Trustees Honor Roll

Timko, Bob

Accordionist and Bandleader (1937)
Inducted on November 24, 1990

One of Cleveland’s premier accordionists, Bob Timko began his musical career at age 5 under the tutelage of Joe Princie and, later, Joe Trolli. Featured prominently for many years on both accordion and bass with the Kenny Bass Orchestra, Bob formed his own band in the late 1960s. The Bob Timko Orchestra quickly became one of the hottest, delighting Cleveland-style polka fans in Ohio, Pennsylvania and throughout the Midwest. Bob and his band traveled as far as California and Colorado to perform and led the first three polka tours to Hawaii. The group recorded three long-play albums. During the early 1970s, Timko’s Polka Place was a popular Cleveland polka night spot.