Music Sound

Slovenian-style polka is an American style of polka in the Slovenian tradition. It is fast and features piano and accordion. It is usually associated with Cleveland and other Midwestern cities. It is also known as "Cleveland Style" or, more rarely, "Croatian Style".

The Slovenian style polka band always includes a piano accordion and a diatonic button accordion, also called a "button box". There is often a banjo or saxophone as well as a bass guitar and drum set for rhythm. The Slovenian style polka in the United States of America came about when immigrants from Slovenia taught the old songs to their children. Those children, as adults, translated the old songs from the Slovene language into English, and arranged them in a polka beat. At first Slovenian style polka was just music for ethnic clubs and union halls, but the commercial success of Frankie Yankovic and other musicians soon introduced the genre to a wider audience.

In addition to Frankie Yankovic, notable musicians in this style include Walter Ostanek, Joe Grkman, Dick Tady, and Johnny Pecon.

External links

1. International Polka Association
2. National Cleveland-Style Polka Hall of Fame