Music Hall of Fame

inducts musicians

By KURT NESBITT

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- Flash bulbs popped and thank-yous were said as the Minnesota Music Hall of Fame inducted six more Minnesota musicians or groups Friday night.

For its 15th annual induction, the board of directors chose rocker Mike Glieden, the Minnesota Opera, the Minnesota Over 60 Band, bandleaders Jack Schultz and Erwin Suess and drummer Vern "Mojave" Schueller as its newest members.

Those honorees, their friends and families packed the German Rivers Room at the New Ulm Holiday Inn for what emcee and KNUJ Radio personality Brian FIlzen said was a record crowd for the ceremony.

The Minnesota Music Hall of Fame was started in New Ulm in 1989 as the Minnesota Polka Hall of Fame before it expanded its focus to include each and every form of Minnesota music.

Many past inductees like Slivers Dewanz and Elmer Scheid were in the crowd for the ceremony.

Each presentation was preceded by a short slide show that gave an overview of each performer's career. Many of the inductees are local, old-time music players although some have members from all over Minnesota.

The presentations were sandwiched in between Filzen's jokes and recognition of Hall of Fame volunteers and supporters.

Schueller, a self-taught drummer from Wabasso, was the first person to receive an award Friday night. Schueller first started playing drums 60 years ago on a drum set he built with his own hands. He learned to keep time by listening to the bands he heard on the radio. He later played with the Elmer Scheid Band for 30 years through many recording sessions and famous ballrooms of the past. At 84, he still plays drums today.

The Minnesota Opera was formed when the Guthrie Theater opened in 1963. It stayed a part of that theater until it became an independent organization in 1969, supplementing the Metropolitan Opera in Minneapolis and the St. Paul Opera as a forum for contemporary operas, while the others delivered more traditional fare. The Minnesota Opera merged with the St. Paul group in 1975 and adopted more classical music as a result of the union. These days, the Minnesota Opera performs exclusively at the Ordway Theater in St. Paul and is widely recognized for its education programs.

Fairmont native Jack Schultz first started out playing the concertina until he started the Jack Schultz Orchestra in the early 1960s, where also played drums and trombone and sang. The band has logged at least 100,000 miles each year for the past 35 years and won numerous awards in Minnesota. The band holds the record at the Kato Ballroom for playing 56 times in one year. Schultz currently lives in Ceylon, Minn.

Rocker Mike Glieden first started his band, the Rhythm Kings, when he was in high school in Arlington in the late 1950s. The band later won awards playing ballrooms and working as back-up musicians for national recording stars. They have also recorded several albums and played on the radio and television.

"I can't say what a big thrill this is," he said during his acceptance speech. "This is really a big honor."

Sleepy Eye native Erwin Suess first started playing button accordion at the age of six. He bought his first concertina in 1947 and started playing in bands. He formed the Hoolerie Dutchmen in 1969 and the band later received awards, recorded 15 albums and have traveled all over the U.S. and Canada. Suess's son made a short acceptance speech for his father, where he recognized the 30 other members of Suess's family, over half of whom are musicians.

The Minnesota Over 60 Band was the last group on the bill. It was started in 1953 in Gaylord when the Sibley County Senior Citizens were invited to show their hobbies at an annual meeting. The mayor of Gaylord, Otto Zarnott, organized some of his friends for the performance. The band, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary, plays up to 35 parades and concerts during summer throughout Minnesota.

"This is indeed a high honor," said member Jim Lynner, with five former band directors standing in front of the podium. "Thank you all very much."