Lifetime Achievement Award Recipients

Miskulin, Joey

Joey Miskulin is one of Cleveland-Style Polkas’ greatest pillars of musical talent. Plying his many skills in a myriad of ways, Joey has enhanced the quality of Cleveland-Style music far and wide.

In his most memorable role, Joey, the child prodigy discovered by Chicago’s Roman Possedi, became Frank Yankovic’s featured accordionist at age thirteen, beginning an association that would last over thirty-five years. Frank’s insistence that Joey be included in a Columbia recording session cemented Joey’s decision to make music his career.

Broadening his experience, Joey toured the Far East with the Hawaii International Revue, and, in the 1970’s became a studio musician and producer, performing on bass, piano, banjo, guitar, organ, accordion, and as a vocalist with the likes of Andy Williams, Doc Severinsen, and Charlie Daniels. All the while , Joey maintained his love affair with Cleveland -Style Polkas, playing and recording with Yankovic and Cleveland -Style orchestras in the U.S., Canada, and Europe.

In 1978, Joey opened Miskulin’s Lounge, reviving a venue that housed some of Cleveland’s most famous polka clubs. Teaming up with the legendary Lou Trebar, Joey formed the Mis-Tre Orchestra, recorded two hit albums, and toured the U.S. For six years, Miskulin’s was Cleveland’s premiere polka spot and the "nerve center" of Cleveland -Style music. Joey hosted various TV shows, including his very own "Polka Time U.S.A.," and, in 1985, produced the first Grammy-winning polka album, Yankovic’s "70 Years of Hits." Among Joeys many Compositions, "I Wanna Call You Sweetheart" was designated a Greatest All-Time Cleveland-Style Polka Hit.

Joey moved to Nashville in 1987 to focus his efforts as a producer. The quintessential musician, Joey delved into all realms of music, icing the recording cakes of stars including Johnny Cash, U2, Paul McCartney, and Roy Rogers.
Marrying polkas with his other love, Western music, Joey, the "Cowpolka King," has more recently starred with the Riders in the Sky and co-produced a series of Western releases with Michael Martin Murphey.

Not neglecting Cleveland-Style music, Joey has released three more albums and a video, continued to record with Cleveland-Style bands, and produced additional albums for Yankovic.

Among his astounding list of credits are countless appearances on national television and radio, in the movies, and on video; hundreds of recording sessions; and four Grammy-winning and several gold and platinum albums among scores of international hit recordings.

Joey has always. Represented Cleveland -Style Polkas with the utmost of class and dignity, befriending most everyone with his congenial and personable demeanor.
Cleveland -Style Polkas have truly been blessed with Joey’s outstanding talents and the new levels to which they have taken our music.