"Whoopee" John Wilfahrt

John Anthony Wilfahrt, (May 11, 1893 – June 15, 1961), the eldest son of John Wilfahrt and Barbara Portner, was a professional polka musician who recorded with Vocalion and from 1934, Decca. He went by the moniker "Whoopee John." He was inducted into the International Polka Association's Hall of Fame in 1976.

Wilfahrt was born in New Ulm, Minnesota and got his start playing the concertina at local gatherings and concerts in and around his community. In the 1920s Whoopee John and his band relocated to Saint Paul, Minnesota where they became regulars at live shows and on the radio.

Wilfahrt first began recording commercially in the 1920s and signed with the newly formed U.S. division of Decca Records in 1934 as the label's second act. (The first act signed to the label was Bing Crosby.) "Whoopee John" Wilfahrt and his band enjoyed popularity through the 1940s and 50s on the polka circuit. Over the course of his professional career Wilfahrt recorded nearly 1,000 songs, the most popular being “Mariechen Waltz” and “Clarinet Polka.”

He died in 1961 at age 68 years of a heart attack.

Birth and Death Data: Born May 11, 1893, Died June 15, 1961

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1927 - 1941

Roles Represented in DAHR: leader, concertina, composer

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 26-46 of 46 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Brunswick C6525 10-in. 11/2/1930 Grandmother’s laendler no. 5 John Wilfahrt Concertina Orchestra Instrumental ensemble leader  
Brunswick C6526 10-in. 11/2/1930 Snow flower polka John Wilfahrt Concertina Orchestra Instrumental ensemble leader  
Brunswick C6527 10-in. 11/2/1930 Golden days polka John Wilfahrt Concertina Orchestra Instrumental ensemble leader  
Brunswick C6528 10-in. 11/2/1930 The jolly crowd John Wilfahrt Concertina Orchestra Instrumental ensemble leader  
Brunswick C6529 10-in. 11/2/1930 Aunt Ellen’s polka John Wilfahrt Concertina Orchestra Instrumental ensemble leader  
Brunswick C6530 10-in. 11/2/1930 Katrina polka John Wilfahrt Concertina Orchestra Instrumental ensemble leader  
Brunswick C6531 10-in. 11/2/1930 Village tavern polka John Wilfahrt Concertina Orchestra Instrumental ensemble leader  
Brunswick XC6532 12-in. 11/2/1930 Jolly hunter’s waltz John Wilfahrt Concertina Orchestra Instrumental ensemble leader  
Brunswick XC6533 12-in. 11/2/1930 Merry go ‘round John Wilfahrt Concertina Orchestra Instrumental ensemble leader  
Brunswick MP702 10-in. 1/28/1930 En el nolino (At the mill) (Marcha) John Wilfahrt Concertina Orchestra Instrumental ensemble leader  
Brunswick MP703 10-in. 1/28/1930 Dudes march John Wilfahrt Concertina Orchestra Instrumental ensemble leader  
Decca 93799 10-in. 11/18/1941 No! No! polka Whoopee John Wilfahrt Concertina Orchestra leader  
Decca 93800 10-in. 11/18/1941 Repeat polka Whoopee John Wilfahrt Concertina Orchestra leader  
Decca 93801 10-in. 11/18/1941 Evergreen polka Whoopee John Wilfahrt Concertina Orchestra leader  
Decca 93802 10-in. 11/18/1941 Unita polka Whoopee John Wilfahrt Concertina Orchestra leader  
Decca 93803 10-in. 11/18/1941 Bass polka Whoopee John Wilfahrt Concertina Orchestra leader  
Decca 93804 10-in. 11/18/1941 Half schottische Whoopee John Wilfahrt Concertina Orchestra leader  
Decca 93805 10-in. 11/18/1941 Twin city schottische Whoopee John Wilfahrt Concertina Orchestra leader  
Decca 93806 10-in. 11/18/1941 Borghild reinlaendler Whoopee John Wilfahrt Concertina Orchestra leader  
Decca 93807 10-in. 11/18/1941 Blue eyes polka Whoopee John Wilfahrt Concertina Orchestra leader  
Decca 93808 10-in. 11/18/1941 Jenny polka Whoopee John Wilfahrt Concertina Orchestra leader  
(Results 26-46 of 46 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Wilfahrt, "Whoopee" John," accessed November 1, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/105018.

Wilfahrt, "Whoopee" John. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 1, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/105018.

"Wilfahrt, "Whoopee" John." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 1 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/105018

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