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Joey Miskulin
Living Category - Inducted 1999
Joey Miskulin is one of Cleveland-Style Polkas' greatest pillars of
musical talent. Plying his many skills in a myriad of ways. Joey has
enhanced the quality of Cleveland-style music far and wide.
 In
his most memorable role, Joey, the child prodigy discovered by Chicago's
Roman Possedi, became Frank Yankovic's featured accordionist at age
thirteen, beginning an association that would last over thirty-five
years. Frank's insistence that Joey be included in a Columbia recording
session cemented Joey's decision to make music his career.
Broadening his experience, Joey toured the Far East with the Hawaii
International Revue, and, in the 1970s became a studios musician and
producer, performing on bass, piano, banjo, guitar, organ, accordion and
as a vocalist with the likes of Andy Williams, Doc Severinsen, and
Charlie Daniels. All the while, Joey maintained his love affair with
Cleveland-Style Polkas, playing and recording with Yankovic and
Cleveland-Style orchestras in the U.S., Canada and Europe.
In 1978, Joey opened Miskulin's Lounge, reviving a venue that housed
some of Cleveland's most famous polka clubs. Teaming up with the
legendary Lou Trebar, Joey formed the Mis-Tre Orchestra, recorded two
hit albums, and toured the U.S. for six years, Miskulin's was
Cleveland's premiere polka spot and the "nerve center" of
Cleveland-Style music. Joey hosted various TV shows, including his very
own "Polka Time USA" and in 1985, produced the first Grammy-winning
polka album, Yankovic's "70 Years of Hits". Among Joey's many
compositions, "I Wanna Call You Sweetheart" was designated a Greatest
All-time Cleveland-Style Polka hit.
Joey moved to Nashville in 1987 to focus his efforts as a producer.
The quintessential musician, Joey delved into all realms of music, icing
the recording cakes of stars including Johnny Cash, U2, Paul McCartney
and Roy Rogers.
Marrying polkas with his other love, Western music, Joey, the
"Cow-polka King", has more recently starred with the Riders in the Sky
and co-produced a series of Western releases with Michael Martin Murphey.
Not neglecting Cleveland-Style music, Joey has released three more
albums and a video, continues to record with Cleveland-Style bands, and
produced additional albums of Yankovic.
Among his astounding list of credits and countless appearances on
national television and radio, in the movies and/on video; hundreds of
recording sessions; and four Grammy-winning and several gold and
platinum albums among scores of international hit recordings.
Joey has always represented Cleveland-Style Polkas with the utmost of
class and dignity, befriending most everyone with his congenial and
personal demeanor. Polkas have truly been blessed with Joey's
outstanding talents and the new levels to which they have taken our
music.
Joey's history as a musician goes back many years. At four years old,
he made his love for music known when he picked up a 12-bass accordion
and began playing simple melodies. Formal music training began when he
was five. At ten, Joey was playing at picnics and social functions, and
at eleven he joined the Ronnie Lee Band. The following year, he made his
first record album with Chicago's Roman Possedi.
Between recording at Columbia Studios in Chicago and performing from
coast to coast, Joey met some of the biggest names in the music world,
all of whom encouraged the youngster to pursue his musical dream.
When he was nineteen, Joey left the Yankovic band and toured with the
Hawaii International Revue. A call from Yankovic brought Joey back to
the band where he recorded five albums for RCA Records. During this
series of recordings, Joey came to Nashville, the town that was to
eventually become his home. |
