Little Bohemian Band
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A BIT OF HISTORY: Gene Sadowsky was born in Dickinson,
North Dakota. He lost his father when he was four years old.
At age seven, he was given a 12-base accordion by his mother.
He took lessons for three months, but at 75 cents a week, it was
too expensive. That Christmas his mother gave him a three
speed record player and one record. She continued to buy him
tne record a month for several years. That’s how Gene learned
to play the accordion.
CREATING A FOLLOWING: Gene loved accordion music. He
played for his mother all the time, and also at family picnics and
dinner parties. One time he played on KDIX-TV,
and his three nieces sang “Kay sa-da”. In Oregon, Gene played
the accordion with his older brother, Ed, who played the button accordion, and with Ed’s
oldest son, Ron, who
played the drums. Ed thought they sounded pretty good, so a band was formed, The
Sadowsky Three. They played at dances and parties around the Albany area.
In 1987, Gene and Ron formed another family band called The Sadowsky Homelanders,
which included Ron’s children, Aaron and Heather. A friend, Bob Yates, joined the group.
in 1996, Gene started a band called Little Bohemian Band. Gene played the accordion,
Bob Yates played the string base, tuba, and sang with Gene. Dwight Schuelein played
the saxophone and clarinet. Dale Elhard played the drums. In 2000, Richard Kadrmas
joined the band on the accordion, and his wife, Judie, played the tuba, string bass, and
the piano. Dale Elhard passed away, and Gary Rhinevault took his place. Dwight
Schuelein passed away in 2002. Merle Tofte from Portland, OR, has played bass, banjo
and sang with Gene since 1997. Gene added Jack Hillend and Earle Minor to the group.
They played the trumpet, saxophone, clarinet, and Jack assisted Gene in vocals. In 2003,
Bud Chase joined the band, and played the tuba and stand up bass. Marty Steckler,
originally from Richardton, North Dakota, started playing the accordion at age 5, playing
for social and family gatherings. In 1967, he moved his family to the state of Washington,
and had his own band for years in the local Seattle area. In 2003, Marty and Gene played
in a jam session, and they have been playing together ever since. Gene regularly
schedules events, which include Polkafests, Octoberfests, weddings, anniversaries, and
dance festivals that last the whole weekend. Inviting other bands to participate, these
events create fun in Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Wyoming, Montana, North Dakota,
South Dakota, Minnesota and California. Gene, Marty and the band played at the “Big
Joe Polka Show” in Medina, Minnesota. The TV show airs on the RFD Satellite Station.
Gene Sadowsky and the Little Bohemian Band entertain many with polkas, waltzes, the 2-
step, swing, Dixieland, country, and Latin numbers. In August, 2001, the group made their
first tape and CD, First Time Around. In 2002, their second tape and CD, Accordionally
Yours, was introduced. Gene along with Marty, are working on a CD which will be out in
2007.
Polka cruises have become the highlight of Little Bohemian Band: Mexican Riviera in
2004, Western Caribbean in 2005, Acapulco in 2006 and the Eastern Caribbean in
2007.
GENE’S MAIN OBJECTIVE IS TO MAKE PEOPLE HAPPY. ACCORDION MUSIC IS
THE KEY . . . . .GENE SADOWSKY:
Biography CONTACT GENE: 802 NW Quarry Road Albany, OR 97321-1562
Home 541-928-9774 • Cell 541-990-3109 • Email littlebohemianband@comcast.net
North Dakota. He lost his father when he was four years old.
At age seven, he was given a 12-base accordion by his mother.
He took lessons for three months, but at 75 cents a week, it was
too expensive. That Christmas his mother gave him a three
speed record player and one record. She continued to buy him
tne record a month for several years. That’s how Gene learned
to play the accordion.
CREATING A FOLLOWING: Gene loved accordion music. He
played for his mother all the time, and also at family picnics and
dinner parties. One time he played on KDIX-TV,
and his three nieces sang “Kay sa-da”. In Oregon, Gene played
the accordion with his older brother, Ed, who played the button accordion, and with Ed’s
oldest son, Ron, who
played the drums. Ed thought they sounded pretty good, so a band was formed, The
Sadowsky Three. They played at dances and parties around the Albany area.
In 1987, Gene and Ron formed another family band called The Sadowsky Homelanders,
which included Ron’s children, Aaron and Heather. A friend, Bob Yates, joined the group.
in 1996, Gene started a band called Little Bohemian Band. Gene played the accordion,
Bob Yates played the string base, tuba, and sang with Gene. Dwight Schuelein played
the saxophone and clarinet. Dale Elhard played the drums. In 2000, Richard Kadrmas
joined the band on the accordion, and his wife, Judie, played the tuba, string bass, and
the piano. Dale Elhard passed away, and Gary Rhinevault took his place. Dwight
Schuelein passed away in 2002. Merle Tofte from Portland, OR, has played bass, banjo
and sang with Gene since 1997. Gene added Jack Hillend and Earle Minor to the group.
They played the trumpet, saxophone, clarinet, and Jack assisted Gene in vocals. In 2003,
Bud Chase joined the band, and played the tuba and stand up bass. Marty Steckler,
originally from Richardton, North Dakota, started playing the accordion at age 5, playing
for social and family gatherings. In 1967, he moved his family to the state of Washington,
and had his own band for years in the local Seattle area. In 2003, Marty and Gene played
in a jam session, and they have been playing together ever since. Gene regularly
schedules events, which include Polkafests, Octoberfests, weddings, anniversaries, and
dance festivals that last the whole weekend. Inviting other bands to participate, these
events create fun in Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Wyoming, Montana, North Dakota,
South Dakota, Minnesota and California. Gene, Marty and the band played at the “Big
Joe Polka Show” in Medina, Minnesota. The TV show airs on the RFD Satellite Station.
Gene Sadowsky and the Little Bohemian Band entertain many with polkas, waltzes, the 2-
step, swing, Dixieland, country, and Latin numbers. In August, 2001, the group made their
first tape and CD, First Time Around. In 2002, their second tape and CD, Accordionally
Yours, was introduced. Gene along with Marty, are working on a CD which will be out in
2007.
Polka cruises have become the highlight of Little Bohemian Band: Mexican Riviera in
2004, Western Caribbean in 2005, Acapulco in 2006 and the Eastern Caribbean in
2007.
GENE’S MAIN OBJECTIVE IS TO MAKE PEOPLE HAPPY. ACCORDION MUSIC IS
THE KEY . . . . .GENE SADOWSKY:
Biography CONTACT GENE: 802 NW Quarry Road Albany, OR 97321-1562
Home 541-928-9774 • Cell 541-990-3109 • Email littlebohemianband@comcast.net
GENE SADOWSKY: Biography
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