Biography
The group consisted of Hezzie Trietsch (Paul Trietsch, 11 April 1905, Arcadia, Indiana, USA, d. 27 April 1980; drums, song whistle, alto horn, washboard), brother Rudy Trietsch (b. Kenneth Trietsch, 13 September 1903, Arcadia, Indiana, USA, d. 17 September 1987; guitar, bass, banjo, horn), Frank Kettering (b. 1 January 1909, Monmouth, Illinois, USA, d. June 1973; bass, guitar, banjo, flute, piano, piccolo), and Gabe Ward (b. Charles Otto Ward, 26 November 1904, Knightstown, Indiana, USA, d. 14 January 1992; clarinet). After starting out as a dance band, they found comedy routines were more enjoyable to perform and consequently, by 1935, when they became regulars on the WLS National Barn Dance in Chicago, they had become a novelty act. Their rousing stage entrance, preceded by the cry ‘Are you ready, Hezzie’, inspired a national catchphrase, and for years they worked the NBCAlka Seltzer Show segment with Uncle Ezra. Songs that they made popular include...
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