Turner Hall hosted the 36th annual induction ceremony. This year’s inductees included Marv Nissel, Augie Garcia, The Castaways, Herb Philofer, Mark Kreitzer, and Myron Muehlbauer.

Marv Nissel, is a polka band leader and native of St. George. Nissel began taking concertina lessons at age 13 and played his first dance job at age 15 in 1953.

After an honorable discharge from the U.S. Army in 1963, he bought his first Hengel concertina and moved to New Ulm, playing with many bands including Feez Fritsche & The Goosetown Band, Lester Schuft and the Country Dutchmen and the Cliff Hermel Polka Party Band.

He composed two original songs for the concertina, “The St. George Polka,” and Nissel’s Hoolerie” and wrote more than 500 concertina arrangements.

The Minnesota Music Hall of Fame (MMHF) induction ceremony was held Friday night. Special award plaques were given to Marv Nissel, Augie Garcia, The Castaways, Herb Philofer, Mark Kreitzer, and Myron Muehlbauer.

Nissel and his wife, Carol, formed the Marv Nissel Band in 1978 and toured the midwest. Their two daughters, Lori and Jodi, and Gibbon Ballroom owner and operator Cliff Hermel joined the band in 1986.

In the mid 1990s, the Nissels performed more than 170 times a year around the country. Marv Nissel was inducted into the World Concertina Congress in 2005.

Both Marv and Carol were able to attend the induction banquet Friday night, along with several family and friends.

Marv Nissel said he was surprised to receive the honor, but said it was really nice to be recognized.

Inductee Augie Garcia, often referred to The Godfather of Minnesota Rock and Roll, was known for his high energy performances, jumping on top of a piano or lying on the floor, wearing Bermuda shorts. Up to six nights a week at the River Road Club under the Mendota Heights Bridge, next to the Mississippi River beginning in 1954.

2025 Minnesota Music Hall of Fame inductee Myron Muehlbauer said he was overjoyed to join the hall. He credited many of his fellow musicans for teaching him throughout his career. Muehlbauer said he had played with many of the past inductees. Muehlbauer said during his career he played with each of the Kahle brothers who were inducted to the hall in 1998.

His band’s hit song “Hi Yo Silver” was recognized as the first rock and roll recording made in Minnesota. Their hits included “Let the Good Times Roll.” Garcia and his band opened for Elvis Presley in 1956 in the Twin Cities.

The band broke up in 1962. Garcia was a Korean War veteran and iron worker, helping build many downtown Minneapolis skyscrapers.

Resurrecting his music career as a solo artist in 1968, he described his music career on Twin Cities PBS station KTCA as “like a paid vacation – we had so much fun.”

The Castaways of the Twin Cities topped the regional charts and reached #12 nationally with “Liar, Liar.” The song has been used in the soundtrack for four major Hollywood movies including “Good Morning Vietnam.”

The Castaways’ album “The House of Leather” is widely regarded as the first rock opera that became an off Broadway play in New York City. Several members of the band were able to attend the induction ceremony Friday.

New inductee to the Minnesota Music Hall (MMHF) Marv Nissel and his wife Carol attended the induction ceremony Friday. Nissel and his wife, Carol, formed the Marv Nissel Band in 1978 and toured the midwest. Marv Nissel said he was surprised to be inducted into the MMHF but said it was a real nice honor.

Herb Pilhofer formed a combo in Germany that performed nightly at a military service club in Nuremberg and was featured on The Armed Forces Radio Network in Europe.

Settling in the Twin Cities in 1954, he wrote a three-part suite for his jazz quintet and the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra. He was the Gutherie Theater’s first music director and owned the first Moog synthesizer (electronic musical instrument) and Synclavier (early digital synthesizer) in the Midwest.

Known for his innovative spirit, keen mind and a prolific and visionary musical career, he performed live at age 88 at the Crooners Supper Club in Minneapolis.

Mark Keitzer is known as a major player in the Bluegrass and Old-Time Folk music scene and has previously been inducted into the Minnesota Rock and County Hall of Fame.

He wrote the music and lyrics for the Minnesota Centennial Show musical, Mark Twain’s Mississippi, based on Twain’s book, “Life on the Mississippi.”

A musical educator at St. Paul Cretin High School and Carlton College, he performs with The Mark Kreitzer Band and The Middle Spunk Creek Boys.

Myron Muehlbauer performs with five bands on trumpet, clarinet, tenor and alto saxophone, flugelhorn, arranges music and specializes in old-time music. He received a certificate award for 52 years of music service from the International Polka Association. As of 2025, Muehlbauer continues to perform regularly with five different bands.

“I like to say music is the only business where everyone can win,” Muehlbauer said before the induction ceremony. “Two musicians can both play great. There are not losers in music.”

Muehlbauer also has the distinction of being one of several MMHF inductees from the New Ulm area. He grew up a miles south of Klossner, Minnesota and graduated from Cathedral High School in New Ulm 50 years ago.

Before the induction ceremony, Muehlbauer was admiring poster of past inductees, many of whom he played with in his career.

“We had all these old great bands that played here in New Ulm,” he said. “But they were also great teachers. I got to play with a lot of great people and learn from them.”

Some of the past inductees he played with were Elmer Scheid, inducted 1995; LeRoy “Slivers” Dewanz inducted in 1997 and the Kahle Brothers, inducted in 1998. He said all of them taught him something about music.

“When you think about it, these guys were 40 years older than me, but they had the time and patience to help me,” Muehlbauer said.

Muehlbauer said he was overjoyed to be inducted into the MMHF and thanked all his fellow musicians and audiences who supported over the years.

The 2025 Inductee Showcase takes place at 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 26, at the Minnesota Music Hall of Fame Museum, 27 N. Broadway. Admission is free.