Dana Records was founded in 1946 in New York by polish immigrant pianist, composer and singer Wladyslaw Danilowski also known as Walter Dana. Wladyslaw was born in Warsaw, Poland in April 26, 1902. He began playing piano and composing at the age of seven. In 1940 he managed to immigrate to the U.S. with his wife, stage star Niusia Nobosowna and son Gustav.
Dana Records started on reissuing “Syrena-Record” records, but quickly began its own recordings. It became the top Polish-Polka line within a short time. In 1952 a poll by Billboard Magazine ranked Dana Records behind Victor and Columbia and ahead of Decca, Capitol, Mercury and all others.
The Dana line included 120 albums or some 1,300 recorded tunes.
In 1950 Wladyslaw sold Dana Records to Fiesta Records and moved to Florida where he dedicated all his time to serious music composing. He died on March 4, 2000 at age of 97.