Ted Lange is a 2 time GRAMMY nominee and inductee to the International Polka Hall Of Fame and has had an accomplished career as an award winning musician, producer, writer, arranger, recording engineer and tour operator.
From humble beginnings in a local family band to performing all over the U.S., Canada and Europe, he has consistently been recognized for his unique talents in the entertainment field. Excerpts from his website: He has appeared in movies, television and radio and continues to perform and entertain all over the world.
Ted got his start in Polka Music at a very early age with his parents’ band, “The Buckeye Polka Band”, a Polka/Variety Band in Northwest Ohio, and at age 5, started playing drums with them. As he grew older and more experienced, he began filling in on accordion, keyboard and drums with many of the local Northwest Ohio Polka bands.
While in the high school marching band, Ted even played a halftime show featuring polka music, with Ted playing accordion accompanied by the marching band with members of the band polka dancing on the field.
He joined Marv Herzog and the Bavarian Polka Band from Frankenmuth, MI from 1994-1995. While a member of the Marv Herzog Band, Ted took over the bandleader responsibilities and filled in for Marv while Marv took some time off due to illness, and continued performing at all the band’s commitments, keeping that “Herzog Sound” alive with his interpretation of Marv’s unique Cordovox playing and German vocals.
During that time, Ted also started hosting his own radio show on 1280AM, WONW, based in Defiance, OH. For two years, Ted broadcasted polkas every Sunday morning from 11:AM-1:PM, often needing to pre-record the show due to his scheduled performances.
After performing with Herzog, Ted joined the Grammy Nominated “Toledo PolkaMotion” from 1995-2001, and recorded 6 albums with TPM. While a member of TPM, Ted appeared in the Warner Brothers movie entitled “Welcome to Collinwood”, (2000), and appears on the movie soundtrack. He was also a recipient of the Great Lakes People’s Choice Awards with TPM 4 times for Ethnic Musical Group of the Year.
Following TPM, Ted performed 2 years with previous Grammy Award Winner Eddie Blazonczyk’s Versatones, (Chicago, IL), and the following year joined another Grammy Nominated Polka Band, “John Gora and Gorale’ ” (Burlington Ontario, Canada). While a member of John Gora and Gorale’, he was nominated for a Grammy award for his work on “Pangora’s Box” released by the band in 2004.
Ted received his second Grammy nomination also with John Gora for his work on “Bulletproof Polkas” in 2007. In addition to performing with John Gora, Ted also performed with a Toledo based “Polish Style” band named “Change Of Pace from 2004 through 2006 and recorded 2 CD’s with them.
Ted’s reputation for being able to step in as a side musician due to his keen musical ear, in addition to his vast polka music knowledge and ability have made him one of the “first calls” for any band seeking a quality fill-in on piano, accordion, concertina or drums.
He has performed with a wide variety of bands including: The Polka Family Band, The Alex Meixner Band, Brave Combo, Karl & The Country Dutchmen, Polka Country Musicians, Fred Ziwich and the ISM, The Jim Busta Band, Lenny Gomulka & Chicago Push, Gary’s Ridgeland Dutchmen, The Dynatones, Frankie Liszka & The Brass Connection, Gerry Kaminski’s Merrymakers, Mark Janson and the Brass Express, Ed Guca & The Polish Canadians, Henny & The Versa J’s, The Polka Nuts, and Eddie Biegaj & Crusade in addition to many more.
In the late 1990’s, Ted formed the band “The Bratwurst Boys” with other members of Toledo Polkamotion, which later became the band now known as “Squeezebox”.
Since 2005, the talented duo of Ted Lange and Mollie B elevated Squeezebox from 8 local engagements a year, to as many as 100+ performances a year all over the United States with thousands of fans and supporters reaching every corner of the U.S. and beyond.
In addition to performing, Ted has been an avid promoter through the years with involvement in several different festivals in different capacities. For 6 years, Ted promoted and booked all the entertainment for the Hamler Summerfest in Hamler, OH. He is also a past president of the Ohio Polka Boosters, and organized dances and special events for the membership and the general public.
He has remained a member of the United States Polka Association and the International Polka Association, in addition to countless other polka related organizations and publications. He has served on the board of the “Polka America Corporation” and has been a valued resource for other promoters, organizations, fans and musicians.
In March of 2011, Ted joined Mollie B as a co-producer of the all new “Mollie B Polka Party” on RFD-TV. The show had its first taping in June of 2011 and the show aired for the first time on July 2, 2011 showcasing a variety of polka bands from all over the United States.
One of the highest rated shows on RFD-TV, the “Mollie B Polka Party was broadcast into over 60 million households via DISH Network, DirecTV, and over 600 independent cable systems.
In 2013, an opportunity to create a polka show on Sirius/XM radio was presented, and Ted co-hosted and co-produced the “Mollie B Polka Party Radio Show” on Rural Radio, Channel 80 on Sirius/XM Satellite radio.
Ted also co-produced the “Mollie B Christmas Special” at RFD-TV the Theatre in Branson, Missouri beginning in November 2011. In addition to performing, Ted also has arranged several of the pieces on the Christmas show each year. Following the stage show, you’ll find Ted in the studio doing touch-up work for many of the musicians, as well as contributing to the final mixed audio from the show.
These shows became fan favorites that would air every year during the Christmas season on RFD-TV, and was also released on DVD and CD. Following a Christmas show in Branson in 2016, the show was moved to Reedsburg, WI where it continued until 2023.
In 2020, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, performing in public as “Squeezebox with Mollie B and Ted Lange” came to a screeching halt. To continue spreading music and joy to others, Ted and Mollie started doing daily videos and posting them to social media.
The popularity of these daily videos, recorded and edited by Ted transformed into a weekly hour and a half long LIVE variety show that was streamed every Tuesday night from Ted’s studio in Ohio. For 16 months, with only 2 exceptions, Ted and Mollie performed for audiences around the world on YouTube and social media every Tuesday evening, thousands of followers on social media.
Now residing in Tennessee, Ted has continued his life long passion of performing, recording and promoting in addition to organizing and leading European tours. He currently performs with country music’s Pete Schlegel, integrating his accordion and bass playing skills into a genre that doesn’t see many accordions anymore, performing classic country music and party favorites.
You’ll also find him performing for a limited number of dates with his band “Squeezebox” in addition to filling in with bands of multiple genres, covering all areas of the U.S., Canada and Europe.
In addition to his performing, Ted also has extensive experience in audio production. In addition to working as a sound man, Ted founded his own recording studio named “Powerbox Studio.” He has engineered and produced a variety of award-winning recordings, with some even being recorded “on the road” at various locations throughout the US. His ability to guide musicians and creatively contribute musically during recording sessions is one of the unique God-given talents he has been blessed with and enjoys sharing to enhance the final product.
Ted shares, “Led by Pete Schlegel, we perform a variety of classic country music along with some originals Pete wrote. You can find Pete’s music on Spotify and Apple Music. I encourage you to check it out. It’s good stuff!
In addition to performing with Pete Schlegel, I will also be filling in with some other bands in the future, including Alex Meixner, and the IPA Tribute band. Details and dates are available on my website: www.TedLange.com.
I also decided to put together a European Christmas Market Tour for this December. From time to time, you can catch me performing LIVE from my Tennessee home on my Facebook page… Additionally, you can expect to see me with a new band in the future, as formation of a new group has already begun… more details to come….”
Ted’s going to Europe for the Christmas Markets and he’s bringing Pete Schlegel along with him! You can join them!
Ted shares, ““All too often, we find others or even ourselves saying “Someday, I’ll do that!” Have you dreamt of “someday“ traveling the world and seeing things you’ve never seen before? Enjoy life today, because yesterday is gone and tomorrow is never promised.
Here is an opportunity to enjoy life “today.” Christmas in Europe is absolutely breathtaking—and this December, I want to share it with YOU! I’m hosting a 10-day journey through Poland, Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic where we will bask in the Christmas season and experience castles, charming villages, beautiful scenery, rich history, and unforgettable memories. If the thought of immersing yourself in the decorated sights and sounds of Christmas in Europe excites you like it does me, maybe it’s time to check it off your bucket list.”
Upcoming performances include:
Saturday, July 25 – Red White and Wake Tellico Lake, Vonore, TN. Performing with Pete Schlegel 2:PM
Friday, September 25 – Oktoberfest – TBA
Saturday, September 26 – Oktoberfest – TBA
Sunday, September 27 – Oktoberfest – TBA
Friday October 2 – With Alex Meixner Band – TBA
Saturday October 3 – With Alex Meixner Band – TBA
Sunday October 4 – Schulz Brau Brewery, Knoxville, TN
With Alex Meixner Band
Sunday October 18 – IPA Tribute Band & John Gora – St. Louis, MO
German Cultural Society Hall, 3652 Jefferson Ave, St. Louis, MO
Doors open at 12. Music from 1-5. For tickets, contact Carolyn Baras: 314-341-2596 or 636-938-4641. Presented by the Polish National Alliance.
More dates coming soon….
