Join us in the Grand Hall for a free concert by Turner Hall personality and accordionist, Del Heins, as part of an open house to celebrate the release of his first CD titled Three Yanks Polka. Del will perform tunes from the CD, along with guest accordionists Henry Blumer, Ruth Marty, Diane Whitney, John Waelti and Bobbie Edler, and banjo players Ted Peterson and Jerry Hastings. The evening will be kept lively not only with music, but also with Del's special brand of humor as well as an exhibit of memorabilia from his many years as an entertainer. Copies of the new CD will be available for sale and signing.

Anyone who has been around Monroe for any length of time knows that the name Del Heins is synonymous with the accordion. Starting out with a little 8-bass Silvertone accordion from Sears & Roebuck as a ten-year-old in Lafayette County, Del recalls his first professional job as an accordionist was a monthly stint in the 1950s at a tavern in Warren, IL owned by John Bussman, now a well-known retired cheesemaker. He also joined his musical brothers, Guerdon and Frank, in a band that played all over Green County for about 25 years. There were times that every Saturday night was filled with a playing engagement for dances, events and parties at places like the former Dutch’s Inn and Eagle’s Club in Monroe, the Moose Lodge and numerous other venues.

Del's playing, complemented by his gift of gab and sense of humor, landed him a longtime assignment, starting in the 1960s, as the M.C. for the entertainment stage of Green County Cheese Days. Likewise, during the 1970s, Del emceed The Turner Hall Show, a live broadcast of Sunday afternoon dances in the Turner Hall Ratskeller featuring call-in requests, an idea he had successfully pitched to then-manager Bash Laeser.

Largely self-taught, Del cites Wisconsin polka musician, the late Verne Meisner, as one of his influences. He also fondly remembers marking his 50th birthday by being invited by Roger Bright to play along with him at Turner Hall, and at one time, having the opportunity to meet the Grammy Award-winning Frankie Yankovic. The annual Rudy Burkhalter Accordion Jamborees, which started in 1978 at the Chalet St. Moritz in Middleton, WI, and later held in Oregon, WI up until this year, provided Del yet another chance to play and hear other accordionists.

Del's latest endeavors include playing the first and third Friday evenings of the month in the Turner Hall Ratkseller, as well as for special engagements and in nursing homes. In 2007, he introduced the very popular Squeezebox Night at the Turner Hall of Monroe, an informal accordion/instrumental jam session held the 3rd Tuesday evening each month. The recording of his first CD is Del's most recent venture, and features a wide variety of tunes like Three Yanks Polka, which is the title track; The Snow Waltz; No Beer Today; In the Mood; The Cheese Days Song and seven others.

Like most musicians, Del had other careers to support his musical pursuits. For many years, he worked as a meat cutter in Madison and Brodhead before working at and eventually purchasing Strickler’s Market, formerly on the west side of Monroe’s Square. He later sold insurance and cars, and finally retired after 9-1/2 years at the Swiss Colony bakery. He and his wife Joanne have two daughters: Cindy, in Monroe, and Jolene in Colorado Springs, along with three grandchildren.

The CD, which was recorded by Patrick Bodell in the studio of Empire Media Group, Monroe, will be available for sale and signing for $15. For those unable to attend the CD release party, CDs may be ordered with an additional $3 postage/handling charge by contacting Del at delheins @ yahoo.com or by phoning (608) 325-9403.