Grammy Award for Best Polka Album
# Grammy Award for Best Polka Album

The Grammy Award for Best Polka Album was an award presented at the Grammy Awards to recording artists for quality polka albums. Honors in several categories are presented at the ceremony annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to "honor artistic achievement, technical proficiency and overall excellence in the recording industry, without regard to album sales or chart position".

Originally called the Grammy Award for Best Polka Recording, the award was first presented to Frankie Yankovic in 1986. Previously, polka recordings had been placed in the folk category. While neither Billboard nor the Recording Industry Association of America tracked polka sales at the time the award category was introduced, polka musicians viewed its inclusion as a sign of respect and increasing popularity. In 1987, a tie vote resulted in awards being presented to Jimmy Sturr and His Orchestra for the album I Remember Warsaw as well as to Eddie Blazonczyk's Versatones for the album Another Polka Celebration. In 1992, the name of the category was changed to Best Polka Album. Beginning in 2001, award recipients included the producers, engineers, and/or mixers associated with the nominated work in addition to the recording artists. The Academy retired the award category in 2009 to remain "relevant and responsive" to the music community.

Sturr holds the record for the most wins in this category, with a total of eighteen (including six as the leader of the group known as Jimmy Sturr and His Orchestra). Sturr also holds the record for the most consecutive Grammy wins. Walter Ostanek received the award three times consecutively, and the band Brave Combo was presented the award twice. American artists were presented with the award more than any other nationality, though it was presented to Ostanek and his band from Canada three times. Lenny Gomulka holds the record for the most nominations without a win, with twelve.

## Recipients

| * | Indicates a joint award for that year |
| - | - |
| Year | Performing artist(s) | Work | Nominees | Ref. |
| 1986 | Frankie Yankovic | 70 Years of Hits | Brass Release – Brass with Class Eddie Blazonczyk's Versatones – Polka Fireworks Lenny Gomulka and the Chicago Push – Simply Polkamentary Li'l Wally and Orchestra – Polskie Czucie, Polish Feelings | [2] [3] |
| 1987* | Jimmy Sturr and His Orchestra | I Remember Warsaw | Frankie Yankovic – America's Favorites Walter Ostanek and His Band - By Special Request Hank Haller Ensemble - Thank You Dear and Give Her Roses | |
| 1987* | Eddie Blazonczyk's Versatones | Another Polka Celebration | Frankie Yankovic – America's Favorites Walter Ostanek and His Band - By Special Request Hank Haller Ensemble - Thank You Dear and Give Her Roses | |
| 1988 | Jimmy Sturr | A Polka Just for Me | Eddie Blazonczyk's Versatones – Let's Celebrate Again Lenny Gomulka and Dick Pillar – In Polka Unity Walt Groller – It's Polkamatic Kryger Brothers – Polka Mania | |
| 1989 | Jimmy Sturr | Born to Polka | Jimmy Weber and the Sounds – Sounds from a Polka Party Lenny Gomulka's Chicago Push – Join the Polka Generation Stas Bulanda's Average Polka Band – Let's Have a Party Walter Ostanek and His Band – All Aboard It's Polka Time | |
| 1990 | Jimmy Sturr | All in My Love for You | Gene Mendalski and the G-Men – Moldie Oldie Golden Goodies Gordon Hartmann – Polkaholic Penn Ohio Polka Pals – Penn Ohio Polka Pals Souvenir Edition Walter Ostanek and His Band – Any Time is Polka Time | |
| 1991 | Jimmy Sturr | When It's Polka Time at Your House | Eddie Blazonczyk's Versatones – Everybody Polka Jimmy Weber and the Sounds – Sounds from the Heart Polka Family Band – Fiddle Faddle Toledo Polkamotion – Grand Illusion | |
| 1992 | Jimmy Sturr | Live at Gilley's! | Eddie Blazonczyk's Versatones – All Around the World Walter Ostanek – A Wonderful World of Polkas and Waltzs Polka Family Band – We Are Family The Dynatones – When the Band Plays a Polka | |
| 1993 | Walter Ostanek and His Band | 35th Anniversary | Dick Tady Orchestra – Happy Polka Days Eddie Blazonczyk's Versatones – All American Country Flavored Polkas Lenny Gomulka and the Chicago Push – Where Were You Back Then? Jimmy Sturr – Sturr-It-Up | |
| 1994 | Walter Ostanek and His Band | Accordionally Yours | Eddie Blazonczyk's Versatones – A New Batch of Polkas Jimmy Sturr and His Orchestra – Saturday Night Polka Lenny Gomulka and the Chicago Push – Most Requested Hits Polka Family Band – Polka Music Fan | |
| 1995 | Walter Ostanek Band | Music and Friends | Eddie Blazonczyk's Versatones – Always... Forever... and a Day Happy Louie and Julcia's Polka Band – Your Polka Sweethearts Jimmy Sturr and His Orchestra and Johnny Karas – Polka Your Troubles Away Jan Lewan – Jan Lewan and His Orchestra | |
| 1996 | Jimmy Sturr | I Love to Polka | Brave Combo – Polkas for a Gloomy World Eddie Blazonczyk's Versatones – Better Than Ever Lenny Gomulka and Chicago Push – For Old Times Sake Walter Ostanek – Happiness is Polkas and Waltzes | |
| 1997 | Jimmy Sturr | Polka! All Night Long | Eddie Blazonczyk's Versatones – Music, Music, Music! Lenny Gomulka and Chicago Push – Irresistible You Walter Ostanek and Friends – Putting It All To-Gether Frankie Yankovic and Friends – Songs of the Polka King, Volume 1 | |
| 1998 | Jimmy Sturr | Living on Polka Time | Lenny Gomulka and the Chicago Push – Home Is Where the Heart Is John Gora and Gorale – Duty Free Polkas Walter Ostanek – Moments to Remember Frankie Yankovic and Friends – Songs of the Polka King | |
| 1999 | Jimmy Sturr and His Orchestra | Dance with Me | Brave Combo – Polka Party with Brave Combo: Live and Wild! Del Sinchak Band – Let the Sunshine In Lenny Gomulka and Chicago Push – Push It to the Limit Walter Ostanek – Memories | |
| 2000 | Brave Combo | Polkasonic | Eddie Blazonczyk's Versatones – Smokin' Polkas John Gora and Gorale – Follow Me Jimmy Sturr and His Orchestra – Polkapalooza Walter Ostanek – Yearning for Polkas and Waltzes | |
| 2001 | Jimmy Sturr | Touched by a Polka | Eddie Blazonczyk's Versatones – Another Day at the Office Lenny Gomulka and Chicago Push – Mi Lenny Um LynnMarie – SqueezeBox Walter Ostanek – Let's Dance! | |
| 2002 | Jimmy Sturr | Gone Polka | Brave Combo – Kick-Ass Polkas Eddie Blazonczyk's Versatones – Live and Kickin' Lenny Gomulka and Chicago Push – Lenny Live Walter Ostanek and His Band – Happy Times | |
| 2003 | Jimmy Sturr | Top of the World | Eddie Blazonczyk's Versatones – My Father's Shoes Jerry Darlak and the Touch – Let the Good Times Roll LynnMarie – The Polka Record Walter Ostanek and His Band – Good Time Polkas and Waltzes | |
| 2004 | Jimmy Sturr | Let's Polka 'Round | Dennis Polisky and the Maestro's Men – Strike Up the Band Eddie Blazonczyk's Versatones – Versalicious! Jerry Darlak and the Touch – Polkas in Black and White LynnMarie – LynnMarie and the Boxhounds Walter Ostanek and Bob Kravos – Just for You | |
| 2005 | Brave Combo | Let's Kiss: 25th Anniversary Album | Eddie Blazonczyk's Versatones – Highways & Dancehalls John Gora and Gorale – Pangora's Box Henny and the Versa J's – Come on Over Walter Ostanek and Gaylord Klancnik – Polkas United | |
| 2006 | Jimmy Sturr and His Orchestra | Shake, Rattle and Polka! | Del Sinchak Band – Polka Pizzazz Eddie Blazonczyk's Versatones – Under the Influence Walter Ostanek and Ron Sluga – Time Out for Polkas and Waltzes Kevin Solecki – Solecktions | |
| 2007 | Jimmy Sturr and His Orchestra | Polka in Paradise | Eddie Blazonczyk's Versatones – Batteries Not Included Lenny Gomulka and Chicago Push – As Sweet as Candy LynnMarie and the Boxhounds – Party Dress Walter Ostanek and Fred Ziwich – Good Friends Good Music | |
| 2008 | Jimmy Sturr and His Orchestra | Come Share the Wine | Brave Combo – Polka's Revenge John Gora and Gorale – Bulletproof Polkas Bubba Hernandez and Alex Meixner – Polka Freak Out Walter Ostanek and His Band and Brian Sklar and the Western Senators – Dueling Polkas | |
| 2009 | Jimmy Sturr and His Orchestra | Let the Whole World Sing | Paulino Bernal – El Maestro del Acordeón y Sus Polkas LynnMarie and Charlie Kelley as the Boxhounds – Speechless Walter Ostanek and His Band, Jerry Darlak and The Touch, and Bob Kravos and His Band – Back to Back Hall of Fame Polkas Polka Family Band – Hungry for More | |

Each year is linked to the article about the Grammy Awards held that year.

## Category retirement

In 2009, the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences announced the retirement of the award category. President and CEO Neil Portnow stated that the Academy needed to do so in order to remain a "relevant and responsive" organization within a "dynamic music community". Polka musicians and fans were disappointed with the category elimination. Three-time award winner Walter Ostanek admitted he "[felt] sorry for the future artists" that would fail to be recognized by the Academy. Carl Finch of the group Brave Combo stated the following: "Having a polka category was the most important step to legitimacy that we could ever hope to achieve. To have that taken away, it's like it was all for nothing." Apart from ensuring that the "awards process remains representative of the current musical landscape", the Academy cited dwindling competition as one reason for the category retirement. Others speculated that Jimmy Sturr's eighteen wins led to the elimination. Due to the elimination of a polka-specific category, polka musicians are likely to submit recordings in the folk and world music categories.

In 2011, the Grammy Award organization announced a major overhaul of Grammy categories, lowering the number of awards from over 120 to just 78. Several regional American roots genres, such as Hawaiian music or Native American music, were combined in the new Best Regional Roots Music Album category, for which polka albums would also be eligible.

