Trustees Honor Roll

Lane, Barbara

Accordonist, Bandleader and Promoter (1948)
Inducted on November 28, 1992

Milwaukee’s Polka Queen, Barbara Lane, has led Cleveland-style polka bands for more than 25 years. Barbara became hooked on polkas as a youngster, listening to Fritz the plumber and watching Myron Floren with Lawrence Welk. She formed her first band, the Bee Jays, at age 14. Barbara and the Karousels spread their fame across Wisconsin with regular performances on radio and television, plus nine albums featuring some of her original compositions. The Polka Mass is the band’s newest specialty. Along with her husband, Noyes, Barbara has been a tireless promoter of Cleveland-style polkas, bringing busloads of fans to Cleveland and other polka centers since the 1970s.