Charm City Sound Biography

Charm City Sound, Maryland’s most celebrated contemporary polka band, was formed in 1997. Although the original members all hailed from the Baltimore area, current players reside in Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. Leader Mike Matousek, is the last remaining connection to the band’s musical predecessor, the nationally-recognized “Boys from Baltimore” band that originated in 1980. The Boys received many major awards including “Favorite Album” and “Favorite Band” by the United States Polka Association (USPA) and was featured in Paramount’s major motion picture, “He Said, She Said” starring Kevin Bacon and Elizabeth Perkins.

Over the last eight years, Charm City Sound has recorded five CDs, performed at major festivals across the country, and appeared on several TV shows. CCS has continued the award-winning tradition by garnishing its own recognition that includes the USPA’s “Favorite Song” (2001) and “Favorite Band” (2003) awards. Even the Baltimore City Paper voted the group as “Baltimore’s Best Polka Band” in 2002. Their latest release, “Charmed and Dangerous,” is currently one of the best-selling CDs in the polka industry and is enjoying considerable national recognition. Charm City Sound has distinguished itself as one of the innovators within the polka musical genre as they infuse Rock, Pop, Country, and Latin influences into the music that was born in Eastern Europe. Most of the material in their repertoire is original. They are one of several national groups leading the way to broaden the polka audience with a contemporary style referred to as Push.

Currently Charm City Sound is collaborating with two-time Grammy winner, “Brave Combo”, and three-time Grammy nominee, Lynn Marie Rink on a CD to be released this fall. Over the next twelve months, the band will be touring a good portion of the country with stops in Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Illinois, Wisconsin, and California. In January of 2007, the band will be featured with other top acts on a seven-day Mexican Riviera cruise sailing from Los Angeles, CA.

The current version of Charm City Sound features two trumpets, sax/clarinet, accordion, concertina, keyboards, bass and drums, with four members sharing the vocals. For information regarding Charm City Sound’s performances, recordings, products, and trips, go to www.charmcitysound.com.