COPLAY, Pa. — Welcome back, polka king!
Muhlenberg College is celebrating its radio station with a special performance by the Alex Meixner Band.
The concert, which coincides with the 75th anniversary of college radio station WMUH-FM, will take place 7 p.m. Thursday, May 4 at the Coplay Saengerbund, 205 S. 5th St.
All aboard the polka train
Meixner, who grew up in Allentown, is a Grammy Award-winning accordion player, vocalist and leader of his band.
The group is known for their high-spirited shows and funky polka renditions of modern day hits such as Ozzy Osbourne's "Crazy Train" and Guns N' Roses "Sweet Child O' Mine."
Meixner rose to fame after appearing in a Hormel pepperoni commercial and the flick "The Polka King," starring Jack Black.
He learned to play from his father, Al, whose music was influenced by the family's roots in Burgenland, Austria (his great-grandfather and grandfather were also part of polka bands in the Lehigh Valley).
The father-son duo began making music together in the 80s and one of their first gigs was at the college's station.
Meixner says he's looking forward to celebrating his roots.
"I started on the radio here with my Dad in 1982 and the event is taking place at the Coplay Saengerbund, a club that was founded by Burgenlander immigrants in my hometown."
WMUH-FM began in 1948 as a student radio club and has been streaming online since 2000. It's managed by Muhlenberg students, staff and faculty, and community members.