BAND BIO
For Ray, the music started when he began taking accordion lessons at the age of seven. Ray played for family and friends. His parents brought Ray’s accordion with them when they would visit their friends at a local tavern on Sunday afternoons.
The Ablemen have been on the music scene for over 40 years. The band plays various types of music, and consists of the following personnel:
• Ray Skorka (leader) -- keyboards, accordion, vocals
• Jim Obrotka -- drums, vocals
• Joe Annecchino -- tenor/alto/soprano saxes, clarinet, flute, trumpet
• Bill Miranda -- trumpet, flugelhorn
The band plays a variety of music: Latin rhythms, swing/jitterbug, country and western, ethnic dances (polka, tarantella, hora, etc.), rock, disco, waltzes, and others.
In addition to playing for private parties, wedding receptions, and anniversaries, during the mid 1980’s the band performed at the National Polka Festival at Hunter Mountain and placed first in the Battle of the Polka Bands competition for three straight summers. These three first place finishes followed an opening year finish of 2nd place in the competition. Clients who have utilized the group are continually amazed at the musicians’ versatility to play so many styles of music and tempos.
The band performs as a quartet but can enlarge up to a 6-piece group, customarily adding a guitarist and female vocalist. Regulars performing in those spots are Bill Wojciechowski and Patty Varian. The musicians who perform are determined in conjunction with the organization or individuals employing the band. Selecting the number of musicians and which members are hired are based upon the number of people at the affair, size of the banquet room or hall, available finances, and “taste” of the person hiring the band.
Rates are cheerfully discussed for the kind of party or dance that is being held. Contact Ray Skorka at 201-967-7243 for further information.
BAND HISTORY
The Ablemen originated in 1963, first as the Ray Edwards Orchestra and then The Ray-Dels. The Ray Edwards Orchestra was a trio begun by Ray Skorka on accordion, with Ronnie Teddick on guitar and Eddie Freed on drums. In 1964, Tom Obrotka joined the band playing saxophone, clarinet, and eventually flute. That band evolved from The Ray Edwards Orchestra to The Ray-Dels to The Ablemen.
In late 1965 Eddie Freed was drafted into the army. At that time, Tom’s brother, Jim Obrotka, joined the group and has performed on drums and vocals with the band ever since. About a year later, Ronnie Teddick left the band. Ray spoke to his friend, Bill Wojciechowski, who grew up in Garfield, NJ a few blocks away from Ray, about playing guitar and bass with the group. At that time Woj was the leader of a popular local rock band, The Del Vons. 
Bill, however, made the decision to join The Ray Edwards Orchestra. It was during Bill’s early tenure with the band that the name changed from The Ray Edwards Orchestra to The Ray-Dels. It was also during the 1960's that Ray branched out from accordion to playing Farfisa organ, which eventually led to his being accomplished on the Bell Duovox and various synthesizer keyboards.
During the late 60’s, Woj left the band to enroll in x-ray school out-of-state. Bill Miranda, a college classmate of Ray, filled in on trumpet for a couple of years. When Woj completed his schooling, he then returned to perform with the band.
Upon graduation from college in 1968, Tom Obrotka left the band in order to begin studies abroad in his quest to become a well-respected eye surgeon. In need of a talented “reed man,” Ray turned to another college friend, Rich Robino. Rich played saxophones, clarinet, flute, and keyboard with the group for sixteen years until 1984. When Rich joined the group, the name morphed from The Ray-Dels to The Ablemen because the band members were "ABLE" to play a wide spectrum of music. 
It was also in the mid-1980’s that Bill Woj wanted to downsize his performance schedule with the group, and Bill Miranda returned once again in Woj’s stead.
When Rich Robino’s company transferred him on his day job to Rochester, NY in 1984, Joe Annecchino joined the band that April, and he has been a mainstay ever since. During the 1990’s, the group also utilized the services of various female vocalists whenever the need arose. Through the 1990’s and early 2000’s, Bill Woj would occasionally perform with the group whenever a guitarist was needed.
To date, Ray Skorka and The Ablemen will supply the appropriate number of musicians for any special occasion.
