National Cleveland Style Polka Hall of Fame and Museum
605 East 222nd Street
Euclid, OH 44123
USA
E-
Phone: 216-
Toll Free: 1-
Fax: 216-
Bob Timko took his “Sound of Timko” around the world as one of the hottest Cleveland-
He grew up in Cleveland’s largely Slovenian St. Clair neighborhood where Polka Hall of Famers Cecilia Dolgan and Dick Flaisman were playmates. Bob took up the accordion at age five with Joe Princie. Joe Trolli, Frank Yankovic’s music arranger and composer, taught Bob to recognize perfect pitch and to play from the heart. In 1955, Kenny Bass asked him to join his Polka Poppers. Bob appeared on nearly all of his albums and on Kenny’s television show, as well the syndicated “Polka Varieties” and in the 1964 film, One Potato, Two Potato.
Bob organized his own group and their first release, “The Sound of Timko,” was the hit album of 1970. Two more recordings followed. Radio host Tony Petkovsek invited him to play the first polka tour to Hawaii. The band accompanied the first Polka Mass, celebrated by Father George Balasko on Memorial Day, 1972, in Lowellville, Ohio. Subscribers to the Polkarama monthly named his orchestra America’s favorite polka band in 1975 and 1976.
Spurred by success, Bob opened his popular night spot. He helped revive the PolKats Club for Cleveland musicians. The band played around the country until his move to Florida in 1979. Bob has made several comeback appearances.
Inducted in 2011
National Cleveland Style Polka Hall of Fame
Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient
BOB TIMKO
1937 -
www.polkafame.com © National Cleveland Style Polka Hall of Fame and Museum, 605 East 222nd Street, Euclid, OH 44123, USA.
