Mention the Dick Tady Orchestra in the Pennsylvania tri-state area and you will hear their polka loving fans speak highly of the talent and longevity this band possesses.
Dick Tady joined the Kenny Kron band in 1962, taking over as band leader in 1963, changing the name of the band to the Dick Tady Orchestra. Over the years, the band went through some changes in musicians, but the core of the group Dick Tady, Bob McBride and Joe Gill remained the steadfast of the group and are still members today.
They went onto achieve many musical accomplishments while performing throughout Ohio, West Virginia, New York, New Jersey and their home state of Pennsylvania. They’ve also performed in Wisconsin, Tennessee, Florida, Hawaii, Canada and the Caribbean.
While they carry the banner of “American-Slovenian” style polkas and waltzes, their musical talents are not limited to polka music. They also play excellent Croatian-Dalmatian, German, Serbian and Swiss arrangements, specializing in tremendous sounding four-part vocal harmonies, not to be matched anywhere in the polka business. The DTO not only plays ethnic music, they’ve mastered the art of playing all styles of American music, including; Big Band, Oldies, Country, Pop and Rock-N-Roll music.
With over 16 albums and CD’s, a professionally released video, appearing on television commercials, performing at the Pittsburgh Arts Festival, Pittsburgh Steelers Tailgate Parties, performed and guest hosted Pittsburgh’s #1 Rock station WDVE, appeared in Pittsburgh Pirates music video, a motion picture and appearing in four episodes of the nationally televised RFD-TV hit show “Mollie B’s Polka Party”, you can be sure they are working on their next project.
Some of the DTO’s recognized achievements include the Recording Academy with a Gammy Nomination in 1994, followed by becoming Grammy Award Participants in 1995 with the song “My Lu-Lu Belle Polka” on Walter Ostanek’s album entitled “Accodionally Yours”. They’ve also been recognized by the National Cleveland Style Polka Hall of Fame when they received the honor of “Band of the Year” in 1995, repeating the honor again in 2010, as well as taking home the “Best New Song” award for Dick’s button box composition “Labella Luna Waltz (Margie’s Song) that same year.
While the DTO has experienced much notable success as a group, the musicians who make up this award winning band have gone onto some individual achievements as well. You can read more about them under each musicians bio.