| Keith Stras has been on weekly Chicagoland radio for 31 consecutive years. At an early age, Stras seemed to be interested in entertaining people. The late Ned Locke, a 25 year veteran of Chicagoland television and radio was responsible for Stras being bitten by the limelight bug. Ned a Circus Ringmaster on WGN'S "Bozo Circus" can also be credited for Stras' other love … the circus.
Stras, 46 a lifelong Chicagoan emerged on the polka scene at the age of fifteen appearing on WONX radio alongside popular Chicago disc-jockey Richard Towalski (Li’l Richard), Since then Stras has been heard over the air in Chicago for twenty seven consecutive years. Currently on WPNA 1490AM (www.wpna1490am.com) and on The Polka Jammer Network (www.polkajammer.com) During his career Stras has been on nine different radio stations in Chicago and a successful seven year run on television in Chicago, Cleveland Ohio, Pittsburgh Pennsylvania and Buffalo New York. During his television years Stras, was fortunate to be nominated five times for the televisions prestigious Emmy Award. Stras was also inducted into the Polka Music Hall of Fame® in 1999.
Stras has returned to National Television in 2004, on the RFD TV Network, (www.rfdtv.com) Stras serves as the announcer and MC for the Nationally Televised JImmy Sturr Show which can be see each weekend on DirecTV & Dish Network each weekend. Sturr the 16 time Grammy Award Winner- (www.jimmysturr.com) has also signed Stras to serve as the official Master of Ceremonies for all of his Polkapalooza events which are held around the United States and Canada. Sturr says “Keith’s known throughout the country for his booming voice and charisma, they lend to the excitement of our Polkapalooza events” As the official Polkapalooza Master of Ceremonies Stras will be appearing in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, Toms River NJ, the Taj Mahal in Atlantic City, at The Stardust Hotel in Las Vegas at the Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, CT and many other venues. ”’
In September of 2005 Stras served as MC for the Polka Segment featuring the JImmy Sturrr Orchestra during the 20th Anniversary of Farm Aid, held at Chicago's Tweeter Center.
When Stras is not working in the Polka industry, he is working hard to bring the finest entertainers to Chicagoland. Scheduled to appear in 2006 for K & C Entertainment are –Comedian Charlie Prose-The Stras of the Lawrence Welk Show-Holiday on Ice and many others. He also finds time to share the stage with America’s Favorite Clown “Bozo”, a Chicagoland staple on WGN-TV for forty years. Stras is now the producer and Ringmaster of the “Bozo Show which appears locally. |
