Walter E. "Lil' Wally" Jagiello RIP

[Alex F]

Sorry polka fans . . . Lil' Wally is no longer with us. Walter E. Jagiello, better known as Lil' Wally, began his new heavenly polka gig on August 17, at the age of 76. He leaves behind his wife, Jeanette, and thousands of fans.

Born in Chicago's Northwest Side in 1930, Wally began singing at the age of 8. By the late 40s, he was a fixture on Chicago's "Polish Broadway" and had landed a major recording contract. In 1954, his single "I wish I was single again" made the Billboard Top 40. Wally recorded over 110 LPs with Columbia and his own company, Jay Jay Records.

Among his better known compositions: "In heaven there is no beer" and "Let's Go, GO-GO White Sox," the song that was widely played during the Sox 1959 pennant and World Series run, and which was resurrected for last year's WS campaign.

Lil' Wally's funeral will be held in Chicago this Saturday (8/26).

In heaven there is no beer,
That's why we drink it here,
And when we're gone from here,
Our friends will be dinking all our beer.

So long Wally . . .