Village of Florida to Rename Maple Avenue “Jimmy Sturr Drive” in Honor of 18-Time Grammy Award-Winning “Polka King”
Street-renaming ceremony and sign unveiling set for Saturday, September 26
FLORIDA, N.Y. — The Village of Florida will pay tribute to one of its most celebrated native sons on Saturday, September 26, when it officially renames Maple Avenue to “Jimmy Sturr Drive” in honor of lifelong resident and legendary musician Jimmy Sturr.
The dedication ceremony and sign unveiling will take place at 1:00 p.m. at the corner of Bridge Street and Maple Avenue. The public is invited to attend this special community celebration honoring Sturr’s extraordinary career and lasting contributions to the Village of Florida.
About Jimmy Sturr
Known worldwide as the “Polka King,” Jimmy Sturr has spent his life in the Village of Florida while building one of the most decorated careers in American music. He has won 18 Grammy Awards and received 25 Grammy nominations, alongside five Gold albums. Sturr has performed throughout the United States and Europe, headlined casino stages in Las Vegas and across the country, and was once named “Mayor for a Day” by the City of Las Vegas.
Sturr’s band holds a singular distinction in country music history: it is the only polka band ever to perform on the Grand Ole Opry, having taken the stage there five times despite the program’s traditional restriction on horns.
Throughout his career, Sturr has shared the stage and studio with some of music’s biggest names. He recorded five albums with Willie Nelson and toured with him, including appearances at Farm Aid. He has also recorded with the Oak Ridge Boys, Mel Tillis, Bobby Vinton, Brenda Lee, Alison Krauss, Lee Greenwood, Duane Eddy, Ray Price, Boots Randolph, and Myron Floren.
Sturr’s reach extends well beyond the concert stage. He appears weekly on his own national television program on RFD-TV and hosts a weekly radio show syndicated on SiriusXM, iHeartRadio, and 29 additional stations nationwide. He has appeared on To Tell the Truth, twice on Saturday Night Live, and multiple times on The Regis Philbin Show, and has been featured by CBS Evening News, Fox News, and ABC Nightly News. He also starred in his own PBS television special.
Event Details
- What: Street-renaming ceremony and sign unveiling for Jimmy Sturr Drive
- When: Saturday, September 26, at 1:00 p.m.
- Where: Corner of Bridge Street and Maple Avenue, Village of Florida, N.Y.
- Program: Dedication ceremony followed by the unveiling of the new Jimmy Sturr Drive sign
The community is encouraged to join village officials and neighbors in celebrating Jimmy Sturr’s remarkable legacy.
