Title: Viking Accordion Band collection
Inclusive Dates: 1934-1992

Creator:

• Viking Accordion Band

Unique Identifier: mml035

Quantity: Collection includes: papers, postcards, bound volume, audio discs, compact discs

• 1 linear foot
• One half document box, 1 10-inch audio disc box

Repository:

University of Wisconsin-Madison. Mills Music Library

Abstract:

Materials documenting the Viking Accordion Band from Albert Lea, Minnesota.

Language: English .

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-mus-mml035

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Arranged into two series: SERIES I, Papers, SERIES II, Sound Recordings.

The Viking Accordion Band formed in 1931 in Albert Lea, Minnesota by Leighton A. Berg and Roy Simonson. The group grew to include eight members variously performing on accordion, clarinet, trumpet, saxophone, banjo, piano, bass horn and drums. They were a popular attraction at dance halls and radio stations throughout Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, and the Chicago area, performing Scandinavian old-time and popular dance music. Between 1933 and 1941, the band recorded 46 tracks for Gennett Records in Richmond, Indiana, Brunswick Recording Co. and Decca Records in Chicago. In 1965 the band, now reduced to five members, changed its name to the Skipper Berg Band and played a more modern repertoire. Leighton A. "Skipper" Berg remained the leader of the group throughout its entire existence, and in 1992, published a book detailing the band's activities. Berg died in 1995.

Portions of this collection are in a format that is not immediately accessible. Please consult Mills Music Library in advance.

Collection materials may be subject to laws governing rights. Researchers are solely responsible for determining the rights status of the materials they use. Permission may be required for some uses such as publication or reproduction.

Gift of Ford Porter, III, March 2021. Correspondence and majority of the 78-rpm audio discs.

Paper materials are in English; sound recordings have no linguistic content.

[Title of item], Viking Accordion Band collection. Mills Music Library, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Materials in the collection include the band's entire recorded output, personal correspondence, and a monograph about the band's history written by its leader, Leighton A. Berg. The correspondence (1935-1992) comprises letters and postcards, is mainly between Ford Porter, a fan in Milwaukee, and Lynn Hudecek, a fan in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Porter wrote an appreciation of the band (1971). The monograph "Viking Accordion Band reflects colorful history," (1992) by band leader Leighton A. Berg features anecdotes, photographs, advertisements, and ephemera detailing the bands history. The sound recordings are original 78-rpm audio discs on various labels and comprise the entire recorded work of the band. Two compact discs, digital transfers of most of 78s in the collection, were produced by Mills Music Library in 2021.

Accordion bandsDance orchestrasPolkas (Music)Waltzes (Music)Old-time musicDance musicSchottisches (Music)Popular musicSound recordingsPersonal correspondencePostcardsMiddle WestAlbert Lea (Minn.)Berg, Leighton A., 1905-1995

	Series: Papers
folder [89109118935]   1   folder 1	Correspondence, 1935-1992
folder [89109118935]   1   folder 2	Notes, 1971
folder [89109118935]   1   folder 3	Viking Accordion Band reflects on colorful history, 1992 Scope and Contents Folder includes separate appendix of additional anectdotes.
	Series: Sound Recordings	⇧
	Subseries: 78-rpm audio discs, 1933-12-13 Abstract: Recorded at Gennett Records, Richmond, Indiana.
Audio [89109118950]   2	Livet i finnskogorne ; Muziky, muziky Abstract: Champion 45013
Audio [89109118950]   2	Motor boat waltz ; Rain rain Abstract: Champion 45016 Physical Description: 1 audio recording
	Subseries: 78-rpm audio discs, 1934-10-22 Abstract: Recorded at Brunswick Recording Co., Chicago.	⇧
Audio [89109118950]   2	Mayflower polka ; Vienna forever Abstract: Columbia 12507-F Physical Description: 1 audio recording
Audio [89109118950]   2	Our Mike ; Our Katie Abstract: Melotone M 13274 Physical Description: 1 audio recording
Audio [89109118950]   2	The jolly German ; Joe the Dandy Abstract: Melotone M 13336 Physical Description: 1 audio recording
Audio [89109118950]   2	Skal, skål, skål ; Vienna forever Abstract: Perfect 16041 Physical Description: 1 audio recording
Audio [89109118950]   2	Norska ; La Crosse schottische Abstract: Vocalion 15969 Physical Description: 1 audio recording
Audio [89109118950]   2	Little dancer ; Barbara Abstract: Vocalion 15971 Physical Description: 1 audio recording
Audio [89109118950]   2	Mayflower ; The prune song Abstract: Vocalion 15973 Physical Description: 1 audio recording
	Subseries: 78-rpm audio discs, 1935-06-28 Abstract: Recorded at Brunswick Recording Co., Chicago.	⇧
Audio [89109118950]   2	Hopeless ; Helsa dem där hemma Abstract: Banner 5-12-07 Physical Description: 1 audio recording
Audio [89109118950]   2	The jolly coppersmith ; Skater's waltz Abstract: Conqueror 9347 Physical Description: 1 audio recording
Audio [89109118950]   2	Bezejmenna ; Zvadla rúze Abstract: Melotone 6-01-08 Physical Description: 1 audio recording
Audio [89109118950]   2	Seamen's waltz ; Young widow Abstract: Melotone 6-03-17 Physical Description: 1 audio recording
Audio [89109118950]   2	Muziki, muziky ; Hubička Abstract: Melotone 6-07-06 Physical Description: 1 audio recording
Audio [89109118950]   2	Das Bienenhaus ; Deutschland medley Abstract: Perfect 5-11-07 Physical Description: 1 audio recording
	Subseries: 78-rpm audio discs, 1936-10-20 Abstract: Recorded at Brunswick Recording Co., Chicago.	⇧
Audio [89109118950]   2	Jolly crowd ; Tom cat polka Abstract: Melotone 7-02-16 Physical Description: 1 audio recording
Audio [89109118950]   2	Two canaries ; Fisherman's holiday Abstract: Melotone 7-03-04 Physical Description: 1 audio recording
Audio [89109118950]   2	Tinker polka ; Wanderer polka Abstract: Melotone 7-03-13 Physical Description: 1 audio recording
Audio [89109118950]   2	The jolly tinsmith ; Theroux schottische Abstract: Melotone 7-04-16 Physical Description: 1 audio recording
Audio [89109118950]   2	Rheinlander ; Beer waltz medley Abstract: Melotone 7-05-06 Physical Description: 1 audio recording
Audio [89109118950]   2	Moss rose schottische ; Midsummer's waltz Abstract: Melotone 7-06-10 Physical Description: 1 audio recording
	Subseries: 78-rpm audio discs, 1941-11-21 Abstract: Recorded for Decca Recording Co., Chicago in a hotel on Michigan Ave.	⇧
Audio [89109118950]   2	New fisherman's waltz ; Chimney sweeper polka Abstract: Decca 4332 Physical Description: 1 audio recording
Audio [89109118950]   2	I love to dance polka ; Oslo waltz Abstract: Decca 4417 Physical Description: 1 audio recording
Audio [89109118950]   2	Chicken polka ; Prune dumpling polka Abstract: Decca 45039 Physical Description: 1 audio recording
	Subseries: Compact discs	⇧
Audio [89109118935]   1	The Viking Accordion Band, 1933-1935 Scope and Contents 22 tracks. Motor boat waltz; Rain rain; Muziky, muziky (Music, music); Livet i finnskoggorna (Life in the Finnish woods); Barbara; Little dancer; Our Katie; Our Mike; Joe the Dandy; The jolly German; Mayflower; The prune song; La Crosse schottische; Norska; Vienna forever; Skal, skal, skal; Das Beinenhaus (The bee hive); Deutschland medley; Helsa dem där hemma waltz; Hopeless; Zvadla ruze (Faded rose); Bezejmenna polka.
Audio [89109118935]   1	The Viking Accordion Band, 1935-1941 Scope and Contents 20 tracks. Seaman's waltz; Young widow polka; Skater's waltz; The jolly coppersmith; Two canaries; Fisherman's holiday; Wanderer polka; Tinker polka; Moss rose schottische; Midsummer's waltz; The jolly tinsmith; Theroux schottische; Rhinelander; Beer waltz medley; Prune dumpling polka; Chicken polka; New fisherman's waltz; Chimney sweeper polka; Olso waltz; I love to dance.