Music & Dance News
September/October 2019
Page 1
Music & Dance News
The Minnesota Ballroom Operators Association Newspaper
$3 95
Sept./Oct. 2019
Submitted photos
Ray Sands and the Polka Dots, pictured here in July 2019, have been entertaining for 70 years.
Ray Sands and the Polka Dots celebrate 70 years
to continue to perform at
area dances, and called
themselves “The Polka
Dots.”
Throughout the 1950s
and 1960s, the band ex-
perienced much success;
on average performing
five nights per week.
Sunday afternoons, the
band performed at a live
broadcast on KAAA ra-
dio in the State Theatre
in Zumbrota, MN.
The Polka Dots re-
corded their first record
with the North Star
Record label in 1953.
“The Kapootzer Polka”
was recorded at Kay-
bank Studio in St. Paul,
MN and sold more than
10,000 copies.
Accordionist
Ray
Sands took over leading
the band in 1963.
Throughout the years,
the band performed at
various well-known ball-
rooms across the state,
including the Prom Ball-
room, Marigold Ball-
room, BelRae Ballroom,
Majestic Ballroom, Play-
Mor Ballroom, Schlief’s
Little City, Monterey
Ballroom, and the Me-
dina Entertainment Cen-
ter.
In 1978, band mem-
bers and 150 of their
beloved fans traveled to
the International Polka
Festival in Kitzbuhel,
Austria.
In 1982, the band re-
turned overseas to per-
form in Copenhagen,
Label Here
Denmark and various
cities in Norway.
In 1989, the band re-
corded another album,
titled “Best of the Polka
Dots,” in honor of their
40th anniversary.
At the request of US
Senator Rod Grams, the
Polka Dots were invited
to perform at The Ken-
nedy Center in Wash-
ington, DC, to represent
the great state of Min-
nesota.
In July 1997, a busload
of loyal fans joined band
members at the nation’s
capitol for an outstand-
ing performance that
included guest perfor-
mances by internation-
Continued on page 6
Published by
Herald Journal Publishing
PO Box 129
Winsted, MN 55395
Now in their 70th year
of performing polka mu-
sic, Ray Sands and The
Polka Dots continues to
entertain music-lovers
around the state of Min-
nesota.
For seven decades,
a plethora of polkas,
waltzes, and old-time
music have been enjoyed
by young and old in a
variety of venues – from
area dance halls to inter-
national stages.
History of the band
The band formed in
the summer of 1949, to
raise money for a new
community hospital in
Zumbrota, MN.
After a successful
fundraiser and concert
season, the band decided
CHANGE SERVICE
REQUESTED
PRESORT STD
US POSTAGE PAID
Winsted, MN
Permit #30