Jack E. Zolnierowski aka Wackie Jackie Z

Jack's love affair with Polkas began in Rochester N.Y his birthplace. His father, Ed Zolnierowski loved to Polka Dance and loved to listen to Polka band recordings. This love of music Ed past down to Jack from birth.

At the age of 4, Jack was encouraged to learn a musical instrument and he choose the drums after watching a movie about Gene Krupa. Due to his natural rhythm and love of music, Jack quickly excelled and went on to win amateur contest after amateur contest. At age 5 he played in front of 10,000 people at Red Wing Stadium in Rochester NY at their annual Polish Night.

As a result of this event, Jack would be invited to sit in as a guest drummer with Polka bands who performed in Rochester, Buffalo and Syracuse NY. Groups included, The Connecticut Twins, Happy Louie, Ray Budzilek and Marion Lush to name a few. He was also involved with a performing group called the Rochester JC's and performed over 60 dates a year for charity events.

By Age 7, Jack's father put together a duo with Jack's cousin Johnny and Jackie Z and the Polka Tots were born. Later they added a trumpet player and went on to win the City of Rochester Talent Contest and win the key to the city award with the Laughing Polka. The trio performed over 70 dates a year and performed on Live TV and Live Radio.

At age 12 Jack joined a larger band with older musicians and played locally and throughout New York State. At 16 he joined the The Hy-Tones. He recorded his first record 7 months later entitled Hudson Ave Style Polkas. Six months later he recorded the Wabash Cannonball Polka with the Polka Land Band. That tune was discovered by Jimmy Sturr and Jimmy recorded it note for note on a 45 and on an LP. The original 45 is a Polka Collectable.

Since then Jack has recorded with a number of Polka bands including L'il Wally, Joe Oberaitis and Rick Piotrowski to name a few. In addition he has recorded with a Rock-A Billy band and Blues bands and wrote a song for a Bare Foot Ski Video while living in Winter Haven Florida. He also wrote the Lyrics to Polkaitis on Joe's latest CD Polkaitis by Oberaitis. The song was written about his father, Ed Zolnierowski and to honor him.

While Jack is a musician through and through, he is also a music fan and loves to Polka dance. Having said that, he likes the music people like to dance to. He likes a band with a Good Polka Beat! While Polkas are his favorite, he enjoys all types of music and is able to play with many different types of bands.

He has been Joe Oberaitis's drummer since 1994. This opportunity afforded Jack to learn the classic styles of many drummers due to Joe's record collection and Joe's attention to Polka drumming details. As Joe always said, A drummer can make or break a Polka band.

Now at the age of 50, marking 46 years in the music business, Jack has the great opportunity to host a weekly LIVE Polka Variety Show called the Polka Party Express on WMNF 88.5FM in Tampa, Florida. His desire to host a show on a community radio station for the community is right up his alley. He modeled the show after long time DJ and Polka Musician, Ray Serafin of Rochester, NY who has been on the air since August 2nd, 1981.

Where did the name Wackie Jackie Z come from? Well, Jack has a great since of humor and is HIGH ENERGY. However, while living in Winter Haven, Florida he got the Church Choir and Church Band to have a secret rehearsal and got them to learn In Heaven There is No Beer Polka. During a Church concert, he took over the band and dedicated the song to the Pastor and visiting clergy. The crowd laughed until they cried. At the end of the song the piano player leaned over to Jack and said, "It's Wackie Jackie and the Polkateers, we're a hit!"

Jack greatest thrill in music to date, having L'il Wally the World's Polka King invite Jack to play drums on his last Jay Jay recording.