Kenny Bass

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Kenny Bass (1922–1987), born Peter Bastasic Jr., was a leading Cleveland-Style polka broadcaster and the frontman of the Kenny Bass Polka Poppers Orchestra. He served in the U.S. Navy as a radio man in the Pacific, earning three Battle Stars and a Purple Heart. He began his broadcasting career in 1948 on WSRS, hosting America’s first daily polka show. From 1945 to 1950 he played with the Habat-Sokach Tune Mixers. In 1950 he formed the Polka Poppers, a popular group that released 17 albums and about 200 singles. The band had its own TV shows in 1954 and 1960 and appeared on Polka Varieties and the Old Dutch Polka Revue. The Kenny Bass Orchestra appeared in the 1962 film One Potato, Two Potato. His albums include Polka Lovers’ Time, Toe Tappin’ Polkas, Snap Happy Polkas, Polka!Polka!Polka!, and It’s Happy Polka Time. He received the National Cleveland Style Polka Hall of Fame Lifetime Achievement Award in 1989.