Submitted photo Bockfest Boys band members included from left, Scott Sparlin, Randy Domeier and Tony Berg perform on the Schell’s Stage at the 2018 Minnesota State Fair. They perform 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Bockfest at the August Schell Brewery.

NEW ULM — Bockfest Boys lead singer, guitarist and manager Scott Sparlin gets excited talking about the history of the band

Sparlin fondly remembers the inaugural Bockfest at Schells nearly 40 years ago and what happened since.

“Smiley (Wiltscheck) and his mother played polka music on concertinas for about 100 people about 40 years ago,” Sparlin said.

“The next year, (former Schell’s President) Ted Marti got a hold of me and said he wanted our whole band there for what became Bockfest. Smiley, myself, Randy Domeier and Tim Haen were the Minnesota Valley Boys back then. We earlier organized as the Valley Boys.” Sparlin added.

He said band played at Bockfest every year and the event grew and grew.

Long-time Bockfest participants probably remember hearing the band play “Ring of Fire.”

“I became a Johnny Cash fan when just about nobody was. I began playing “Ring of Fire” at age 16 and really loved the song. It became our Bockfest theme song.” Sparlin said.

He began playing rock, county and old time music with the “Summer’s Eve” band with Wildscheck, Domeier, Paul Spencer and Chuck Okerman in the 1970s.

“We played more than 200 times a year in southern Minnesota and South Dakota,” Sparlin said.

“We authenticated everything, playing all three kinds of popular music like it was supposed to sound. You had to do that to keep working,” Sparlin added.

He recalled the St. Paul Vulcans, who support the St. Paul Winter Carnival, ordaining former August Schell Brewery President Ted Marti, former New Ulm City Council President Dan Beranek and himself with swords at Bockfest a number of years ago.

Sparlin said recent additions to the Bockfest Boys include New Ulm native Marty Nachreiner who plays saxophone and trumpet plus Ross Scalise who plays all horns.

Tony Berg of rural New Ulm joined the Bockfest Boys about 20 years ago.

Some of his fondest musical memories are of Bockfest.

“It’s always a lot of fun. I look forward to it. I’ve never seen a fight there. It’s just a lot of people having a good time. It’s a well-run operation,” Berg said.

He began playing concertina in the Deer Brand Polka Band about 40 years ago.

Berg also played bass guitar and concertina in the Straight Ahead rock and country band.

He’s performed at many outdoor summer and fall festivals from Chippewa falls, Wis. to Fargo and Sioux Falls.

“I’ve learned a lot from seasoned, on-stage musicians. When you play music, there is always somebody better. You need to learn from them and make it work,” he added.

Berg said his favorite music depends on what mood he’s in.

“Sometimes I want to rock and roll. Other times, I want to play country music more,” he added.

The Bockfest Boys begin playing rock, country and some of their own unique music from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday in the Bockfest big parking lot stage.