Jimmy Sturr


James W. Sturr Jr., 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. 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.

Career

Sturr and his orchestra have performed at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center in New York City, Yankee Stadium and the Palace of Culture in Warsaw, Poland. When touring, the band rides in Jimmy's 45-foot customized tour bus, previously owned by Billy Ray Cyrus. 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 to do so.
Sturr hosts a syndicated radio show on stations including WTBQ 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. In addition to radio shows, he also owns and operates United Polka Artists, Starr Record Company, Jimmy Sturr Travel Agency, and a publishing company.

Discography

  • All American Polka Festival
  • All in My Love for You
  • The Best of Jimmy Sturr and His Orchestra
  • The Big Band Polka Sound
  • Born to Polka
  • Come on and Dance
  • Come Share the Wine
  • Dance with Me
  • Double Magic
  • First Class Polkas
  • Forget Me Never
  • Gone Polka with Willie Nelson, Brenda Lee
  • Gonna be Good Times
  • Grammy Gold
  • Greatest Hits of Polka
  • I Love to Polka
  • I Remember Warsaw
  • A Jimmy Sturr Christmas
  • Let the Whole World Sing
  • Let's Polka 'Round with Charlie Daniels, Bela Fleck, Boots Randolph
  • Life's a Polka
  • Live at Gilley's!
  • Living on Polka Time with Bill Anderson, Flaco Jiménez
  • Most Requested Hits
  • Not Just Another Polka
  • Please Have Them Play a Polka Just for Me
  • Polka! All Night Long with Willie Nelson
  • Polka Christmas
  • Polka Christmas in My Home Town
  • Polka Cola with Bill Anderson
  • Polka Fever
  • Polka in Paradise with Bobby Vinton
  • Polka is My Life
  • Polka Party
  • Polkapalooza
  • Primetime Polkas
  • Pure Country
  • Pure Polka
  • Rock 'N' Polka
  • Saturday Night Polka
  • Shake, Rattle and Polka!
  • Stir Up a Musical Mix
  • Sturr It Up
  • Sturr Struck
  • Top of the World with Arlo Guthrie, Rhonda Vincent
  • Touched by a Polka with Mel Tillis
  • Tribute to the Legends of Polka Music
  • ''When It's Polka Time at Your House''

    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
  • Vinnie Borselli - Trumpet
  • Dana Sylvander - Trumpt
  • Rich Berends - Drums
  • Rich Pavasaris - Bass Guitar
  • Ron Oswanski - Piano & Accordion
  • Tom Conklin - Bus Driver and Sound Manager
  • Mike Magdon - Sound Manager
  • Rich Perry - Sound Engineer
  • Gus Kosior - Manager & Bus Driver
  • Barbara James - Assistant Manager
  • Joe Rapp - Social Media
Reoccurring members
  • Nick Koryluk - Accordion
  • Joe Mariany - Clarinet and Saxophone
  • Ray Barno - Clarinet, Alto Saxophone, and Baritone Saxophone
  • Chris Caffery - Guitar
  • Bryan Doolan - Equipment and Sound
  • Frank Urbanovitch Jr. - Equipment and Sound
Past members
  • William “Bill” Hulle - Bass
  • Hank Golis - Trumpet
  • Rick Henly - Trumpet
  • Carl Hoynoski - Trumpet
  • Kevin Krauth - Trumpet & Vocals
  • Al Noble - Trumpet
  • Ben Poole - Trumpet
  • Eric Parks - Trumpet
  • Paul Ketterer - Trumpet
  • Kenny Harbus - Trumpet & Vocals
  • 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
  • Thomas 'Tom' Karas - Accordion/keyboard