Polka King: The Life and Times of Polka Music's Living Legend

by Jimmy Sturr

Overview

Arguably the most important polka practitioner of his generation, reedist/vocalist Jimmy Sturr has won an eye-popping 18 Grammy Awards, and when you hear his exuberant brand of the music that is his heart and soul, you'll understand why. Blending the timeless elements of traditional polka music with hints of country, Cajun, and rock and roll, Sturr's unique sound has taken polka to new heights of accessibility and popularity, and his modernized renditions of polka standards and renditions of rock classics have captured the imagination (and feet) of listeners throughout the world. In his memoir Polka King, you'll meet the man behind the beer barrel.

In his lively, oftentimes hilarious literary debut, Jimmy chronicles how a small-town boy from tiny Florida, N.Y., made good, ultimately becoming a respected bandleader, entrepreneur, and Grammy winner with guest appearances on Saturday Night Live. He'll take you into the recording studio and onto the stage, where he's shared the microphone with the likes of Willie Nelson, The Oak Ridge Boys, and Charlie Daniels. Featuring forewords by Willie Nelson, Bobby Vinton, and “Whispering" Bill Anderson, Polka King will introduce the world to a one-of-a-kind artist who has taken one of the world's most beloved musical genres and made it his own.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781637740279
Publisher:	BenBella Books, Inc.
Publication date:	09/07/2021
Pages:	256
Sales rank:	924,486
Product dimensions:	6.06(w) x 9.06(h) x 0.55(d)

About the Author

An 18-time Grammy Award Winner and leader of more than 100 recording sessions, Jimmy Sturr is considered one of the world's leading polka musicians. Sturr has shared the studio with greats such as Arlo Guthrie, Willie Nelson, Boots Randolph, and Bela Fleck, and, over the last three decades, has performed all over the world. The Jimmy Sturr Orchestra has been seen on Saturday Night Live, PBS, CNN, ABC, and CBS, and BMI awarded him their prestigious Commendation of Excellence. His TV show, The Jimmy Sturr Show, airs weekly on RFD-TV. Sturr lives in Florida, N.Y., and Polka King is his first book.

Table of Contents

Foreword Willie Nelson vii

Foreword Bobby Vinton ix

Foreword Bill Anderson xiii

Introduction: An Irishman in Poland 1

1 The Beginning 11

2 Jimmy Sturr's Brief History of Polka 23

3 A Yankees Interlude 31

4 Sturr-ing It Up in the Studio 37

5 Book It! 45

6 Military Man 53

7 Radio Days, Part One 61

8 Radio Days, Part Two 69

9 Cousin Brucie & Robert F.X. 77

10 If You Want Something Done Right… 87

11 Hey, Niekro! 105

12 Polish Hall Madness 121

13 The Grammys 129

14 Causing More Trouble 143

15 Rounder and Rounder 153

16 Country and Polka: The Perfect Marriage 159

17 More Special Guests, Part One 171

18 How to Polka-ize a Non-Polka, or More Special Guests, Part Two 179

19 The Music City 187

20 Boots, Myron, & Whispering Bill 193

21 Don't Look for the Union Label 201

22 Teammates 209

23 Meet the Orchestra 217

Afterword: Polka Today and Tomorrow 223

Appendix: Jimmy Sturr Selected Discography 227

Acknowledgements 233