What a song writing team. Never heard of them? Finster and Krauss composed some of the best polka tunes in history. Neither was Polish, played the accordion, wore suspenders, or funny hats with feathers and lederhosen.
But they loved polka.
So why didn't their careers soar? Two words--Freddie Krazewski. He ruled the Polish polka underworld with an iron fist.
You do not get radio play or distribution unless you pay Freddie his dues. When he sent two associates to Finster and Kraus, they were defiant. So they were tossed onto sharp piano strings, causing cuts and bleeding, throwing the instrument out of tune.
The team decided to relocate to Arizona, not exactly a hot bed for polka. Soon they gave up and went their separate ways.
I actually purchased one of the few raw tapes of their music at a flea market. I shake my head at the sustained power and beauty of their work. I heard one writes Geico commercials and one became a funeral director.
I feel like the public got robbed.
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