Sam Pugliano

      Over 30 years ago and 10 years after forming his first band, Sam’s Polka Party became part of the line-up on WPSL in Monroesville , PA. The show was one of the first in the Pittsburgh area to play Cleveland style polka and waltzes. Today the program is heard on WIXL in East McKeesport . Its success is just part of the Sam Pugliano story.

 The Western Pennsylvania Polka King has been playing polka music for 45 years and releasing top selling records for almost that long. In addition to hundreds of television performances, his band has played throughout the United States and the Caribbean .

From 1953 to 1955, Sam served in The Armed Forces Special Services, playing his accordion in Service Clubs in Berlin , Germany . He entered accordion contests while stationed there and won an all expense paid trip to entertain troops all across Europe and even playing atop the Eiffel Tower in Paris .

On May 17, 1962, his orchestra participated in a battle of the bands at The West View Park Dance Land in Pennsylvania which contest was sponsored by WYRE Radio. Sam was crowned the "WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA POLKA KING" at age 34. The title set him off on a recording and broadcasting career. Li'l Wally, the World's Polka King, saw his potential and immediately signed him to a recording contract. His first recording was "POLKAS & WALTZES SLOVENIAN STYLE!"

Sam went to WPSL Radio Station to Interest them in his new recording and ended up with his first polka program on October 11, 1964 entitled "SAM'S POLKA PARTY." In the late 1960's his radio show was picked up by The Armed Forces Radio Network and now could be heard in Asia .