The Slovenian style polka in the United States of America came about when immigrants from Slovenia taught the old songs to their children.
However, the commercial success of Frankie Yankovic (Jankovič) and other musicians soon introduced the genre to a wider audience.
Johnny Pecon and Lou Trebar consequently extended the style to its farthest reaches harmonically, including blue notes, substitutions and compounded symbolism, elements of whole-tone scales, modality, borrowed and altered chords homophonically or in the implied or broken form and compounded and odd rhythmic embellishments or reductions, in addition to the use of structural and textural dynamics and phrasing that had up to that point never been utilized to such a degree.
In addition to Frankie Yankovic, the most important pioneers in developing this style of music include Matt Hoyer, Dr. William Lausche, Johnny Pecon, Lou Trebar, Johnny Vadnal, Eddie Habat, and Kenny Bass.
The music heard during scene transitions on The Drew Carey Show is played in Cleveland-style polka to suit the city it is set in.