The Honky Express was officially born in summer 2005 when leaders Jody
Maddie and Don Sokup decided to form their own band, following their departure from Tower City Drive. Shortly thereafter,
Jody found concertina player Troy Gawlak after seeing him sit in with another area band and asked him if he was interested
in joining. A couple months later those three met up for their first practice and The Honky Express was born! Their first
public performance was in spring of 2006 to a packed house in Cleveland.
The basis for the name of the band was decided immediately, they would
play mostly traditional and honky style polkas, with a nice kick and a bit of a drive, hence the "Express."
They are now joined on clarinet, sax, and trumpet by the very talented
Jim Hitsman, and on piano, accordion, bass, and vocals by Cleveland "polka veteran" Joe Michnicki.
