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Gary Greener, 32, was a kind soul who left a hole in the music world with his passing on October 13, 2021 from the complications of COVID-19. Gary was a graduate of West High School and Texas State Technical College in Waco and left behind a widow, Kara, and a daughter, Jodi and hundreds of friends.

New Braunfels, Texas has been the heartbeat of German Texas culture and music for over a century and a half. It has been the home of German singing festivals where hundreds of voices filled the air recreating the “Old Country”. German bands were plentiful through the decades up into early 2000s (Solm’s Orchestra, Cloverleafs, Lit’l Fishermen, Oma and the Umpahs, The Seven Dutchmen, and many more including the Hi-Toppers. The fire department had a band and the many fraternal organizations (Vereins) each had a band. The city itself had an orchestra of citizens. Numerous festivals combining music and dance (Bavarian Village and Wurstfest) and dancing halls, (particularly the 1870 vintage Weichold/ Matzendorf/Echo/Eagle’s/??? Hall) have brought together the lovers of Teutonic music and culture to preserve it and along with other ethnic cultures that make Texas the marvelous place it is.

Please check polkabeat. com, venue websites or call to confirm as we update the schedule daily.