{"id":39033,"date":"2011-09-12T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2011-09-12T05:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.unmc.edu\/newsroom\/2011\/09\/12\/bill-scott-polka-is-happiness\/"},"modified":"2022-09-02T20:18:19","modified_gmt":"2022-09-03T01:18:19","slug":"bill-scott-polka-is-happiness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.unmc.edu\/newsroom\/2011\/09\/12\/bill-scott-polka-is-happiness\/","title":{"rendered":"Bill Scott: ‘Polka is happiness!’"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ahead of his performance with “Scotty and the Grateful Meds” at Tuesday’s Student Plaza Dedication Ceremony, Omaha philanthropist Bill Scott talks with UNMC Today about his music. <\/p>\n


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\nThe slideshow above features images from Wednesday’s practice of Scotty and the Grateful Meds.
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\n<\/TABLE>How long have you played trumpet?<\/B><\/p>\n

Well, I am 80 and I started when I was 10. I loved the sound of the trumpet and my dad bought me a $20 used horn from the parents of some kid who had given up.<\/p>\n

Who is your favorite trumpet player? <\/B><\/p>\n

That’s easy — Romy Gosz<\/a>. The Polka King of 1940s and 1950s — he led a band from Manitowoc, Wis.<\/p>\n

How long have you played in bands? <\/B><\/p>\n

I have played in weekend bands as a hobby off and on for 50 years or so. Mostly polka bands or Lawrence Welk-type ensembles, which are almost the same. <\/p>\n

What was your most fun experience playing music? <\/B><\/p>\n

Probably going to polka festivals with my band and fan club in a bus and playing to huge crowds with our fan club out in front of the stage clapping and waving hankies. Wow, that was a real “high!”<\/p>\n

What is your favorite song to play? <\/B><\/p>\n

How about “Beer Barrel Polka,” which also is known as “Roll Out the Barrel” or “Skoda Lasky” in Czech. This song was:
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