Mark Halata and Texavia - Artist Page
Mark Halata and Texavia
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Biography:
 

Polka is one of the musics Texans play best, and that shouldn’t come as a surprise given the strong Eastern and Central European heritage of many of the state’s residents. Whether it’s a Tex-Mex conjunto or a western swing band, polka is a mainstay in the repertoire. A young exponent of one of the more rare varieties of Texas polka music is Mark Halata with his group Texavia. Its Czech-Moravian style mixes traditional Czech tunes with roots country and rock to produce traditional polkas and waltzes with a rousing zest that brings them into a new century.
 
Polish, German, Slovak, Czech and Hungarian immigrants to eastern and central Texas during the late-19th century brought their native languages, music and dance traditions and instruments with them. Polkas, waltzes and obereks blended with older reels and quadrilles already popular with Texans. The introduction of the accordion opened up new possibilities and generated the creation of new hybrid musical forms.
 
Growing up in Pasadena, Texas, a “little Czech bubble,” bandleader Mark Halata began playing the accordion at age five. He took a handful of basic lessons, but really learned to play by following along with the Czech polkas his father listened to. "My dad didn't play but he always had Czech music on, so that's what I played." Regular trips to visit relatives in the Czech community of Moravia, Texas further developed his love of Czech polka and the accordion. It was not a mainstream sort of passion, and being Texas State Accordion Champion at 13 didn’t really do much for his popularity at school His musical horizons expanded in the 80s when (at first a bit stunned to discover that there were other styles of accordion music) he saw zydeco great Clifton Chenier play rock and roll on the accordion
 
Joined by Mark Rubin on tuba, Jeff Brosch on drums and Bruce Brosch on guitar, Mark and Texavia play for dances, festivals and community celebrations in the Houston area. All are versatile musicians adept at playing country, rock, and zydeco as well as the traditional Czech-Moravian polkas and obereks. The group’s repertoire is broad and diverse, catering to the tastes of Texas’ many dancers. Their latest CD is entitled Amerika, which features both Czech tunes as well as a tinge of zydeco.
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Accordion