Roger Bright
{{Short description|American polka musician}}{{Musician
| name = Roger Bright
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1937|02|12}}
| birth_place = New Glarus, Wisconsin, U.S.
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2001|08|28|1937|02|12}}
| death_place = Boulder, Colorado, U.S.
| genre = Polka
| occupation = musician, songwriter, composer, record producer, deejay
| instrument = accordion, voice
}}
Roger Bright (February 12, 1937 – August 28, 2001) was an American polka musician from New Glarus, Wisconsin. He played mostly Slovenian-style (or "Cleveland style") polka music with a "mellow touch" and "a Swiss lilt."{{Cite web |title=Roger Bright |url=http://www.clevelandstyle.com/roger~bright.html |access-date=2024-08-06 |website=www.clevelandstyle.com}}{{Cite book |last=Leary |first=James |title=Polkabilly: How the Goose Island Ramblers Redefined American Folk Music |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2010 |isbn=9780199756964}} As one of the most important Wisconsin polka musicians,{{Cite web |date=2024-09-30 |title=POLKA! The soundtrack to your favorite Oktoberfest celebration! {{!}} 91.1 The Avenue |url=https://avenueradio.com/extended-play/polka-the-soundtrack-to-your-favorite-oktoberfest-celebration/ |access-date=2024-10-05 |language=en-US}} he is known for popularizing the town of New Glarus ("America's Little Switzerland") among the polka community, and New Glarus' annual Polkafest is held every year in his honor.{{Cite web |date=2024-06-07 |title=New Glarus Polkafest |url=https://www.swisstown.com/events-ng/polkafest |access-date=2024-08-06 |website=New Glarus Chamber of Commerce & Tourist Information |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2024-05-06 |title=Polkafest |url=https://isthmus.com/events/polka-fest-annual/ |access-date=2024-10-05 |website=Isthmus {{!}} Madison, Wisconsin |language=en-us}}
Musical career
Roger Bright was born in New Glarus, Wisconsin, and began playing the accordion at age 12. He formed his first band at 15, and made his first recording at 19. While on tour in Slovenia he met Slavko Avsenik, who inspired him to add more Slovenian elements into his sound. Over the course of his career he played in 33 US states as well as 12 tours to Europe and Canada, both with his own band as well as playing in bands with Frankie Yankovic, Joey Miskulin, Slavko Avsenik, and many others.{{Cite web |title=Roger Bright – Deceased Category – Inducted 2003 – International Polka Association |url=https://www.ipapolkas.com/otw_pm_portfolio/roger-bright-deceased-category-inducted-2003/ |access-date=2024-08-06 |website=www.ipapolkas.com}} He is also notable for collaborating with Swiss-American yodeler and hotel owner Robie Schneider, who owned the famous New Glarus Hotel, which employed Bright's band as the house band for many years.{{Cite book |last=March |first=Rick |title=Polka Heartland: Why the Midwest Loves to Polka |last2=Blau |first2=Dick |publisher=Wisconsin Historical Society Press |year=2015 |isbn=9780870207235 |publication-date=}}{{Cite web |title='The Yodel Room' restaurant announced |url=https://themonroetimes.com/local-news/the-yodel-room-restaurant-announced-august-28-2024/ |access-date=2024-10-05 |website=themonroetimes.com}}
He recorded 35 albums over the course of his career, for Cuca Records as well as his own self-founded polka record label Bright Productions. He performed concerts with the St. Louis Pops Orchestra around the country, and appeared on TV shows such as The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, The Phil Donahue Show, The Charlotte Peters Show, and Don McNeill's Breakfast Club.
Death
Bright died on August 28th, 2001, at Boulder Community Hospital in Boulder, Colorado.{{Cite web |last=WIRE |date=2001-09-02 |title=Roger Bright, member of the state Polka Hall of Fame, dies at age 64 |url=https://journaltimes.com/news/state-and-regional/roger-bright-member-of-the-state-polka-hall-of-fame-dies-at-age-64/article_ac463059-699f-5eda-9e22-1496e84ca53c.html |access-date=2024-08-07 |website=Journal Times |language=en}} He suffered a heart attack while performing on stage at a polka festival in Boulder, and died shortly after.{{Cite news |date=2001-09-01 |title=Obituary for Roger Bright, 1937-2001 (Aged 64) |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/wisconsin-state-journal-obituary-for-rog/60379971/ |access-date=2024-08-06 |work=Wisconsin State Journal |pages=12}}
Awards
Bright was inducted into the Wisconsin Polka Hall of Fame in 2000, the National Cleveland Style Polka Hall of Fame in 2002, and the International Polka Association Hall of Fame in 2003. He received official commendations from Wisconsin governor Tommy Thompson and from the state of Michigan, a key to the city of Grand Haven, Michigan, and numerous other awards throughout his home state of Wisconsin.{{Cite web |title=Polka performers, promoters leave a lasting legacy |url=https://ampoleagle.com/polka-performers-promoters-leave-a-lasting-legacy-p17154-191.htm |access-date=2024-10-05 |website=ampoleagle.com |language=en}}