THE LEO MAJEK ORCHESTRA: FROM THE CZECH LANDS TO TEXAS

The Majek Orchestra is one of the few polka and waltz bands in the United States still performing that can trace its beginnings back to Central Europe in the late 1800s. Leo Majek began playing his accordion in his hometown of Slavkov, Moravia and never stopped. His arrival in America in the early 1900s and subsequent prosperity enabled him to form an orchestra based out of Cameron, which along with two of his sons became a highly requested orchestra in the area. However, music didn’t pay the bills, and farming wasn’t paying well so Leo relocated his family to Corpus Christi, where he and family members worked in the shipyards. There was a large Czech and German community in and around Corpus which was ready for some fresh dancing music.

With the advent of WW II, five of Leo and Rosie’s six sons went into the military. All five returned home safely. It was during this trying time that Rosie and one of the son’s, John, wrote Memories of Cameron, a waltz which describes Rosie’s feelings as her son’s were in harm’s way. The song gained attention when The Majeks performed it on the Temple Radio Station in 1952. Memories of Cameron has become a standard recorded by many polka bands.

The six sons joined their father on stage and for decades performed around Texas, returning every year to their roots in Cameron. The Majek Orchestra evolved over the decades as sons of sons joined and left the band. For the rest of the story and more in between, be sure to attend the Heritage Fest’s annual Muziky, Muziky at 7 p.m. on October 16 at the Texas Czech Heritage & Cultural Center, 250 West Fairgrounds Road, in La Grange, and hear the sounds of the legendary Leo Majek Orchestra along with MC Alfred Vrazel.

John had a son, Jerry, who was eager to play music. He learned every instrument he could and by the age of fifteen was playing sousaphone in his Grandfather’s orchestra. Years later Jerry took over the band as his elders went into retirement.

At a New Year’s Eve dance in 1964, a young, pretty accordion player, Martha Ann Stefek from the Lone Star Polka Boys came to see the Majeks play into the early morning hours. Martha Ann and Jerry became smitten with each other which led to marriage and more generations of musicians were eventually born.

Their two daughters, Jeanette and Janell, and son, Justin, occasionally sang; their son, Jerome, still performs with them as well as Justin’s son, Austin, and Jerome’s daughter, Lauren.

Several years back, there were five generations of Majeks performing on stage. The Majeks are a true legendary family polka band.