Jimmy Sturr and his Orchestra

At the time that rock was reaching its crescendo, and in the era when country was dazzling the nation, a strange phenomenon was taking place. In essence, this phenomenon was the rising popularity of Jimmy Sturr as the hottest musical attraction in the polka field.

The reigning king of the field is a good looking, smiling charmer with brown hair, blues eyes, and charismatic rays emanating from his presence. Sturr is the fellow in front of the orchestra.

And what an orchestra it is! Jimmy Sturr and His Orchestra have over 106 recordings; the excellence of these recordings has been recognized and rewarded throughout the very competitive music industry. The fact that Jimmy Sturr and His Orchestra are on the top ten list of the all-time Grammy™ Awards, have won fifteen Grammy™ Awards, and have received more consecutive Grammy™ nominations that anyone in the history of the awards has made the music industry sit up and take notice. Broadcast Music Inc. (BMI) has awarded Jimmy Sturr and His Orchestra its most valued award, the “Commendation of Excellence” - the only one ever awarded to a polka artist.

The band attracts crowds of screaming, adoring fans wherever their travels take them. Their tremendous popularity has resulted not only in numerous Grammy™ Awards, but also in being voted “The #1 Polka Band In The Country” for the past ten years.

Sturr’s immense success can be attributed to his ability to perform timeless polka repertoire while continuing to expand that repertoire by introducing songs from other genres. His new album, Shake, Rattle and Polka!, is a perfect example. Joined by such illustrious guests as Willie Nelson (the fifth Sturr album to feature his contribution), Delbert McClinton, Duane Eddy, the Duprees, and Frankie Ford, Sturr takes timeless songs from the early days of rock’n’roll and injects them with all the energy and infectiousness of the polka. The result is a fresh, exhilarating sound that holds equal appeal to polka fans and new audiences.

One of the major events in Jimmy’s career came when the Orchestra was asked to appear on “The Grand Ole Opry”. They were not only the only Polka Band ever to appear, but the only band to appear with brass.

A question on the “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?” television show hosted by Regis Philbin, was “Who is America’s polka king?” The contestant won $250,000 by correctly answering “Jimmy Sturr”. Sturr’s music has been heard on the TV show “Jeopardy!” and articles about him have appeared in national print, including a front page story in The Wall Street Journal and a full length story in U.S. News and World Report.

The incredible popularity of Jimmy Sturr and His Orchestra has caught the attention of many television networks, and resulted in featured segments on CBS News Sunday Morning and CNN Headline News plus appearances on ABC, NBC, and FOX. The quality and appearance of Jimmy Sturr and His Orchestra makes them sought after for television commercials for products such as Budweiser, Pontiac, and Mrs. T’s Pierogies, which signed Jimmy to be their National spokesperson. Due to the great demand for live appearances by The Jimmy Sturr Orchestra they have an extensive road schedule of 165 dates per year. They crisscross the country and make several international trips yearly. While on the road, they travel in Jimmy’s forty-five foot customized tour bus. The band’s travels have taken them to some of the most prestigious venues in the world, including seven sold-out concerts at Carnegie Hall, four sold-out concerts at Lincoln Center, and a sold-out concert at The Palace of Culture in Warsaw, Poland where the band received seven standing ovations.

The band appears annually at many of the top casinos in the U.S. including Mohegan Sun Casino, Uncasville, CT; The Tropicana and Taj Mahal in Atlantic City, NJ; Patowatomi Casino, Milwaukee, WI; Soaring Eagle, Mt. Pleasant, MI; The President’s Casino in Biloxi, MS; Mountaineer Race Track and Gaming Resort, Chester, WV; and The Stardust Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas where Jimmy was the first polka band to be booked by a major casino on the strip. The sellout crowds at these popular events keep coming back for more wherever they see the band scheduled.

Today, Jimmy Sturr lives in the house he grew up in. His office is across the street from the high school he attended in the upstate village of Florida, New York (population 1,800). His hometown recently honored Jimmy by placing a “Star of Fame” in the walkway on Main Street. They also display “Hometown Of Polka King Jimmy Sturr” signs at each entrance to the village. Five gold albums, each representing 500,000 sales, are displayed on Jimmy’s office walls. From his office, Jimmy runs United Polka Artists, Starr Record Company, Jimmy Sturr Travel Agency, a publishing company, and his syndicated radio show.

A full scholarship gave Jimmy the opportunity to attend and graduate from Valley Forge Military Academy and the University of Scranton. Among his many accolades, one Jimmy is very proud of, is his selection by The Valley Forge Military Academy as “Man of the Year”; he was honored with a full-dress parade in front of the Corp of Cadets at VFMA.

Seeing is believing. When you see Jimmy Sturr and His Orchestra in person, you know why they draw the huge crowds, have been voted #1 in the country and are considered “The Best In Polka Music”.

Syracuse Polish Festival 2006
Saturday, June 10, 6:30-10:30 p.m.

Admission Free