Trustees Honor Roll

Godina, Joe

Polka Disc Jockey (1945)
Inducted on: November 27, 1993

Inspired by Cleveland-Style broadcast pioneers Sam Pugliano and George Mlay, Joe Godina launched his "Polka Spotlight" radio show in 1966. Joe’s beacon has since shone brightly over the Penn-Ohio hotbed of Cleveland-Style music with innovations such as polkas and waltzes behind his commercials and the area’s first tours to Cleveland’s Thanksgiving polka weekends. Collaborating with Johnny Krizancic to form the Polka Spotlight Record Company, and later with Al Markic at Spotlight Recording Company, Joe released albums and cassettes by many of Cleveland-Style Polkas’ finest artists. Joe was a founding member of the Polka Radio Club support organization and, along with long-time featured guest and associate, Father George Balasko, has produced both Polka and Tamburitza Masses for Cable Television Network of Youngstown, Ohio.