National Cleveland Style Polka Hall of Fame Nominations

Nominations 2009

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Art Perko (WINNER)

Fred Kuhar

Del Sinchak (WINNER

Hank Thunander

Bill Seles

TRUSTEES HONOR ROLL RECIPIENTS

Johnny Spetich (WINNER)

CULTURAL / HERITAGE
Fantje Na Vasi
Glasbena Matica Singing Society
Slovenian National Home East 80th
SNPJ Circle 2 Junior Chorus
SNPJ Heritage Center
Joe Valencic

SUPPORT/PROMOTION
Joe Gabrosek & Gene Kovack
John & Helen Kuzman
Val Pawlowski
SNPJ Lodge #6, Sygan
Pam & Jerry Zagar

BEST BUTTON BOX-INDIVIDUAL/DUO
Joe Grkman, Jr.
Ron Likovic
Joe Novak
Ron Pivovar
Fred Ziwich

BEST BUTTON BOX-GROUP
Fairport Jammers
Magic Buttons
Mahoning Valley Button Box Club
Western PA SNPJ Button Box Club

BEST VOCALIST
Christine Hibbs
Nancy Novak
Kim Rodick
John Ross
Ken Umeck

BEST MUSICIAN-INDIVIDUAL
Joe Grkman, Jr.
Bob Kravos
Eric Noltkamper
Joe Novak
Brian O’Boyle
Joey Tomsick
Fred Ziwich

BAND OF THE YEAR
Mikey Dee
Bob Kravos & the Boys in the Band
Joe Novak & Friends
Eddie Rodick Orchestra
Joey Tomsick Orchestra

RECORDING OF THE YEAR
Bang (Mikey Dee)
Klancnik (Gaylord / Ed Klancnik)
Polka Funhouse (Joey Tomsick)
Back to Back (Walter Ostanek, Bob Kravos & Jerry Darlak)

BEST MUSICIAN – SIDEMAN (elect 3)
Gary Byndas (Fred Ziwich ISM)
Bob Ferritto (Joe Novak & Friends)
Gary Fisher (Joe Novak & Friends)
Fran Gondell (Bob Turcola and Teddy Zalac)
Hank Guzel (Joey Tomsick Orchestra)
Phil Hrvatin (Joey Tomsick Orchestra)
Frank Puskar (Karl Lukitsch)
Jack Tankovich (Bob Kravos)
Brian Zupancic (Joe Novak & Friends)

BEST NEW ORIGINAL POLKA OR WALTZ
Chili Donuts Polka (Joe Bajuk)
Half the Time Polka (Mikey Dee)
Quarter to 3 in the Morning (Ron Pivovar)
Please Don’t Wait Till Tomorrow Waltz (Fred Scherz, Sr.)
Someone Polka (Ron Sluga)
Polka Funhouse (Joey Tomsick, Frank Doblekar)

GREATEST ALL TIME CLEVELAND-STYLE HITS
El Rio Drive Polka
Give My Heart Back Waltz

Glas Harmonica Waltz (WINNER)
Pony Tail Polka
Quick Stop Polka
Iron Mike Polka
Red Lips Red Wine Polka
Squeezers Polka
Waltz of Love (WINNER)

2009 NOMINATION LIST

The 2009 Awards Show will be held at the Slovenian National Home,

St. Clair Ave. Cleveland, Ohio at 2PM on Saturday, November 28, 2009.

2009 LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT HONOREES

Members of the PHOF will elect two honorees for 2009, from the following nominees:
Art Perko, Fred Kuhar, Del Sinchak, Hank Thunander, Bill Seles.

Art Perko, who passed away in 2008, was previously named to the PHOF Trustee’s Honor Roll for his contribution to polka music. Art brought national acclaim to Cleveland style polka music with his hit recording of “Peanuts Polka.” The Perko band, based in Cleveland, was together with the same musicians for more than 25 years, and had an identifiable sound. Art recorded ten albums.

Del Sinchak is a bandleader, accordionist, and owner of Peppermint Recording Studio. Since the 1980s, Del has had a leading polka band in Youngstown, and has performed in many states. Del has had a nomination for the polka Grammy. He has been a polka disc jockey, and president of the local Musicians Union, and he served for 25 years as president of the Penn-Ohio Polka Pals. He has recorded seven albums with his band. He was inducted into the Ironworld Hall of Fame.

Fred Kuhar has had a polka band for 38 years. He has also recorded a series of 5 albums with his band playing Pecon style of polka music. Fred also produced sevem Johnny Pecon “live” performance CDs, and preserved the Pecon sound for posterity. Fred was also served as president of the American Slovenian Polka Foundation for nine years.

Hank Thunander has made a major contribution to Cleveland style polka music on the Iron Range of Minnesota. He began playing polka music in the 1960s, and recorded his first album in 1972. Over four decades, Hank has recorded seven albums. He hosted a polka radio show for ten years. He was inducted into the Ironworld Hall of Fame in 1993.

Bill Seles has been Western Pennsylvania’s Polka Ambassador for four decades. He hosted polka radio shows in New Kensington and Greensburg, and Waltz Time for many years. For 35 years he has sponsored two polka weekends each year at Seven Springs resort in Pennsylvania, featuring Cleveland style polka bands. Bill is on the PHOF Trustees Honor Roll.