Polka lives on at KRXT with Lexi Vee
Listeners have crowned Lexi Vee the “Polka Princess” with her debut as the new host of KRXT 98.5 radio’s popular polka segment.
Unfamiliar at first with polka music and the polka world, Vee is now a favorite on air and at polka festivals.
Initially hired to work at the Taylor radio outlet as a graphic designer, Vee has a radio, TV and film degree from the University of Texas at Austin.
When longtime polka host Michael Craig decided to retire earlier this year, Vee asked Steve Laukhuf, co-owner of Cowboy Broadcasting LLC and morning host of KRXT’s popular “Hometown Highlights,” if she could step into Craig’s role.
Laukhuf agreed. “I think that anyone who takes the initiative deserves the opportunity,” said Laukhuf, who at the time had been on the hunt for a new polka deejay.
“Craig was kind of the dean of the polka scene. He took (Vee) under his wing and really taught her what she needed to know,” Laukhuf said.
Vee had listened to Craig’s show, but she had no background in polka before he introduced her to the music.
Many Eastern Williamson County residents are descended from the Czech immigrants who brought the traditional music, dance and songs to Central Texas in the 1800s.
Polka is still going strong in the Blackland Prairie.
When KRXT was making its move from Rockdale to Taylor, Laukhuf said many of its listeners were concerned with the shakeup.
“The No. 1 request we got was, ‘Please don’t take away our polka,’” Laukhuf said.
The sounds of polka, the accordion and the trumpets, reminded Vee of growing up with her grandparents, but they were of Mexican heritage not Czech or German.
“It sounded like Tejano accordions, very Mexican-style music. I thought it was awfully familiar to my childhood, being at my grandparents’ house listening to their music. It was all very similar,” Vee said.
Texas is a blend of cultures and ethnicities, and its music is no different.
“There is a crossover, which many people don’t expect, of Tejano and polka music. Tejano really brought the accordion into their music from the polka and Texas immigrants,” Laukhuf said.
What simply started out as an interest for Vee has turned into her passion.
“(Vee) loves going to these polka festivals and meeting people. She’s personable and the older folks treat her like an adopted granddaughter,” Laukhuf said.
Vee’s youth and vitality stand out at polka events, but she is not alone in her age bracket.
“I have people in their 20s telling me how much they love polka on Sundays. Polka isn’t just for older folks, it crosses all generations,” Laukhuf said.
Some listeners took a while to get adjusted to the new host after Craig’s departure, but Vee soon found her groove and now has many regular fans she knows by name.
Craig left Vee a music library of 700 polka songs, which has now tripled or even quadrupled.
“I don’t really know how many songs I have now. I have to store them on a separate hard drive now,” Vee said.
She has also discovered her own personal preferences. To the delight of the local polka band Czech Melody Masters, which recently played at the Moody Museum, Vee’s favorite song is their “Pretty Czech Girlfriend.”
“But if I had my own theme song, I think it would be ‘Pivos and Kolaches’ by the Dujka Brothers…It talks about how Czechs and Mexicans come together and play music and eat together because that’s what they do,” Vee said.
Tune into the “Polka Princess” 10:30-11:30 a.m. Monday through Friday and from 1-4 p.m. Sundays.
Lexi Vee, KXRT 98.5 radio’s ‘“Polka Princess,” hangs out with the Dujka Brothers, John (left) and Mark.
Bernice Vrazel (left) and her husband, polka legend Alfred Vrazel of Vrazels Polka Band, meet up with KRXT radio’s “Polka Princess” Lexi Vee, a deejay who plays polka music and loves the genre. Photos courtesy of Lexi Vee
Dennis Svatek of local polka band Czech Melody Masters enjoys visiting with KRXT 98.5’s “Polka Princess” Lexi Vee.
