James W. Sturr, Jr. is an American polka musician, trumpeter, clarinetist, saxophonist and leader of Jimmy Sturr & His Orchestra. His recordings have 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.
Sturr and his orchestra have performed at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center in New York City and the Palace of Culture in Warsaw, Poland. When touring, the band rides in Jimmy's forty-five foot customized tour bus, previously owned by Billy Ray Cyrus.
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 SirusXM chanel, Rural Radio.
All American Polka FestivalThe Best of Jimmy Sturr and His OrchestraCome on and DanceCome Share the Wine (2008 Grammy)Double MagicFirst Class PolkasForget Me NeverGone Polka (2002 Grammy) with Willie Nelson and Brenda LeeGrammy GoldGreatest Hits of PolkaI Love to Polka (1996 Grammy)A Jimmy Sturr ChristmasLet the Whole World Sing (2009 Grammy)Let's Polka 'Round with Charlie Daniels, Bela Fleck and Boots Randolph (2004 Grammy)Life's a PolkaLive at Gilley's! (1992 Grammy)Living on Polka Time (1998 Grammy) with Bill Anderson and Flaco JiménezMost Requested HitsNot Just Another PolkaPolka! All Night Long (1997 Grammy) with Willie NelsonPolka ChristmasPolka Christmas in My HometownPolka Cola with Bill AndersonPolka in Paradise with Bobby Vinton (2007 Grammy)Polka is My LifePolka PartyPolkapaloozaPrimetime PolkasPure CountryPure PolkaRock N PolkaSaturday Night PolkaShake, Rattle and Polka! (2006 Grammy)Sturr It UpSturr StruckTop of the World with Arlo Guthrie and Rhonda Vincent (2003 Grammy)Touched by a Polka with Mel Tillis (2001 Grammy)Tribute to the Legends of Polka MusicWhen It's Polka Time at Your House (1991 Grammy)Band members
Main Band Members
Jimmy Sturr - Leader, Vocals, Clarinet, Saxophone, and DrumsKevin Krauth - Trumpet & VocalsKenny Harbus - Trumpet & VocalsBill Ash-TrumpetRich Pavasaris - Bass GuitarRon Oswanski - Piano & AccordionJohnny Karas - Tenor Saxophone & VocalsNick DeVito - Clarinet & Alto SaxophoneJim Perry - Clarinet & Alto SaxophoneFrank Urbanovitch - Violin & VocalsSteve Swiader - Accordion
Other and Past Band Members
Al Noble - TrumpetEd Goldberg - Piano & Bass * 25 YearsBen Poole - TrumpetEric Parks - TrumpetDana Sylvander - TromboneDennis Coyman - DrumsBill Langan - Bass GuitarMike Ralff - Bass GuitarDave Kowalski - GuitarEddie Burton - GuitarLou Pallo - GuitarKevin Chase - GuitarWalt Cunningham - Strings & BanjoJeff Hoffman - PianoJeff Miller - PianoKeith Slattery - PianoLenny Filipowski - PianoDennis Polisky - Clarinet & Alto SaxophoneGreg Dolecki - Clarinet & Alto SaxophoneJoe Magnuszewski - Clarinet & Alto SaxophoneRay Barno - Clarinet, Alto Saxophone, and Baritone SaxophonePeter Kargul - ViolinRyan Joseph - ViolinGene Bartkiewicz - AccordionNick Koryluk - AccordionWally Czerniawski - AccordionAl Piatkowski - AccordionGennarose - VocalsLance Wing - VocalsLindsey Webster - VocalsGus Kosior - Manager & Bus DriverBarbara James - Assistant ManagerJohn Doolan-Equipment Manager
