Background on John Libera
Polish Tigers baseball team, ca.1935
A well-known figure in Southbridge's Polish community and polka promoter, John Libera was born in Southbridge, Mass., on April 20, 1919, the son of Joseph and Mary (Slupek) Libera. After serving in the Navy during the Second World War II, Libera enjoyed a long career as a researcher at American Optical Co., becoming a member and president of both its Quarter Century Club and Wellsworth Athletic Association.
A passion for polka music led Libera into a career as a radio personality. For over 33 years beginning in the mid-1950s, he hosted a Polish radio show on WESO radio in Southbridge, earning the nickname "Mr. Polka Man." An instant hit, his show expanded to WNEB in Worcester and eventually onto FM broadcasting, and it spawned other programs, including the "Polka Jamboree" and "Sunset Polkatime Show." Libera was not simply a disk jockey, however, he was a talented musician, songwriter, recording artist, and for many years a dance instructor. In recognition of his efforts, Libera was made a member of the International Polka Association and was inducted into the Polka Music Hall of Fame in 1982. In 1988, he was selected to take part in the American Folklife Festival in Washington, DC, where he and the Massachusetts band, Bay State IV, demonstrated their beloved music. Libera died in Worcester on Aug. 27, 2007, at the age of 88.
