Brunon Kryger/The Kryger Brothers

Inducted Members: Brunon Kryger Sr., Brunon “Bruce” Kryger Jr., George “Jerry” Kryger, Lucian P. Kryger

The multi-generational tale of Brunon Kryger and his sons, collectively known as the Kryger Brothers, is one deeply connected to the rich tradition of Northeast Pennsylvania polka music. For decades, the Kryger family provided entertainment to county residents through their authentic polka music, which can be traced back to the patriarch’s Polish roots.

Brunon Kryger was born in Poland in 1899, and he served in the Polish army during World War I. He had aspirations to be an entertainer, but the war effort slowed his artistic progression. But those aspirations held steady throughout his service and, when it was complete, Brunon studied at the Poznan Conservatory of Music.

Brunon and his family immigrated to the United States from Poland, eventually settling in Shenandoah, Schuylkill County. There, he founded the Kryger Orchestra, the ensemble for which he is most known. The family later relocated to Wilkes-Barre, and the Kryger Music Company opened its doors on East Market Street. All the while, Brunon remained actively involved in the local Polish-American community.

The music of Brunon Kryger has rung through Luzerne County for decades, with songs such as "Hula-La Polka” and "Accordion Polka” becoming standards of the genre. His music caught on back in Europe, where he held an audience of listeners in Germany, France, and England. At home, Brunon’s appeal extended across the state, and he became a beloved artist on radio stations across Pennsylvania. This culminated in him being dubbed the "King of Polkas” in Pittsburgh in 1947.

Brunon Kryger passed away in 1951, but the Kryger family legacy had room to grow. The Kryger Brothers, a group led by Brunon’s sons, Lucian, Jerry and Bruce, took their father’s place as one of the premier polka acts in the country. Though they had played in separate ensembles prior to forming their own orchestra, the Kryger Brothers achieved their greatest musical successes when they became united.

Any conversation regarding the Kryger Brothers’ career must start with the “Bridal Dance Polka,” a staple of Luzerne County wedding receptions for generations. Beyond that specific track, the Kryger Brothers were known as one of the biggest wedding bands of their time. Their wildly successful album Polish Wedding Memories, recorded in 1962, is one of the essential polka records, and captured the energy of the Kryger Brothers’ live performances.

Like their father before them, the Kryger Brothers kept up a devoted fanbase in areas with an active community of first- and second-generation Americans, including Luzerne County. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, their music was introduced to a new audience through their monthly live shows from the Pocono Hershey Ballroom.

Soon after the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences introduced the Grammy for Best Polka Album in 1986, the Kryger Brothers received the highest honor of their career. Their 1988 album Polka Mania was nominated in the category alongside records from polka legends like Jimmy Sturr and Walt Groller. In the ensuing years, Lucian and Bruce joined their father as inductees into the International Polka Association Hall of Fame.

Brunon Kryger and his sons have contributed greatly to the Luzerne County music scene. Even as the popularity of polka music has waned locally and nationally, the Krygers’ music can still be heard regularly in local programming and on special occasions. Considering the vibrant polka culture of Luzerne County, it is no small honor for the Krygers to be known as the First Family of Northeast Pennsylvania polka music.