Pawlo Humeniuk (c. 1884 - January 24, 1965) was a Ukrainian-Americanfiddler from the early 20th century, one of the biggest stars of the era's ethnic music. He was born in Pidvolochyska, a village in the western area of Ukraine, and moved to the US in about 1902. He performed at various celebrations, such as weddings, in New York.
Humeniuk was signed to Okeh Records in 1925, and began recording on December 3 of that year. His early records sold well, and included kolomyikas, kozachoks and polkas. He was the undisputed king of Ukrainian-American popular music, until Columbia Records began promoting Ewgen Zukowsky. The two occasionally worked together, such as on "Ukrainske Wesilia", which is said to have sold more than 100,000 copies (though reliable records are not available from this era).
Ukrainian orchestra from 1909, Humeniuk at bottom left
After 1926, Humeniuk began recording traditional Polish music under the name Pawel Humeniak. His influence in this field is important, as he helped developed the genre of American polka and inspired future bandleaders like Edward Krolikowski and Ignacy Podgorski. His 1928 "Kanarek" was the best-selling polka in the era, and set the standard for eastern style polka.
It is not difficult to think of Pawlo Humeniuk as a major fiddler of his time - a man whose recorded accomplishments were on a par with those of Eck Robertson, Clark Kessinger and Pappy McMichen - even if they were as ignorant of him as he undoubtedly was of them.
Zukowsky and Humeniuk were a natural team and they joined forces to create a cameo version of an old world wedding on the two sides of a twelve-inch record.
According to the Chicago retailer Alvin Sajewski, it was the best-selling polka disc of the late 'twenties and served as a hallmark in the development of the eastern style.
Humeniuk was signed to Okeh Records in 1925, and began recording on December 3 of that year.
The two occasionally worked together, such as on "Ukrainske Wesilia", which is said to have sold more than 100,000 copies (though reliable records are not available from this era).
After 1926, Humeniuk began recording traditional Polish music under the name Pawel Humeniak.
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