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{{short description|American musician}}
'''Jimmy Sturr''', also known as the "Polka King," is a [[polka]] musician and leader of '''Jimmy Sturr & His Orchestra'''. His recordings have won 14 out of a maximum of 20 [[Grammy Award]]s given for [[Grammy Award for Best Polka Album|Best Polka Album]]. His orchestra is on the Top
{{Infobox musical artist
Ten List of the All-Time Grammy Awards, and has aquired more Grammy nominations than anyone
| name = Jimmy Sturr
in the history of musical polka awards. His band is arguably the most popular
| image = Jimmy Sturr.jpg
polka band. Jimmy Sturr's band has been voted the #1
| alt =
polka band in America, and have their own TV show on the [http://www.rfd-tv.com/ RFD-TV] network, a network
| caption = Sturr in 2009
devoted to rural America. The band
| image_size =
has reported in press releases that they have also appeared on [[Saturday Night Live]], however this has proven to be untrue. Evidence of this is the [[List_of_Saturday_Night_Live_hosts_and_musical_guests]], where they are conspicuously absent.
| background = non_vocal_instrumentalist
When they are on a trip, the band rides in Jimmy’s forty-five foot customized tour bus. On their travels, they have been to the most prestigious venues in the world, including
| birth_name = James William Sturr Jr.
seven Sold Out concerts at [[Carnegie Hall]] and four Sold Out concerts at [[Lincoln Center]] in New York City and a sold out concert at The [[Palace of Culture]] in [[Warsaw, Poland]]. The band has
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1941|9|25|mf=yes}}
also played at many famous casinos.
| birth_place = [[Warwick, New York]], United States
| instrument = [[Trumpet]], [[clarinet]], [[saxophone]]
| genre = {{flatlist|*[[Polka]]
*[[folk music|folk]]
*[[rock music|rock]]
*[[country music|country]]}}
| occupation = Instrumentalist, bandleader
| years_active =
| label = [[Rounder Records|Rounder]], [[Vanguard Records|Vanguard]], [[Starr Records|Starr]]
| associated_acts =
| website = {{URL|www.jimmysturr.com}}
}}


'''James W. Sturr Jr.''' (born September 25, 1941), commonly known as '''Jimmy Sturr''', is an American [[polka]] musician, [[trumpeter]], [[clarinetist]], [[saxophone|saxophonist]] and leader of '''Jimmy Sturr & His Orchestra'''. Media outlets have often dubbed him the "King of Polka," with his recordings having won 18 out of the 24 [[Grammy Award]]s given for [[Grammy Award for Best Polka Album|Best Polka Album]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2022-05-06 |title=All About: The Jimmy Sturr Show |url=https://www.rfdtv.com/all-about-the-jimmy-sturr-show |access-date=2023-12-13 |website=RFD-TV |language=en}}</ref> Sturr's orchestra is on the Top Ten List of the All-Time Grammy Awards, and has acquired more Grammy nominations than anyone in the history of musical polka awards.<ref name="nyt060205">{{cite news |first=Ben |last=Sisario |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |title=The Polka King Rolls Out the Barrel for the 19th Time |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/05/arts/music/05sisario.html?pagewanted=all |date=February 5, 2006 |access-date=October 18, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Jimmy Sturr {{!}} Artist {{!}} GRAMMY.com |url=https://www.grammy.com/artists/jimmy-sturr/15438 |access-date=2023-12-13 |website=Grammy.com}}</ref>
Today, Jimmy Sturr lives in the house he grew
up in, in the upstate town of [[Florida, Orange County, New York|Florida, New York]]. The band usually attracts crowds of loyal fans wherever their travels take them.


==Career==
Sturr and his orchestra have performed at [[Carnegie Hall]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.carnegiehall.org/PerformanceHistorySearch/#!search=jimmy%20sturr|title = Performance History Search|website=Carnegiehall.org}}</ref> [[Lincoln Center]] in New York City, Yankee Stadium <ref>{{Cite web|title=The pitcher who could polka|url=https://ampoleagle.com/the-pitcher-who-could-polka-p15033-191.htm|access-date=2021-01-08|website=Ampoleagle.com}}</ref> and the [[Palace of Culture]] in [[Warsaw]], Poland.<ref>[http://fultonhistory.com/highlighter/viewer/?file=http%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FNewpapers%2520Disk2%2FAuburn%2520NY%2520Citizen%2520Advertiser%2FAuburn%2520NY%2520Citizen%2520Advertiser%25201985.pdf%2FNewspaper%2520Auburn%2520NY%2520Citizen%2520Advertiser%25201985%2520-%25204564.PDF&highlightsFile=http%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2Fhighlighter%2Fhits%2F7d820ff77de8cd87885f5f4af0c858a5#page=1] {{dead link|date=October 2022}}</ref> When touring, the band rides in Jimmy's 45-foot customized tour bus, previously owned by [[Billy Ray Cyrus]].<ref name="nyt060205"/> The band has crossed genres and collaborated with numerous prominent musicians such as [[Willie Nelson]], [[Brenda Lee]], [[Arlo Guthrie]], [[Boots Randolph]], [[The Oak Ridge Boys]], [[Mel Tillis]], and [[Charlie Daniels]].


A significant highlight for Jimmy Sturr & His Orchestra was when they were invited to appear on the [[Grand Ole Opry]], the only polka group (and the only group with brass instruments) to do so.<ref name=":0" />
Discography


Sturr hosts a syndicated radio show on stations including [[WTBQ]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=WTBQ AM 1110 FM 93.5 &#124; Radio Worth Listening To &#124; Talk, Music & Sports |url=https://wtbq.com/ |access-date=31 October 2022 |website=Wtbq.com}}</ref> in his hometown of [[Florida, Orange County, New York|Florida, New York]], the station he once owned. He also has a weekly radio show on the Rural Radio channel on SirusXM.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.siriusxm.com/servlet/Satellite?c=SXM_Channel_C&childpagename=SXM%2FSXM_Channel_C%2FChannelProgramList&cid=1376495633207&pagename=SXM%2FWrapper|title=Weekly Schedule - Rural Radio|work=SiriusXM|access-date=2017-04-08|language=en|archive-date=2017-04-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170409110853/http://www.siriusxm.com/servlet/Satellite?c=SXM_Channel_C&childpagename=SXM%2FSXM_Channel_C%2FChannelProgramList&cid=1376495633207&pagename=SXM%2FWrapper|url-status=dead}}</ref> In addition to radio shows, he also owns and operates United Polka Artists, Starr Record Company, Jimmy Sturr Travel Agency, and a publishing company.<ref name=":0" />
*Let's Polka 'Round (2004 Grammy)
*Top of the World (2003 Grammy)
*Gone Polka (2002 Grammy) with [[Willie Nelson]] and [[Brenda Lee]]
*Touched By a Polka with [[Mel Tillis]] (2001 Grammy)
*Prime Time Polka
*Life's a Polka
*83 Giant Polka Hits
*Dance with Me with [[Oak Ridge Boys]] and [[Flaco Jiminez]] (1999 Grammy)
*Polkapalooza
*Living on Polka Time (1998 Grammy) with [[Bill Anderson]] and [[Flaco Jiminez]]
*Polka! All Night Long (1997 Grammy) with [[Willie Nelson]]
*I Love to Polka (1996 Grammy)
*Polka Your Troubles Away
*Pure Polka
*Polka Favorites
*Saturday Night Polka
*Clarinet/Accordion Magic
*Sturr It Up
*Live At Gilley's (1992 Grammy)
*Polka Time at Your House (1991 Grammy)
*Fiddles On Fire
*Trip To Poland
*Pure Country
*All In My Love For You (1990 Grammy)
*Born To Polka (1989 Grammy)
*A Polka Just For Me (1988 Grammy)
*I Remember Warsaw (1987 Grammy)
*1st Class Polka's
*Hooked on Polkas
*On Tour
*All American Polkafest
*Polka Fever
*A Jimmy Sturr Christmas
*Polka Christmas
*Old Fashioned Christmas
*Christmas In My Hometown


==Discography==
* ''All American Polka Festival''
* ''[[All in My Love for You]]'' (1990 Grammy)
* ''The Best of Jimmy Sturr and His Orchestra''
* ''The Big Band Polka Sound''
* ''[[Born to Polka]]'' (1989 Grammy)
* ''Come on and Dance (Live from RFD-TV)'' (2014)
* ''[[Come Share the Wine]]'' (2008 Grammy)
* ''[[Dance with Me (Jimmy Sturr and His Orchestra album)|Dance with Me]]'' (1999 Grammy)
* ''Double Magic''
* ''First Class Polkas''
* ''Forget Me Never''
* ''[[Gone Polka]]'' with [[Willie Nelson]], [[Brenda Lee]] (2002 Grammy)
* ''Gonna be Good Times'' (2017)
* ''Grammy Gold''
* ''Greatest Hits of Polka''
* ''[[I Love to Polka]]'' (1996 Grammy)
* ''[[I Remember Warsaw]]'' (1987 Grammy)
* ''A Jimmy Sturr Christmas''
* ''[[Let the Whole World Sing]]'' (2009 Grammy)
* ''[[Let's Polka 'Round]]'' with [[Charlie Daniels]], [[Bela Fleck]], [[Boots Randolph]] (2004 Grammy)
* ''Life's a Polka''
* ''[[Live at Gilley's!]]'' (1992 Grammy)
* ''[[Living on Polka Time]]'' with [[Bill Anderson (singer)|Bill Anderson]], [[Flaco Jiménez]] (1998 Grammy)
* ''Most Requested Hits''
* ''Not Just Another Polka''
* ''[[A Polka Just for Me|Please Have Them Play a Polka Just for Me]]'' (1988 Grammy)
* ''[[Polka! All Night Long]]'' with [[Willie Nelson]] (1997 Grammy)
* ''Polka Christmas''
* ''Polka Christmas in My Home Town''
* ''Polka Cola (Music That Refreshes)'' with [[Bill Anderson (singer)|Bill Anderson]] (2009)
* ''Polka Fever'' (1978)
* ''[[Polka in Paradise]]'' with [[Bobby Vinton]] (2007 Grammy)
* ''Polka is My Life''
* ''Polka Party''
* ''Polkapalooza''
* ''Primetime Polkas''
* ''Pure Country''
* ''Pure Polka''
* ''Rock 'N' Polka''
* ''Saturday Night Polka''
* ''[[Shake, Rattle and Polka!]]'' (2006 Grammy)
* ''Stir Up a Musical Mix''
* ''Sturr It Up''
* ''Sturr Struck''
* ''[[Top of the World (Jimmy Sturr album)|Top of the World]]'' with [[Arlo Guthrie]], [[Rhonda Vincent]] (2003 Grammy)
* ''[[Touched by a Polka]]'' with [[Mel Tillis]] (2001 Grammy)
* ''Tribute to the Legends of Polka Music''
* ''[[When It's Polka Time at Your House]]'' (1991 Grammy)

==Band members==
'''Band Members'''

*Jimmy Sturr - Leader, Vocals, Clarinet, Saxophone, Drums, and Trumpet
*Johnny Karas - Tenor Saxophone and Vocals
*Nick DeVito - Clarinet, Alto Saxophone, and Piccolo
*Jim Perry - Clarinet and Alto Saxophone
*Frank Urbanovitch - Fiddle & Vocals
*Al Piatkowski - Accordion
*Bill Ash - Trumpet
*Rick Henly - Trumpet
*Rich Berends - Drums
*Rich Pavasaris - Bass Guitar
*Ron Oswanski - Piano & Accordion
*Tom Conklin - Bus Driver and Sound Manager
*Mike Magdon - Sound Manager
*Gus Kosior - Manager & Bus Driver
*Barbara James - Assistant Manager
*Joe - Social Media

'''Reoccurring members'''

*Nick Koryluk - Accordion
*Joe Mariany - Clarinet and Saxophone
*Ray Barno - Clarinet, Alto Saxophone, and Baritone Saxophone
*Chris Caffery - Guitar

'''Past members'''
*William “Bill” Hulle - Bass<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.recordonline.com/article/20140617/NEWS0301/306179986 | title=Times Herald-Record Obituaries in Middletown, NY &#124; Times Herald-Record | website=Recordonline.com }}{{Dead link|date=February 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
*Hank Golis - Trumpet
*Kevin Krauth - Trumpet & Vocals
*Al Noble - Trumpet
*Ben Poole - Trumpet
*Eric Parks - Trumpet
*Paul Ketterer - Trumpet
*Kenny Harbus - Trumpet & Vocals
*Dana Sylvander - Trombone
*Dennis Coyman - Drums
*Bill Langan - Bass Guitar
*Mike Ralff - Bass Guitar
*Dave Kowalski - Guitar
*Eddie Burton - Guitar
*Lou Pallo - Guitar
*Kevin Chase - Guitar
*Walt Cunningham - Strings & Banjo
*Ed Goldberg - Piano & Bass
*Jeff Hoffman - Piano
*Jeff Miller - Piano
*Keith Slattery - Piano
*Lenny Filipowski - Piano
*Dennis Polisky - Clarinet & Alto Saxophone
*Greg Dolecki - Clarinet & Alto Saxophone
*Joe Magnuszewski - Clarinet & Alto Saxophone
*Peter Kargul - Violin
*Ryan Joseph - Violin
*Steve Wnuk - Violin
*Gene Bartkiewicz - Accordion
*Wally Czerniawski - Accordion
*Darlene Morrow - Violin
*Mark Zaki - Violin
*Steve Swiader - Accordion
*Gennarose - Vocals
*Lance Wing - Vocals
*Lindsey Webster - Vocals
*John Doolan - Equipment Manager
*Bryan Doolan - Roadie
*Thomas 'Tom' Karas - Accordion/keyboard (1983-1989)<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ipapolkas.com/blog/otw-portfolio/thomas-karas-deceased-category-inducted-2004/|title=Thomas Karas – Deceased Category – Inducted 2004|website=Ipapolkas.com|access-date=2019-04-09|archive-date=2018-09-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180902000842/http://www.ipapolkas.com/blog/otw-portfolio/thomas-karas-deceased-category-inducted-2004/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.jimmysturr.com Official website]
*[http://www.letspolka.com/2006/11/interview-with-jimmy-sturr Interview with Jimmy Sturr]

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sturr, Jimmy}}
[[Category:1941 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Polka musicians]]
[[Category:Polka musicians]]
[[Category:Grammy Award winners]]
[[Category:Singers from New York (state)]]
[[Category:American male saxophonists]]
[[Category:American male singers]]
[[Category:New York (state) Democrats]]
[[Category:People from Warwick, New York]]
[[Category:21st-century American saxophonists]]
[[Category:21st-century American clarinetists]]
[[Category:21st-century American male musicians]]

Latest revision as of 20:39, 10 November 2024

Jimmy Sturr
Sturr in 2009
Background information
Birth nameJames William Sturr Jr.
Born (1941-09-25) September 25, 1941 (age 83)
Warwick, New York, United States
Genres
Occupation(s)Instrumentalist, bandleader
Instrument(s)Trumpet, clarinet, saxophone
LabelsRounder, Vanguard, Starr
Websitewww.jimmysturr.com

James W. Sturr Jr. (born September 25, 1941), commonly known as Jimmy Sturr, is an American polka musician, trumpeter, clarinetist, saxophonist and leader of Jimmy Sturr & His Orchestra. Media outlets have often dubbed him the "King of Polka," with his recordings having won 18 out of the 24 Grammy Awards given for Best Polka Album.[1] Sturr's orchestra is on the Top Ten List of the All-Time Grammy Awards, and has acquired more Grammy nominations than anyone in the history of musical polka awards.[2][3]

Career

[edit]

Sturr and his orchestra have performed at Carnegie Hall,[4] Lincoln Center in New York City, Yankee Stadium [5] and the Palace of Culture in Warsaw, Poland.[6] When touring, the band rides in Jimmy's 45-foot customized tour bus, previously owned by Billy Ray Cyrus.[2] The band has crossed genres and collaborated with numerous prominent musicians such as Willie Nelson, Brenda Lee, Arlo Guthrie, Boots Randolph, The Oak Ridge Boys, Mel Tillis, and Charlie Daniels.

A significant highlight for Jimmy Sturr & His Orchestra was when they were invited to appear on the Grand Ole Opry, the only polka group (and the only group with brass instruments) to do so.[1]

Sturr hosts a syndicated radio show on stations including WTBQ[7] in his hometown of Florida, New York, the station he once owned. He also has a weekly radio show on the Rural Radio channel on SirusXM.[8] In addition to radio shows, he also owns and operates United Polka Artists, Starr Record Company, Jimmy Sturr Travel Agency, and a publishing company.[1]

Discography

[edit]

Band members

[edit]

Band Members

  • Jimmy Sturr - Leader, Vocals, Clarinet, Saxophone, Drums, and Trumpet
  • Johnny Karas - Tenor Saxophone and Vocals
  • Nick DeVito - Clarinet, Alto Saxophone, and Piccolo
  • Jim Perry - Clarinet and Alto Saxophone
  • Frank Urbanovitch - Fiddle & Vocals
  • Al Piatkowski - Accordion
  • Bill Ash - Trumpet
  • Rick Henly - Trumpet
  • Rich Berends - Drums
  • Rich Pavasaris - Bass Guitar
  • Ron Oswanski - Piano & Accordion
  • Tom Conklin - Bus Driver and Sound Manager
  • Mike Magdon - Sound Manager
  • Gus Kosior - Manager & Bus Driver
  • Barbara James - Assistant Manager
  • Joe - Social Media

Reoccurring members

  • Nick Koryluk - Accordion
  • Joe Mariany - Clarinet and Saxophone
  • Ray Barno - Clarinet, Alto Saxophone, and Baritone Saxophone
  • Chris Caffery - Guitar

Past members

  • William “Bill” Hulle - Bass[9]
  • Hank Golis - Trumpet
  • Kevin Krauth - Trumpet & Vocals
  • Al Noble - Trumpet
  • Ben Poole - Trumpet
  • Eric Parks - Trumpet
  • Paul Ketterer - Trumpet
  • Kenny Harbus - Trumpet & Vocals
  • Dana Sylvander - Trombone
  • Dennis Coyman - Drums
  • Bill Langan - Bass Guitar
  • Mike Ralff - Bass Guitar
  • Dave Kowalski - Guitar
  • Eddie Burton - Guitar
  • Lou Pallo - Guitar
  • Kevin Chase - Guitar
  • Walt Cunningham - Strings & Banjo
  • Ed Goldberg - Piano & Bass
  • Jeff Hoffman - Piano
  • Jeff Miller - Piano
  • Keith Slattery - Piano
  • Lenny Filipowski - Piano
  • Dennis Polisky - Clarinet & Alto Saxophone
  • Greg Dolecki - Clarinet & Alto Saxophone
  • Joe Magnuszewski - Clarinet & Alto Saxophone
  • Peter Kargul - Violin
  • Ryan Joseph - Violin
  • Steve Wnuk - Violin
  • Gene Bartkiewicz - Accordion
  • Wally Czerniawski - Accordion
  • Darlene Morrow - Violin
  • Mark Zaki - Violin
  • Steve Swiader - Accordion
  • Gennarose - Vocals
  • Lance Wing - Vocals
  • Lindsey Webster - Vocals
  • John Doolan - Equipment Manager
  • Bryan Doolan - Roadie
  • Thomas 'Tom' Karas - Accordion/keyboard (1983-1989)[10]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c "All About: The Jimmy Sturr Show". RFD-TV. 2022-05-06. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
  2. ^ a b Sisario, Ben (February 5, 2006). "The Polka King Rolls Out the Barrel for the 19th Time". The New York Times. Retrieved October 18, 2010.
  3. ^ "Jimmy Sturr | Artist | GRAMMY.com". Grammy.com. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
  4. ^ "Performance History Search". Carnegiehall.org.
  5. ^ "The pitcher who could polka". Ampoleagle.com. Retrieved 2021-01-08.
  6. ^ [1] [dead link‍]
  7. ^ "WTBQ AM 1110 FM 93.5 | Radio Worth Listening To | Talk, Music & Sports". Wtbq.com. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
  8. ^ "Weekly Schedule - Rural Radio". SiriusXM. Archived from the original on 2017-04-09. Retrieved 2017-04-08.
  9. ^ "Times Herald-Record Obituaries in Middletown, NY | Times Herald-Record". Recordonline.com.[permanent dead link‍]
  10. ^ "Thomas Karas – Deceased Category – Inducted 2004". Ipapolkas.com. Archived from the original on 2018-09-02. Retrieved 2019-04-09.
[edit]
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