New Ulm: Bring on the polka
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From polka to Prince, the Minnesota Music Hall of Fame plays host to all styles of music.
Come for a visit and Charlie Braunreiter will show you around. If you're lucky, he'll play his concertina for you.
The hall of fame was established in 1988. It opened in its current location, 27 North Broadway, in 1999.
There are antique accordions, marching band uniforms, band-stands, bass drums and pictures of musicians past and present.
Memorabilia from Bob Dylan, Judy Garland, and Prince mingles with the that of "Whoopee" John, "Fezz" Fritsche and Bobby Vee.
Braunreiter has been playing his concertina in bands in and around New Ulm since 1947. He says the polka bands used to take popular tunes from Europe and localize them.
Listen to Braunreiter's story and version of the "New Ulm Polka."
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