Scandal, Jealousy, Strife, Sadness & Backbiting in the World [View All]

of Polka.

You would think that there is one place in the world that there
would be nothing but happiness, peace, getting along together,
prettiness, fun, big dressses, and happiness, but, sadly, I guess
not.

http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/la-fi-polkawars9dec09,1,3758989,print.story

Polka Legend Barrels Back Into Contention
By Charles Duhigg
Times Staff Writer

Jimmy Sturr's "Shake, Rattle & Polka!" on Thursday scored a nomination for best polka album, capping a campaign to correct what his fans saw as an egregious slight last year. That's when polka's all-time Grammy winner failed to secure a nomination for the first time since 1986, a victim, some say, of catty infighting within the genre....

When the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences failed to nominate him last year, fans blamed detractors who felt that Jimmy Sturr & His Orchestra had grown too big for its accordion. "There's so much polka jealousy," said Steve Popovich, a Sturr friend and founder of Cleveland International Records. "Some people dislike Jimmy because he's so successful." ...

"Jimmy doesn't get the polka community's vote," said Eddie Blazonczyk, leader of the Versatones, a group whose "Under the Influence" polka album also was nominated. "He wins because he gets votes from Nashville and from his rock star friends." ...

One Sturr slur posted online at newsgroup alt.music.polkas reads: "Jimmy Sturr doesn't play real polka music. It's ballroom dancing music. Which is a far cry from the Polka music that us real hard-core fans grew up with."...

"Some of my best polka friends didn't show up at our celebration party because they were jealous," Sinchak said. "I heard some very hurtful things."

Sturr was careful not to gloat Thursday.

...more, lots more, none of it pretty ...