Search - Jimmy Sturr :: Shake, Rattle and Polka!

Spirited, energetic, infectious and stimulating

J. Ross | Roseburg, OR USA | 10/26/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Playing Time - 31:48 -- By his junior year in high school, Jimmy Sturr, a young man of Irish descent, was fronting his Orchestra in Florida, New York, a fertile area to where European immigrants brought their culture, music and farming skills. Now, 14 Grammy Awards later, the big band is still primarily a polka band although its repertoire includes songs from rock `n' roll, country, Cajun and western swing works also. Nine polkas and three waltzes make up the set on "Shake, Rattle and Polka!" If you're not used to the beat, you might have a double take at a polka version of a song like "Maybellene" or "I Walk the Line" or "Rock Around the Clock." But, the bottomline is that the music is lively, and it's danceable. As is typical with the many releases from this group, Jimmy and the 14 musicians are also joined by many special guests on a few tracks apiece: Willie Nelson, Duane Eddy, Frankie Ford, Delbert McClinton, The Duprees, and Chris Eddy. For a slower favorite I perked up when The Duprees sang "You Belong To Me." Faster favorites are Willie singing "Blueberry Hill" and Delbert singing "Promised Land." The only instrumental is "Detour" featuring guitarist Duane Eddy.



A question on "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?" television show hosted by Regis Philbin, was "Who is America's polka king?" The contestant won $250,000 by correctly answering "Jimmy Sturr". This hard-working and prolific band tours extensively and has appeared in some very prestigious venues. Their music is spirited, energetic, infectious and stimulating. His creative approach has been to adapt hits from other genres to the polka tradition. So the American melting pot is also reflected in his own simmering musical cauldron. (Joe Ross, Roseburg, OR.)

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