Biography

Short Biography

Copper Box performs music that crosses boundaries as effortlessly as a supersonic jet. The talented group draws inspiration from rock, polka, blues and Zydeco, resulting in a fusion of sound that captivates listeners and creates a musical melting pot of American rhythms.

Copper Box has received multiple WAMI (Wisconsin Area Music Industry) nominations. The band was selected to film a special music video for Sony for presentation at the National Association of Broadcasting (NAB) event held in Las Vegas, NV. The video was so enthusiastically received Sony presented it at many of its prestigious conventions worldwide. In 2007, a video clip of Copper Box was selected for an American Band commercial from the producers of American Idol.

Copper Box has released four critically acclaimed CD's: Roots (2003); Sunny Days (2005) and Backyard Party released in (2006) and the newest, hottest CD to date, Need a Little Squeezin' (2008).

The band's main focus is sharing their energetic sound with audiences as they travel extensively, playing festivals, performing art centers, and club dates throughout the country. From Summerfest in Milwaukee, WI to Musikfest in Bethlehem, PA to Westfest in West, TX, Copper Box keeps the crowd hopping and the tent rocking with their unique blend of styles often described as "squeeze box rock" or, if you will, "polka-rock-Zydeco."The Wisconsin Blues Society describes Copper Box as "one of the favorites of the Fox Valley Blues Festivals...this hot Zydeco Swamp/Blues/Rock outfit with a great baritone and tenor sax gal and hot accordion man cooks and swings with some of the best Zydeco-influenced groups anywhere in the country."

Copper Box front man, Danny Jerabek, has been called "the Jimi Hendrix of the accordion," and has been featured on national television several times. He received his first 3-row button accordion, commonly referred to as the "button box," from his grandfather when he was 9 years of age. Inspired by his grandfather to learn Czech and German songs and later inspired by Don Cialkoszewski and the great Steve "Esteban" Jordan, and a love for a diverse range of music from jazz to rock and everything in between, Danny Jerabek has made a name for himself in the world of accordion greats.

Danny shares vocals with his other half, Michelle Jerabek (saxophones, guitar, flute, vocals). Michelle's distinctive vocals have been compared to legendary vocalists Sheryl Crow and Bonnie Raitt. The rhythm section consists of Kevin Junemann (bass) and Jason Van Ryzin (drums).

REVIEWS:

"A band known for its diverse influences. The group's original sound and energetic shows have given it a strong reputation in the area." -Cover story of The Postcresent (Appleton, WI)

"the most pleasantly engaging music I have heard in a long time?lyrics move with purpose and passion. The band plays with a relaxed, down-to-earth tightness that invites the listener to join in the fun. Their live performances, which mix their original material with unique arrangements of well-known covers, are also definitely worth checking out." -The Scene, review by Michael Hopkins (WI)

"Fronted by accordion ace Danny Jerabek and vocalist Michelle Jerabek, Copper Box glides through a variety of styles, touching on Tex-Mex, Cajun, country, rock and polka. Popular music has always been enriched and ultimately strengthened when it allows outside influences to accent its customary and all too often stagnant formula. Copper Box specializes in precisely that, introducing unconventional but colorful elements into their songs. Such diversity and confidence is a rare find, creating music with unquestionable integrity...Dan Jerabek's accordion playing is this band's principal unifying element but Michelle Jerabek's sweet and sultry voice is essential to the Copper Box consistency." -Dave Sleger, AMG Contributor/ Music Journalist

"(Danny Jerabek) the 'Kurt Cobain' of the accordion! You gotta see this band LIVE!" -The FOX (Green Bay, WI)

"I've enjoyed listening to their great songs and beautiful music and I will give their disc regular airplay in my radio show because they're damned good!" -DJ Raymond and Theo at Roots Revival Radio (ATL BREE, Belgium)

"I saw the entire show at Musikfest plus observed the "platz" as the crowd built. By the time ya'll were playing the fifth song, there was hardly a seat left. We had to stand up at the booth to see over every one that was just standing looking at the stage! The Zydeco beat and accordion grabs people's ears! The crowd loved the band's energy...Copper Box is my new, best discovery for this year! Keep up the great work!" -WDIY, Sharon Ettinger, dir. (Lehigh Valley, PA)

"Great CD! Spinning the heck out of ALL tunes. Keep up the innovative style!" -DJ Bob of WHPC FM 90.3 (Garden City, NY)

"Their enthusiasm and love for music spills into the audience... you have to see them LIVE!" -DJ Barb Jacobs, WTKM (Hartford, WI)

"The one who really jumped out and tried to do something quite a bit different was Danny Jerabek. No one could look at Danny and say, 'Oh, he plays just like so-and-so.' Danny Jerabek plays like Danny Jerabek and he does a hell of a job." -Spike Micale, Pres. WI Polka Hall of Fame 2002, The Post Crescent

"Taking the Midwest by storm with their new sound?loaded with talent and full of cutting edge ideas?on their way to bigger and better things." -Milwaukee Journal Sentinnel (WI)

Long Biography

Copper Box--taking the long, hard road to making music that satisfies their taste, is not always the easiest to classify into ONE music genre. But for the sake of classification and descriptions, the best way to describe CBx is "POLKA-ROCK-ZYDECO," which fits well with AAA or Americana radio formats.

With each show and each CD that reaches a new listener, CBx is proving one by one that the easy way to selling music is not always the best way. Fans from all over the US and sometimes beyond are lovin' what CBx is doing and supporting it by traveling week after week to see them perform. One by one they are reaching new venues and new audiences of all ages and ethic backgrounds that appreciate music.

Their most requested song, The Pink Floyd Polka (Comfortably Numb), just scratches the surface of their eclectic talents. While they draw from rock, Tex-Mex, polka, country, blues and Zydeco music, their music comes across real and raw and all of their influences become one graceful, gritty sound.

Throughout their earliest recordings they have found ways to redefine and expand their sound. As one music journalist commented, "(Copper Box)...as refreshing as a cool spring breeze blowing new life into a stuffy room...worth checking out!"

Their first CD release in 2003, ROOTS, has received a "3-star" rating on an AMG review. Roots features several songs written by Danny Jerabek and Michelle Jerabek (Daze (country polka), Apple of Your Eye (polka rocker), Racing (easy listening rock), Gimme That Oldtyme Music (polka rocker), Nothing Else Should Matter (country), Zydeco Party (Zydeco shuffle), Garden (rock), Southern Belle (polka rocker), Don't You Wait (mellow polka), and One Night (Spanish waltz). Amoung these, Racing recieved the most attention with Michelle's sultry voice and Danny's amazing arrangement that compliments the song so well. Three of their songs have been voted in the TOP 10 among millions of songs in the country category on www.garageband.com, voted by internet users worldwide. SUNNY DAYS, their 2nd recording released in 2005 was a spin closer to pop-sounding songs and featured their most requested song and unique arrangement of Pink Floyd's hit "Comfortably Numb," which they call "The Pink Floyd Polka." Founder of The Cover Song Podcast (www.coverville.com) Brian Ibbott commented, “Wow! I got more positive feedback about your “Comfortably Numb/The Pink Floyd Polka” cover than I've gotten about an individual song in a long time! - it truly is something great!” Also on SUNNY DAYS are songs written by former guitarist, Nate Grier, which include Last Cigarette (polka rocker), One by One (pop rocker), I Remember (pop love song), and Fresh Start (pop). Danny Jerabek originals include the title track, Sunny Days (funky pop rocker), Adios Baby (a latin rocker featuring the bari sax), Sure Fire (Zydeco rocker), and Tell Me (latin sing-a-long). David Jerabek contributed Finally Found You (pop rocker) and Miracle (easy listening bluegrass love song). Also featured on this disc, was John Fogerty's famous, Born on the Bayou, with a rockin' accordion, of course.

Copper Box recieved 7 WAMI (Wisconsin Area Music Industry) nominations to date. Copper Box filmed a music video for Sony, which received great response at the NAB (National Association for Broadcasting) in Las Vegas, NV and at many other Sony conventions worldwide. Copper Box had 4 songs off Sunny Days appear in the TOP 10 on www.garageband.com .

Traveling around the US, playing festivals and music clubs, Copper Box's live show and spontaneous combustions on stage started to make the headlines and ignited the "fire" for Copper Box to keep pushing on.

Wisconsin Blues Society describes Copper Box as “…one of the favorites of the Fox Valley Blues Festival 2004. This hot Zydeco Swamp/Blues Rock outfit with a great baritone and tenor sax gal and a hot accordion man. This group cooks and swings with some of the best Zydeco-influenced groups I’ve seen anywhere in the country.”

They have shared the mainstage at festivals across the nation with artists like, The Little River Band, Buckwheat Zydeco, Little Feat, Brave Combo, The Radiators, Little Big Town, Little Texas, Lou Gramm, Marcia Ball, C.J. Chenier, W.C. Clark, and Brave Combo.

The 4th & latest CD release, Need a Little Squeezin', has sprung in the spring of 2008. Full of polka-rock-Zydeco with plenty of fun-sounding tunes to get you up and moving!

The title track, Need a Little Squeezin' is a sassy country/blues rocker written by Michelle Jerabek featuring an added sound to CBx--a lap steel guitar played by Chris Wagoner from the Moon Gypsies. The rest of the CD takes you from polka-rockin' to Zydeco to jazz to a Brazilian groove remake of Danny Jerabek's, Apple of Your Eye. Sing-a-long to Hey Baby, Que Paso (originally done by the Texas Tornados) and Jambalaya (Hank Williams). Two song written for Danny & Michelle's daughters (Shaylee & Maria...aka Cheesy) are Gypsy Dancer and Cheesy's Twirl. A healthy dose of washboard doin' it up good on Zydeco Cha Cha and a few others, as requested. A Wisconsin favorite band---Happy Schnapps Combo offers CBx a great party song to fit their polka-rock style..called Please Pass the Schnapps.

Swing into Purple Boa and a jazzier selection, Red Heads Have More Fun, with a horn section to knock yourself out...and Michelle on the bari saxophone. Buckwheat Zydeco contributes his songwritting abilities to CBx's remake of his song, Zydeco Boogaloo and then join in the Howards Grove Parade that CBx started marching down the streets Howards Grove, WI at a house party...with Granny leading the parade---being pushed on a cart...followed by at least 50 other fans joining in the party! Takes you back to New Orleans...only in WI!

Current Copper Box Band Members:

Kevin Junemann: bass

Jason Van Ryzin: drums

Michelle Jerabek: saxophones, guitar, flute, lead vocals

Danny Jerabek: button box (accordion), keys, cornet, lead vocals
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Contact the band: info@copperboxsite.com

Airplay

WBAY TV (Green Bay, WI)--The Later Morning Show features CBx playing 3 songs.

NBC --The Early Show -- Danny Jerabek is featured playing his accordion. 2007

American Band commercial from the producers of American Idol show Copper Box jammin' on the back porch from their photo shoot for Backyard Party 2006.

Chevy Silverado commercial features CBx from their photo shoot for Backyard Party. Aired nationally in 2007.

Big Ten Network features, Danny Jerabek perform with Brave Combo. 2007.

WTMJ4 TV--(Milwaukee, WI) features CBx, promoting their CD, Sunny Days & their local appearance at Bastille Days. 2006

Film Appearances