You ever read a story and learn about a hot news item that you didn't even know existed? I scan through at least three different newspapers a day, but I didn't know there was a Grammy for polka, much less a stirring battle within Polkadom. Heck, and I even kinda like polka, at least if the beer is flowing steadily. I've attended the annual Bavarian Music Festival in Frankfort, Michigan, at least ten times. Granted, my attendance is often under in-law duress, but I typically enjoy the beer and music tent part.
Anyway, from the LA Times:
After a year in exile, the "Polka King" is a step closer to reclaiming his Grammy throne.
Jimmy Sturr's "Shake, Rattle & Polka!" on Thursday scored a nomination for best polka album, capping a campaign to correct what his fans saw as an egregious slight last year. That's when polka's all-time Grammy winner failed to secure a nomination for the first time since 1986, a victim, some say, of catty infighting within the genre.
Sturr is the man polka purists love to hate. He copyrighted the name Polkapalooza, teamed up with country star Willie Nelson and 1950s rock icon Duane Eddy, performed on "Saturday Night Live" and was the answer to a $250,000 question on "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire."
When the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences failed to nominate him last year, fans blamed detractors who felt that Jimmy Sturr & His Orchestra had grown too big for its accordion.
"There's so much polka jealousy," said Steve Popovich, a Sturr friend and founder of Cleveland International Records. "Some people dislike Jimmy because he's so successful." . . .
Competitors believe that cozying up to country and rock stars has given Sturr a leg up in the Grammy voting. That's because thousands of Grammy voters are eligible to cast polka ballots, even though many of them might not know good tuba from bad.
"Jimmy doesn't get the polka community's vote," said Eddie Blazonczyk, leader of the Versatones, a group whose "Under the Influence" polka album also was nominated. "He wins because he gets votes from Nashville and from his rock star friends."
