Norm
Kobal
 

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Norm was raised in Girard, Ohio. He recalls music always being played around the house; it was here Norm mastered the trumpet, banjo, and guitar before making the tenor saxophone, clarinet, and flute his primary instruments.

In 1944, Norm joined Jack Persin and the Jolly Jesters. A short three years later he was recording with his father's band, Stan Kobal and the Airliners.

Eventually, Norm's love of music prompted him to attend Youngstown State University, where he earned a Bachelor's and Master's degree in Music. Norm's love of music is only exceeded by his love of sharing music with others. It was this attribute that lead Norm to teach students in the Lakeview and Girard School System, and eventually the Strouss Music Centre at Youngstown State.

Norm spent seven years with the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra, directed and played jazz concerts, guested with the W.D. Packard Concert Band, logged three years with the 702nd Air Force Band in Omaha, and performed with Greek, Italian, country, and Broadway show groups. Over the years, Norm backed luminaries such as Al Martino, Jerry Vale, Wayne Newton, Sergio Franchi, and Robert Goule. He inspired the likes of Johnny Pecon, Lou Trebar, and Eddie Platt; Norm was irresistibly drawn to Slovenian polka music.

Aside from being on PolkaRama, Norm has recorded two solo projects (My Alice Waltz and I Wanna Call You Sweetheart), appeared on all three of Walter Ostanek's Grammy winning albums, and is a well respected writer (Emily's Waltz - named the Greatest All-Time Cleveland-Style Waltz at the Polka Hall of Fame Awards Show XI). Norm was the POPP's Man of the Year in 1972, the National Cleveland-Style Polka Hall of Fame's Musician of the Year in 1992, Sideman of the Year in 1995 and 1996, was feted with the Tony Klepec Orchestra's Band and Recording of the Year honors in 1992.

Much like the pioneers he worshipped as a young man, Norm has become a Cleveland-Style legend in his own right with Cleveland-Style players across the country studying and emulating his techniques, stylings, and licks.
Norm has aptly been described as the "Benny Goodman of Cleveland-Style music."