Whoopee John Band Book

The Whoopee John Band Book folio contains “16 well-known dance numbers for band and orchestra featured and made popular by ‘Whoopee’ John Wilfahrt and his band.”  A consistent best-seller for the Vitak-Elsnic Company over the years, it represents a collaboration between our company and one of the country’s most highly-regarded polka band leaders of all time, Whoopee John Wilfahrt.  Contents include polkas, waltzes, and even a schottische, providing every musical form a polka band would need.  The folio bears a 1943 copyright when Whoopee John was a national celebrity, and the music has stood the test of time.

Whoopee John playing a Vitak-Elsnic Pearl Queen Concertina. Photo is part of the Hennepin County Library Collection (MN)

To understand the significance of his collaboration with Vitak-Elsnic that led to the folio, it’s necessary to know who Whoopee John was.  Born in New Ulm, Minnesota to Bohemian-German parents, music was his life. His 11-piece band began touring through the upper Midwest in the 1920s.  In 1934, he was the second entertainer signed to a record deal by the newly-formed Decca Records.  (Bing Crosby was the first.)  Over his career, he recorded about 1,000 records.  He was one of the best-known band leaders in the nation during the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s.

Whoopee John was a concertina player; his instrument was a Vitak-Elsnic branded Pearl Queen.  And if you’re interested in knowing how he got his “Whoopee” nickname, listen to the actual recording of his band playing the St. Paul Waltz, which is one of the songs in the folio.

This folio contains the following instrumentation: Solo Bb Coronet, 1^st and 2^nd Bb Cornet, Flute or Piccolo, C Instruments or Oboe, 1^st Bb Clarinet, 2^nd Bb Clarinet, Eb Clarinet, Eb Alto Saxophone, 1^st and 2^nd Alto Horns, 1st & 2nd F Horns, Tenor Saxophone or Baritone T.C., 1^st and 2^nd Trombones T.C., 1^st and 2^nd Trombones B.C., Euphonium B.C., Tuba, Drums, 1^st Violin, Piano Accompaniment, Piano Accordion.