National Cleveland Style Polka Hall of Fame and Museum
605 East 222nd Street
Euclid, OH 44123
USA
E-mail: Polkashop@aol.com
Phone: 216-261-3263
Toll Free: 1-800-66POLKA
Fax: 216-261-4134
Joe White’s life revolved around Cleveland-Style music and making people happy. Working
with the Al Strukel, Ray Champa and Frankie Kramer Orchestras from the early 1950s,
Joe relocated from his native Western Pennsylvania to Cleveland’s Collinwood area
in 1959 before forming his own band in 1964. The Joe White Orchestra quickly became
one of Cleveland’s most popular groups, recording for Delta Inter-national and appearing
regularly on TV. Later, under the leadership of accordionist Stan Blout, the band
recorded memorable Cleveland-Style hits, such as "Kirk’s Polka," "You Don’t Wanna,"
"Burgettstown Polka," and Joe’s composition, "Waltz of Love." Playing banjo, guitar
and bass, as well as vocalizing, Joe performed with Cleveland’s name bands through
the 1970s and traveled with Frank Yankovic until his untimely passing in 1977. Also
accomplished on the violin, mandolin, harmonica and accordion, Joe White was honored
as Collinwood Slovenian Home’s Man of the Year in 1973.
Inducted in 1994
www.polkafame.com © National Cleveland Style Polka Hall of Fame and Museum, 605
East 222nd Street, Euclid, OH 44123, USA.
