Nashville's polka sensation LynnMarie and Cleveland bandleader Don Wojtila were inducted into the National Cleveland-Style Polka Hall of Fame at the 31st annual Polka Music Awards Show, Saturday, November 24, 2018, in the Grand Ballroom of the Downtown Cleveland Marriott Hotel. The event is the highlight of the 55th Thanksgiving Polka Weekend, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, November 22, 23 and 24. The announcement was made September 20 at the Awards Show preview reception in the Euclid City Hall Council Chambers in Euclid, Ohio.
This year's Awards Show theme, "Polka Mania!," featured popular TV accordionist Alex Meixner, Fritz's Polka Band from New York, Minnesota's Singing Slovenes, the Button Box Divas and Canada's Polka King Walter Ostanek, among other entertainers. The Polka All-Stars stage orchestra is directed by Tom Mroczka. Annual awards were presented in categories, such as Band of the Year and Musician of the Year.
Accordionist and bandleader LynnMarie Hrovat Rink has been nominated for five Grammy Awards for Polka Album of the Year. She is based in Nashville and has released 13 albums. LynnMarie tours internationally, records with country music legends, and stars in a one-woman show featuring Cleveland-Style Polka music. 
LynnMarie Hrovat Rink
The Don Wojtila Orchestra has been a polka fan favorite since 1980 with Don playing lead accordion. Don wrote many of the songs on his four recordings, including "Marry Me" and "Hugs and Kisses." The group also appears as the Cleveland party band Schnickelfritz.
Don Wojtila
Two high-energy All-Time Cleveland-Style Hits were also chosen by Polka Hall of Fame members. "Quick Stop Polka" and "Four Rs Polka" were written and recorded by the late Cleveland bandleader Art Perko nearly thirty years apart.
The Board of Trustees added six names to the Polka Hall of Fame Honor Roll. Three hail from the area of Youngstown, Ohio, and Sharon, Pennsylvania. Ray Kovac performs on the diatonic accordion, known as the button box. Ron Pivovar writes and records music for the button box. The late Robert "Spree" Smrecansky was the drummer for the Del Sinchak Orchestra for sixty years. Cleveland bassist and vocalist Denny Marold has enjoyed a 6-year career. Minnesota's Singing Slovenes celebrate their Slovenian heritage with stage appearances. Ontario vocalist Murray McFadgen appears with Canada's Polka King Walter Ostanek. 
Alex Meixner
Guests enjoyed three days of music and dancing with top Cleveland-Style and Slovenian polka bands and performers from Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania, New York, Tennessee, Minnesota and Canada. Performers included Grammy-winners Walter Ostanek and Joey Miskulin, Alex Meixner, Mikey Dee, Eddie Rodick, Harmonia, Fred Ziwich, and Klancnik and Friends (Polka Band of the Year).
Polka radio deejay Tony Petkovsek started the Thanksgiving Polka Weekend in 1963. The Cleveland style of polka has roots in Slovenian folk music with influences from country and western, jazz, pop tunes, and other nationality sounds. The lively style of American dance music was especially popular in the years following World War II when artists like America's Polka King Frank Yankovic scored million-selling hits.
The Polka Hall of Fame and Museum features audio exhibits, photos and original instruments tracing the Cleveland-style polka from its origins in the city's Slovenian neighborhoods in the 1890s to national renown. The archive preserves 5,000 Slovenian and Cleveland-style recordings. The Hall of Fame is located at 605 East 222nd Street in Euclid, Ohio, in the historic former Euclid City Hall. Hours are Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, 11:00 to 4:00. Admission is free. For details, contact (216) 261-FAME or www.polkafame.com .
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