would be happier, The Bride would be happier, if the groom was dancing with her. if the groom was dancing with her. Our bride is beautiful, Our bride is beautiful, but does she know how to work. but does she know how to work. And one the the strangest verses that I will let you translate from Slovak for yourself... Nasa mlada nevista Nasa mlada nevista Lem by jila kapustu. Lem by jila kapustu. The version in Slovak we are most familiar with starts out... Nasa mlada jak babka Nasa mlada jak babka zacepila ju svatka zacepila ju svatka The last to dance before the groom are the family of the bride and groom. Father dances with the bride Father damces with the bride He's so proud of his little girl He's so proud of his little girl Now the mother takes a turn Now the mother takes a turn Soon to have a family of her own Soon to have a family of her own After the final guest and family completes their dance with the bride, the groom takes his turn as the last verses play..... The bride dancing with the groom. The bride dancing with the groom. What a lovely couple they make. What a lovely couple they make. Take the bride away with you. Take the bride away with you. and love her till your death. and love her till your death. In Slovak the last verse would be... Vozmi ty ju ku sobi Vozmi ty ju ku sobi a miluj ju do smerti a miluj ju do smerti As the song ends, the bride and groom both leave the reception together. If we left out your favorite verse or missed an important part of the tradition as you know it, leave email to redovy@iarelative.com and we will add it to the description here.. If you have Carpatho-Rusyn, Lemko, Slovak or Polish roots and there is a wedding in your future, this is perfect. Available on CD, this recording sells for $16.00 plus shipping and handling. For Lemko wedding music, we suggest Lemko Wedding with the Dukia Ensemble. For Moravian Wedding music, visit the Czech Music Shop. For Jewish wedding music, we suggest Zeydes Un Eyniklekh, - Wedding and Simkhe, (joyous occasion) Music of Eastern European immigrants in America. Joel Rubin, 40, is the latest addition to a line of clarinet virtuosi stretching back to 19th century Eastern Europe which includes Dave Tarras and 83-year-old Max Epstein. The Epstein Brothers perform on the CD. This CD is available at JewishMusic.com.