Chmielewski – A Family of Entertainers
Florian’s 70-year career
At the age of 87, Florian celebrated his 70th year playing his accordion in 2015.
In 1945, at the age of 18, Florian had a repertoire of only four songs, but was hired to play his first job at the village hall in Sturgeon Lake – where he was born – for a wedding dance.
As time went on, and after serving 3.5 years in the Army Air Force, he organized the original five Chmielewski Brothers Polka Band.
In 1955, he produced the Polish TV Party on WDSM TV, which was televised in black-and-white.
Since then, he produced more than 3,000 TV shows, known as Chmielewski Funtime, which were televised on 42 stations nationwide, including the RFD-TV network in Omaha, NE.
In 1994, he was inducted into the Minnesota Music Hall of Fame in New Ulm.
In 1995, he was inducted into the Ironworld USA Hall of Fame in Chisholm, MN, where, as of 2003, his daughter, Patty, resides alongside him.
In 2013, after delivering the commencement address at the Fond Du Lac College in Cloquet, MN, he was awarded an honorary doctorate degree in law and music.
Florian still actively performs 150 events annually, and has managed Funtime Tours – bringing folks to Branson, MO every year by motorcoach, as well as several other tours throughout the year.
2016 Chmielewski Polkafest
Patty Chmielewski, event coordinator and tour manager for the Chmielewski Band, announced recently that the 38th annual International Polka Festival will take place Friday, May 20 through Sunday, May 22 at Grand Casino Hinckley, 777 Lady Luck Drive in Hinckley, MN; phone 800-472-6321.
For more information about the International Polka Festival, contact Patty at (612) 597-8116.
ChmieBell Tours
Florian recently gave management of both the band and the tours to his daughter, Patty.
She has brought new energy and excitement to his businesses, and has renamed the tours ChmieBell Tours, to reflect her name and Michael Bell’s name.
Patty and Michael give one-on-one personal service to all their travelers, who can participate in their motorcoach tours throughout the year.
For more information, visit the website, www.ChmieBellTours.com.
