{{short description|American musician (born 1941)}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Jimmy Sturr | image = Jimmy Sturr.jpg | alt = | caption = Sturr in 2009 | image_size = | background = non_vocal_instrumentalist | birth_name = James William Sturr Jr. | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1941|9|25|mf=yes}} | birth_place = Warwick, New York, United States | instrument = Trumpet, clarinet, saxophone | genre = {{flatlist|*Polka *folk *rock *country}} | occupation = Instrumentalist, bandleader | years_active = | label = Rounder, Vanguard, Starr | 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, 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.<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>
==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>[https://web.archive.org/web/20230512065258/https://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]</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" />
Sturr hosts a syndicated radio show on stations including WTBQ<ref>{{Cite web |title=WTBQ AM 1110 FM 93.5 | Radio Worth Listening To | Talk, Music & Sports |url=https://wtbq.com/ |access-date=31 October 2022 |website=Wtbq.com}}</ref> 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.<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" />
==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'' (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, Flaco Jiménez (1998 Grammy) * ''Most Requested Hits'' * ''Not Just Another Polka'' * ''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 (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'' 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 *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
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[https://www.jimmysturr.com Official website] *[https://www.letspolka.com/2006/11/interview-with-jimmy-sturr Interview with Jimmy Sturr]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Sturr, Jimmy}} Category:1941 births Category:Living people 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