KNUJ’s Polka Tradition Continues for 65 Years Strong

KNUJ radio has been playing polka music for the past 65 years.

KNUJ AM 860 went on the air May 22, 1949, and continues to broadcast at 1,000 watts during the daylight hours.

The studios are located at 317 North Minnesota Street in New Ulm, and studio and office in Sleepy Eye, MN.

The station airs one hour of polka per day Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. until noon, hosted by on-air radio personality Tom Wheeler, who took up the “Dinnerbell Hour,” as it is called, in 1990.

KNUJ’s other offering of polka music is Sunday afternoons from 12:15 until 4 p.m., with the “Sunday Polka Parade,” hosted by radio personalities John Brueske and Amy Zents.

For example, every Sunday from 12:30 to 1 p.m., listeners can expect to hear music from local talent, the Wendinger Band. Playing after the Wendinger Band for the next half-hour will be Alpensterne.

At 2:30 p.m., the station plays the Marv Nissel Band.

Another popular throwback is that KNUJ also operates a separate mail order business known as KNUJ Polka Parade CD sales, selling primarily polka music nationwide. The Polka Parade CD website can be found at www.polkaparade.com.