Young Ken & his Accordion
As far back as I can remember music has been a part of my life. My
great grandfather was a violinist in Prussia. His son, my grandfather played
trombone with John Phillip Sousa. I can remember stories that he told me of playing in the band. He would tell stories of how they were treated like the modern day Beatles when they came to town. Women would send flowers
with their room numbers to entice them. One of my favorite stories of his was playing for an event where President William Howard Taft was giving a speech and he so blocked the view of three trombonists with his over 400 pound frame that my grandfather and the other trombonist had to play with their slides pointed upward so not to hit him in the butt. My grandfather would tell stories and play with me for hours.
Baby Ken starts Music early
I was born in Cleveland, Ohio and was exposed to music at a very young
age. At eighteen months I broke my leg which was the first of many broken bones. I would listen by the hour to all kinds of music such as Tommy Dorsey, Gene Krupa,and Benny Goodman. On the old fashioned Victorolla my parents would put on ten 78 records at a time and of course played them over and over. My father’s band would practice at our house and I would watch and listen intently. My father bought me a set of drums but they didn’t hold my interest. At eight years old I started talking accordion lessons with Martin Disimone, and I felt so fortunate because he was so thorough and detail orientated. After only three weeks he wanted to drop me saying I had no ability, and that I didn’t apply myself. I received the biggest and hardest spanking of my life. My father told me, “you will learn this instruction or I will kill you in the process”. Every night he sat down at the piano while I played my accordion for two hours. Every time my mind would wander or I looked at the clock…spat, wham, bang, I’d hear, “pay attention or I’ll lamb you one”. My mother would say, “don’t hit him in the head, you’ll make him an imbecile”.
Ken, first Accordion, & Dad (Lee Novak)
My father, Lee Novak was a drummer who played in the Frankie
Yankovic’s Polka Band in the thirties. Yankovic was considered America’s Polka King.
Garage Jam Session
Dad on Drums Ken on Accordion
At fifteen years old I started to play the accordion with Sammy C. and The Cavaliers. I played with them through High School. After graduation from John Adams High School I attended the Cleveland Institute of Music as a Theory Major. It was then I switched over to the piano. During this time I studied three years with Jazz pianist Bill Gidney, and three years of classical accordion with Mickey Basilia inYoungstown, Ohio. Basilia would transcribe various classical concertos for the accordion for me to work on.
Watch Out!!
Here comes Rock & Roll for Teenage Ken
From the time I was 16 to about 21, I no longer needed anyone to force me to practice, as music became an obsession. I was obsessed with excelling and the need to strive to be the best. I played jobs with various bands from the ages of 21 to 25 years old. I worked with my father Lee Novak-Polkas and Standards, and Herb Walker-Society Music. I switched to a Cordovox in 1965, and played with Betty Robertson’s Jazz Trio, John Stebal, Frank Falcone, Sam Terry Comedy Trio, and Jay Terry Variety Band.
In 1968 a big decision was made to work for the Bob Lorence Agency. Bob Lorence started me out working as a Cordovox single at various Cleveland Country Clubs and house parties. I also was a sideman playing with various bands during this time with his agency as well. By doing this work he taught me to pick up and learn what was right and what was wrong. He taught me the business of entertaining. In 1971 he built a band around me. I then had "my own Group". The members were Chuck Lilley, guitar, Dick Flaisman, saxophone, Jack Ponickvar, on the drums, and myself on the Cordovox. In 1972 trumpet player Dave Stankawitz replaced Dick Flaisman, and Sterling Wilson replaced Jack Ponickvar. Along in 1978 Mike Sochor replaced Chuck Lilley.
In 1981 I left the Bob Lorence Agency and became partners with Mike
Sochor. We added girl vocalist Cathy Miller and when she joined us, we started booking ourselves. We began specializing in weddings and Bar Mitzvahs.
In 1981, I realized that playing the Cordovox in my band presented a very
bad image problem. I wasn’t able to get the high paying weddings that
were out there. I needed to revamp things a bit. I scrapped the Cordovox
and switched over to the keyboard. I then hired a more rock orientated
drummer, Charley Tupa. The band began rehearsing weekly and playing
more of the top 40 songs. We specialized in weddings and Bar Mitzvahs.
We would do a first set of show tunes and light jazz then go into a top 40
set inter-spruced with the Hora (Jewish dance) or polka (for non Jewish
weddings). By 1984 we were booked solid with about 4 wedding per
weekend. It was then that we cloned the band and formed a second Ken
Novak Band with Mike Sochor as leader. All through 1985 and 1986 we
kept the 2 bands working. During that period of time we were Cleveland’s
busiest and most sought after wedding bands.
In 1987 (maybe it was male change of life), I did something that I NEVER
thought I would do. I left the friendly confines of Cleveland, Ohio and
moved to Tucson, Arizona. I moved with singer/guitarist Richard D’Amato
and put together a group that we called Executive Sweet and an
Entertainment Agency called Executive Entertainment.
Executive Sweet 1987
We specialized in playing for conventions in Tucson’s hotels and resorts.
We did well with this endeavor until Richard moved back to Ohio.
New Executive Sweet 1992
I carried on with Executive Sweet until 1994, when I decided to do
a single. From 1994 until 2001 I had a solo piano job at Lowe’s
Ventana Resort about 4 nights a week and filled the rest of the week
in with single engagements as a one man band. I also freelanced
with some of Arizona’s finest musical groups.
Ken at the Grand Piano
Currently, I am playing with the John Howe Jazz Trio at various Tucson
jazz clubs and playing ballroom jobs as a single or a duo with Saxophonist
Ron Wagner. I also freelance with various groups around the Tucson and
Phoenix areas.
Ron Wagner on Sax Ken Novak on Keyboard
Back to Homepage Forward to
CD info and ordering e-mail
to kennovak@cox.net