Guest Columnist Tyler Korby
Standing center stage on a sunny spring afternoon, there he was, small in stature, yet big in sound. While dressed in his Sunday finest, a sharp black suit coat, crisp white button-down shirt and slick black dress pants, he spilled out music from his polished accordion, as the sound of clapping kept the rhythm, like a drum, at Sunnyside Health Care Center in Cloquet.
Once a month, on a Friday, roughly 60 nursing home residents, many of them in wheelchairs, gather together for "happy hour" and listen to the famous Florian Chmielewski play his well-known accordion.
Over the years, Chmielewski, 79, has played all over the world, producing roughly 50 records, while piling up numerous awards for his accordion talents.
In 1994, he was inducted into the Minnesota Music Hall of Fame, followed by an induction into the Ironworld Discovery Center Polka Hall of Fame in 1995.
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Chmielewski's hand clapping, toe tapping beats fill the air, packing the room, and brings a sense of joy and life to the local nursing home.
Buttery popcorn and cold beverages are distributed to the many in attendance, while enormous smiles buzz through the room, as Chmielewski plays his classic hits.
"Anything anyone wants, he'll play it," said 84-year-old nursing home resident Elvi Sinisalo. "He plays it all."
Chmielewski, a former Minnesota state senator, has been playing his accordion for roughly 60 years.
"It's been a family tradition for over the past 100 years," said Chmielewski. "I can connect with the audience very easily."
Over time, the Sturgeon Lake native has developed a great friendship with many of the local nursing home residents and has given them the opportunity to continue enjoying events that were such a significant part of their past.
Many of these residents danced with their spouses for years to his polkas and watched his local polka television show called the "Chmielewski Funtime Hour."
"It brings me back to the olden days," said 97-year-old nursing home resident Leslie "Lardy" Johnson. "He plays a lot of songs I knew when I was a kid."
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An added bonus to Chmielewski's performances is the presence of his small show dog, which sings and claps to certain melodies.
"Our residents really love him and his show dog, Skippy!" said activity assistant Jannifer Johnson. "When this duo comes, it's standing room only."
Residents continue to enjoy their days at the Sunnyside Health Care Center, and people like Chmielewski make that possible.
"If I can raise their spirits, that's what makes me proud," said Chmielewski.
