DeKALB – Members of the The DeKalb Footstompers said their goodbyes to fans during their last show in DeKalb on Saturday after 45 years of playing together.

Patrons packed the bar to celebrate and reminisce with the band during the St. Patrick's Day event from 5 to
8 p.m. at Sullivan's Tavern, 722 E. Lincoln Highway. Some danced to the band playing polka covers of tunes such as Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Bad Moon Rising," Johnny Cash's "Folsom Prison" and the Northern Illinois University Huskie fight song.

Band members Dave Guzzardo of Kirkland and Oscar Forsman of DeKalb said the band always had an NIU connection, as well, since the original members went to school there.

Forsman said The DeKalb Footstompers performed at every NIU homecoming since they first became a band. He and Guzzardo said the band has performed at countless weddings, summer festivals and even Mardi Gras since it formed in the 1970s.

Guzzardo said the band’s four-decade musical journey is coming to an end for various personal reasons. He said nobody’s sick or dying, but it was something that band members needed to do.

“Family first, I guess, is the way to put it,” Forsman said.

Sullivan’s Tavern owner Earl Sullivan said the band has played at the bar for more than 30 years. He said he has known the band members from their NIU days.

“They’re great guys, and they’ve got a great following,” Sullivan said.

Carolyn Grzywa of Esmond said she has seen The DeKalb Footstompers perform about a dozen times – and one of those performances was at her sister’s wedding more than 30 years ago. She said she comes from a family of polka dancers, and she loves seeing the band because they play a variety of polka-type music.

Grzywa said she thinks the
band is one of the best in the area.
She said the band members always are so personable with the audience, and always know the people who come out to see them.

“I’m going to miss them,” Grzywa said. “Now somebody else is going to have to step up.”

Forsman said the band has loved playing for the community and has been grateful for the bar owners who have hired the band for so long.

“We’re very thankful after all these years, and at our age that we still get people that want to come out and see us,” Guzzardo said with a laugh. “It’s pretty gratifying.”

The DeKalb Footstompers have three more performances before their musical journey comes to an official end: from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday at After the Fox in McHenry, from 8 to 11 p.m. April 21 at the Downers Grove Moose Lodge and from 2 to 5 p.m. April 29 at The Half Moon in Hinckley.