Jolly Joe began listening to polka music during his childhood days, growing up in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Soon after graduating from Bethlehem Catholic High School in 1948, he built his love of music into fantastic enterprises. As a resident of the Bethlehem area, Jolly Joe has created a food specialty line that he serves at his picnic grove at Point Phillips in Bath, PA. Since 1970, polka legends such as Walt Groller and The Kryger Brothers have played, while Jolly Joe served Polish pickles, Hot Cauliflower, Banana Peppers, and other Polish foods. He also owns and operates a local music store called "Joe Timmer's House of Music" which sells all of the polka records from polka artists across the nation. Just above the ceiling at this music store is a recording company called Rave Records Co., also owned and operated by Jolly Joe.

If this man were not talented enough, he also bought a radio station, WGPA Sunny 1100 AM. When he announced he would be buying the station, Timmer said, "All my life I've been involved in radio and television. It's a shame I waited this long to buy a station." These accomplishments are noteworthy however, nothing can take the place of Timmer's passion for writing and performing music. Jolly Joe has been writing polka music since he began playing with the band he created in the early nineteen fifties. With seven albums in circulation, the Jolly Joe Timmer Orchestra "hopes to put out a few more[albums]." Among all of these polka-filled activities, Joe is also host of his own television show. Well-known as the "Jolly Joe Timmer Show" it airs on all of the local cable stations. Mondays from 7pm to 8pm and Blue Ridge Cable TV. features Joe on the first and third Tuesdays of the month from 6:30pm to 7:30pm and on RCN Cable 4 on Thursdays 8:00pm to 9:30pm.

Timmer's numerous activities to promote polka music, have not been unnoticed. In 1991, Joe was recognized by Who's Who in Leading American Executives for his accomplishments and contributions to his musical organizations. Joe also received the Polka News Network's lifetime polka music award in May of 1995. This award was presented to him by Walt Groller, another polka enthusiast and lifetime award winner. Both men will receive a place in the Polka Hall of Fame.

Timmer's love and dedication for polka have helped pave the way for upcoming polka musicians and for generations to come. In the Lehigh Valley and beyond, Joe is a legend in his own time. As Joe once said, "I perform polka because it means so much to my audience. I like doing the "Jolly Joe Timmer Show" to entertain those too ill to go out and polka themselves...[That] is my real name." Jolly Joe is a real man with a really big heart.