YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Few entertainers can say they’ve been on the air for six decades, and fewer still can claim to have kept the same joyful beat going the entire time.
But Larry “Polka” Walk can.
The Mahoning Valley radio host recently celebrated the 60th anniversary of broadcasting his “Happy Polkaland” show. It’s believed to be the longest-running radio show in Mahoning Valley history, and one of the longest-running polka programs in the United States.
What began as a half-hour local broadcast in May 1964 has become a beloved institution for listeners. The show offers six hours of polka programming every weekend across northeastern Ohio and western Pennsylvania. It airs on WPIC-AM 790 on Saturdays from 8-11 a.m. and on WRQX-AM 600 on Sundays from 1-4 p.m.
Produced from Walk’s Polkaland Studios in his home, each show is custom-programmed – no repeats, no syndication.
Born George Lesnansky, Walk is not just a broadcaster; he’s a lifelong ambassador for polka music and ethnic heritage.
His motto is “polkas are the musical antidepressant.”
Since launching the Penn-Ohio polka festivals in 1967 at Youngstown’s Idora Park, Walk has produced dozens of large-scale events, including polka cruises on Pittsburgh’s Gateway Clipper Fleet and festivals across Ohio and Pennsylvania.
He was inducted into the International Polka Association Hall of Fame in 1994 and has received top honors from both the Broadcasters Hall of Fame and the United States Polka Association for his lifetime of contributions to music and radio.
Many of his advertisers have stayed with the show for over 30 years.
Walk’s legacy goes beyond his long career. He has a commitment to spreading joy in the community that he loves.
Walk was recognized last year with an article on RadioWorld.com.
Pictured at top: Larry Walk and his late wife, Diana.