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Syl's Dance Bands AZ and WA |
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squeezeboxsyl@yahoo.com |
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About Us
RESUME for BAND MEMBERS: SYLVIA'S ARIZONA DANCE BAND (Winter) EDUCATION Sylvia's maternal grandparents emigrated from Romsdal, Norway and her paternal grandparents from Ostrobothnia, the Swedish-speaking part of Finland. She grew up in Skagit County surrounded by Scandinavian activities and music. Her Swedish-Finn father, Sigfrid Johnson, played accordion and had a dance band. Sylvia sang with her dad’s band as soon as she could talk, and sang with choirs in school and church most of her life. Sylvia began flute lessons at age 8 and switched to piano when ten years old. The following year, she took private violin lessons and played in an All Girl Violin Ensemble and in high school and college orchestras. She began accordion lessons at twelve years of age from Hugo Helmer, a Swedish emigrant. She soon became a member of the Hugo Helmer Accordion Band. They played for dances, performances, and marched in parades as far away as Seattle and Canada. Sylvia formed her own dance band in high school called "Sylvia's Orchestra” with up to seven members. They played for grange dances and high school proms throughout several counties. She worked her way through college playing with the band. She became an elementary vocal music specialist in Puyallup Schools. Her husband, Ron (Gus) Storaasli, (deceased) whom she met and married in college, taught mathematics and coached at Lakes High School in Clover Park Schools. They had four sons. Sylvia retired from music performance while raising the boys but continued her teaching career for nearly twenty eight years. In 1983, Sylvia organized a Scandinavian-American dance band and called it "Sylvia and Fjordsong." A repertoire of polka and country music was added in1986, with the addition of Carl Nyberg to the band. In 1992 and 1994, they played in Upsalla and Stockholm, Sweden, and Parunka, and Vasa, Finland. They have traveled to entertain at numerous Scandinavian and polka festivals in the United States and Canada. Sylvia also enjoys writing and arranging music. FAMILY Sylvia's first love is playing the accordion, following the footsteps of her father. She also plays piano, guitar, recorder, and violin and likes to sing. She sang in the Pacific Lutheran University's Choir of the West and in other church choirs. She also directed Elementary School choirs, grades 5-6 grade and wrote and directed the all-district BiCenntenial Program in 1976. She began a youth choir, the Pilgrim Singers, at Pilgrim Lutheran Church in Puyallup. Sylvia enjoys many styles of music but Scandinavian songs are her specialty. The band plays annually for the Scandinavian Heritage Festival at the Puyallup Fairgrounds and has performed shows from Washington to Florida. Their favorite show is ”An Emigrant Story" which they presented in Oregon, Montana, Minnesota, North Dakota, and in Canada, Sweden and Finland. The music of all Scandinavian countries is represented in their programs. Among her favorite songs are: Livet i Finnskogarna, Nidelven, Greet the Folks at Home (Hals fra meg der hjemme), and Meet Me in Stockholm, Baby. Sylvia is a member of Sons of Norway, Order of Vasa, and the Swedish-Finn Historical Society. She has written articles for the SFHS newsletter after researching family roots in Norway, Finland, and the United States. SYLVIA'S ARIZONA DANCE BAND Carl's father was born in Sweden and his mother in Finland. They emigrated and settled in St. Mary's, Idaho where Carl was born. He learned to speak Finnish in the home. After high school graduation, Carl went to school in Texas where he got his airplane mechanic license. He owned a professional aerial crop dusting business in Pullman, WA. He flew for thirty five years without an accident. His music career began when he learned to play fiddle in grade school and later added guitar and banjo. He has attended polka festivals all over the United States and was a personal friend of Frankie Yankovic. He had his own band in the Spokane area before joining Sylvia's band in 1986. He has traveled with the band throughout the United States, and to Canada, and Scandinavian countries. Carl has continued to play in Sylvia's band for twenty three years. Two years ago, he moved to Arizona and plays the winter seasons with her band. Carl also performs individually and for assisted care facilities, entertaining the seniors with old time music. SYLVIA'S ARIZONA DANCE BAND Musician, Composer, Arranger Dick spent two years in the military service with U.S. Army’s 101st Airborne Division Band in Kentucky and the 2nd Army Band in Maryland. He toured the mid-south and eastern states performing for many public and military events. One highlight was appearing monthly with the 2nd Army’s Stage Band in New York City on a coast to coast television show Stars on Parade.ťAfter returning to Cleveland from military service, Dick performed with many bands including Ed Buehner, Chuck Smith, Ray Budzilek (3 Albums on Capitol Records plus TV shows), Eddy Stampfl (7 years on TV Variety shows), Johnny Pecon (TV shows & 1 Album on Dana Records), & Ernie Benedict-(TV shows). Always seeking a new genre, he was found working at the Aragon Ballroom in Cleveland with the Phil Nelson Orchestra and also the country club and convention/show circuit with the late Art Broze. This was a fantastic experience which came to an end when a move to Michigan with the family became necessary because of a GM job transfer. In Michigan, Dick quickly found his way to being a member of the house band at Russelville Ballroom, playing weekends. He then joined the Andy Nester Orchestra-(1 record album), for several years. From there he spent several years with the Eddie Adamic Band (3 trips to Europe). He also was a member of the Gaylord Klancnik Orchestra-(1 recording project). Performed and recorded six Grammy Nominee projects with the Walter Ostanek Orchestra and three Grammy nominee projects with Ron Sluga. He is currently with the Big Daddy Lackowski Orchestra-(3 recording projects). Other musicians he has worked with are Al Nowak (backing up Myron Floren shows). Dick also backed up Frankie Yankovic when he performed in MI and Canada. Performed with the Jimmy Sturr Orchestra when he appeared in MI. Jimmy Sturr recorded one of Dick’s original compositions Speedline Polka which is on one of Jimmy’s Grammy Award winning CD’s. In 1992, Dick was inducted into The Michigan Polka Music Hall of Fame and the Cleveland Style Polka Hall of Fame-Lifetime Achievement Trustees Honor Roll. He is a life member of The American Federation of Musicians. Dick and his wife Helen have shifting gears from MI to AZ for the winter months. SYLVIA'S ARIZONA DANCE BAND Lou had his drumming experience in the mid-west but now lives and plays drums in the Valley of the Sun, Arizona. He joined Sylvia's band last year as the band's live drummer for polka dances. He is also a fine singer and especially shines at singing old time waltzes and polkas. He is always in demand and plays for several other bands in the area. He and his wife live in Sun City, Arizona. SYLVIA'S NORTHWEST BAND "YA SURE YA BETCHA" Paul grew up with music. He is Sylvia's brother and enjoyed all of the Johnson family music activities with his dad (Sig Johnson accordionist), and sisters, Sylvia and Sharon, and brother Steve. He drummed at an early age and played with the Mount Vernon High School Band and Hugo Helmer's Accordion Band. He played through college as a member of the Crossfires Dance Band at Washington State University. He drummed many years with his dad's dance band and began playing with Sylvia's band in 1984. He also plays with local area bands. Paul is a retired Industrial Arts teacher. He taught High School Industrial Arts in the Shoreline School District and received a Teacher of the Year award. He also taught at Burlington High School and for the Whidbey Island School District. He and his wife, Sally, both retired, enjoy gardening on their beautiful 5-acre ranch in Bow, WA. SYLVIA'S YA SURE YA BETCHA BAND (Northwest) Phil brings vast experience and professionalism to the band. He has played for many years in jazz groups. He also plays engagements with his own jazz band, the Matison Avenue Band. He joined Sylvia's Ya Sure Ya Betcha Band in December 2007. Phil is a retired police officer and worked in Tacoma and Puyallup. He lives with his wife Kimberley in Tacoma, WA. SYLVIA'S YA SURE YA BETCHA BAND (Northwest) Listening to the expert picking of Mike Nelson is sure to be a pleasant experience. He has a large background of guitar experience and plays many styles of music. Mike is both musician and band leader of the Mike Nelson Trio which specializes in jazz. He had played part-time with Sylvia's band since May of 2008 performing in spring, summer, fall, and in December. He recently picked up banjo and provides a lively contribution to old time foxtrots and polkas. Mike and his wife, Rose, make their home in Tacoma, WA.
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