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LEHIGH VALLEY WEATHER

Johnny Dee retires

An era which started five decades ago, when the Johnny Dee Orchestra played its first gig at the Coplay Saengerbund's New Year's Eve dance, came to an end Jan. 26, when the band held its last performance. A crowd of 300 people attended.

Over the years, the band entertained thousands on thousands of couples and has been featured regularly in the club's ballroom and outdoor grove. The band catered to crowds that enjoyed a diverse brand of polka, featuring various ethnic sounds, a dash of contemporary arrangements and music which had them dancing.

The group chose the saengerbund for its farewell appearance. When John Domitrovits, the band leader, returned to the bandstand for the second set, the houselights went on and he was called to the center of the floor.

Saengerbund President Ken Fritz and Vice President Aggie Kroboth presented Domitrovits with a plaque that bore his picture.

"We are pleased to recognize you, a gentleman," Fritz said. "The people love you. I am proud to know you."

"I am surprised, really, really surprised," the soft-spoken Domitrovits said of the tribute paid to him.

Before hurrying back to play the many requests the crowd asked for, the 85-year-old musician said he will still strap on his saxophone if asked to help another band.

"Music has always been in my blood," he said. "I just can't retire all the way."

Josef Kroboth, who has his own band, convinced the legendary musician to play with him for four or five engagements as the J&J Duo.

"I know Johnny since I was a kid, 40 years," Kroboth said. "I always looked up to him. He knows what the crowd wants and what a musician."

Accolades were in abundance from those at the dance.

"He is a heck of a musician," Whitehall resident John Cuylz said. "He plays to the crowd."

George Wirth was a longtime trumpet player with Domitrovits' band. An illness kept him from playing during the bands final appearance.

"Johnny is amazing," he said. "He got it in his head, the music, harmony, all without having to read the music, as he could, but most have too. I am retiring. I will miss Johnny and the band."

Domitrovits said the four-piece orchestra had its own sound. Its polkas were Austrian, German, Slovanian, Croation, and Czech, blended with an accordion, drums, sax, trumpet and vocals.

"I had music in me from when I was a child," Domitrovits said. " I come from a family of music. My grandfather played the accordion and my uncle Screwy Hacker had his band."

Johnny was 10, living in Ithica, N.Y., when his father got him a clarinet and an instructor. He moved to Egypt in 1944 and Coplay in 1948.

"I got to know Walt Groller. We played together," he said, mentioning Groller had his own band.

"In 1947 I wanted to play with his band. He told me to get a sax. I bought a used sax at Titlow's in Allentown, and played with him," he said. "In 1950 I was 21, and the Army drafted me."

After his discharge, Domitrovits married Marie Hammer in 1953. The couple had two boys, John, the band's drummer, and David.

"I wish she could have enjoyed this," Domitrovits said of his late wife.

"I started my own band in 1954, John Domitrovits and the Polkettes," he recalled.

Playing at the Ukes Club, he was approached by George Fedok.

"George said my last name for the band was too long and no one could pronounce it. He said Johnny Dee would be the name," said Domitrovits.

"We played all over the valley and farther, Hari Gari, Fearless Fire Company, Allgemeiner, Ukrainian Club and St. Joe's in Northampton, Mount Airy Casino, New York City, Catskills with Jimmy Sturr," he said. "We ran buses to Jimmy Sturr's in the Catskills, four at times, from 1994 to 2011."

"We just played for the people," Domitrovits continued, many of whom followed the orchestra for decades. Although the band doesn't have a signature number, it has closed every appearance with the song "Does your Heart Beat for Me?"

PRESS PHOTOS BY AL RECKER John Domitrovits, backed up by his orchestra, entertains a crowd at the Coplay Saengerbund Jan. 26 during the Johnny Dee Orchestra's final performance.