Ray Sterle

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

Art Perko Orchestra Side Musicians.

For 32 years, Art Perko’s orchestra had a distinctive, cohesive sound, due to the fact that three of his sidemen, Bill Tomsick (sax and clarinet), Mike Dragas (bass) and Ray Sterle (drums) were members of the band all those years. Each musician played in polka bands previously. Bill, Mike, and Ray first met as members of the Joe Luzar band. Soon after the break-up of the band Bill approached Art Perko in behalf of himself, Mike and Ray. The Art Perko Orchestra made its television debut on Cleveland’s syndicated “Polka Varieties” in January 1960, and was featured for 25 years, including the last telecast in 1985. The group made appearances with Buck Owens, Dottie West, Gene Krupa, Bob Hope, Charlie Price, the Temptations, and Roy Clark. The band’s first album had a hit recording of the “Peanuts Polka” in 1965. Five more albums followed. The trio later joined Tony Fortuna’s band until they retired in 2005.

Inducted in 2011