Bob Turcola (front, above) has been playing the accordion for 65 years and he can still fill the dance floor with his smooth Slovenian polkas.

Although both Polish and Slovenian polkas use the same time signature as waltzes, Polish polkas employ a lot of brass and are much more athletic, more up and down stepping; Slovenian polkas — with their accordion emphasis — are quite close to waltzes, smooth and flowing, close to the floor.

Turcola inherited his first accordion when he was five and his older brother, who had been taking lessons,  lost interest. He took lessons until graduating from high school, though he had already been playing in bands for three years. He hasn’t stopped since.

During his tour in the service, he played clubs in Germany. When he got back and established his own band he was a regional and national favorite, touring for weeks at a time and playing festivals all summer. He cut seven records, and although he kept his day job cutting meat, almost made a living playing polkas.

His usual, five-piece band includes Eric Notkempler on 2nd accordion, Vic Pryznick on banjo and guitar, Fran Gondell on drums and Al Martini on sax.

“It’s been great,” Turcola said at a recent show at SNPJ, “the only downside was my marriage. A music career doesn’t work well for being married. My wife stuck with me for 30 years, to her credit.”

Of course there is some compensation. When asked about his singing, he’s proud to admit, “That’s why the women are here,” he said, laughing, although it was obvious most of them were with their husbands.