Norm
Kobal
 

Fun Bio Facts
 

Favorite color:
Amber - the color of beer

Favorite food:
Kielbasa
 

Least liked food:
Salad
 

Favorite movie:
The Last Polka
 

Favorite album:
Anything by Walter Ostanek

Favorite Polka:
Across the Plains
 

Sign:
Hamm's Beer

Norm was raised in Girard, Ohio. He recalls music always being played around the house; it was there 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 led 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, made guest appearances 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 Goulet. He inspired the likes of Johnny Pecon, Lou Trebar, and Eddie Platt; Norm was irresistibly drawn to Slovenian polka music.

In addition to being a house musician on PolkaRama, Norm 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 was 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 with Recording of the Year honors in 1992. Shortly before his death in 2010, Norm recorded a solo album, The Other Side of Norm Kobal, which showcased his incredible mastery of the sax, clarinet and flute.

Much like the pioneers he worshipped as a young man, Norm became 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."