[7] The records he made for these labels were rockabilly sides, and novelty songs. Eddie Blazonczyk in 1986, the year before he won a Grammy. He won a Grammy in 1987 for his album Another Polka Celebration, tying that year with Jimmy Sturr, who has won the prize 18 times. He was 70. Review. Blazonczyk's record label, Bel-Aire Recordings, says Blazonczyk died Monday, May 21, 2012, of natural causes at a hospital Palos Heights, Ill. Palos Heights, Cook County, Illinois, USA. Your entry has exceeded the maximum character limit. In 1963 he As a teenager, Mr. Blazonczyk played in rock n roll bands and toured with Buddy Holly and Gene Vincent. Eddie Blazonczyk was born to Polish immigrant parents on July 12, 1941, in Chicago. "After hearing his style of the music they weren't afraid of polka anymore. Some of his biggest hits include "Angeline Be Mine Polka" and "Poor Boy Polka.". "The Great Great Pumpkin", released on Lucky Four #1012, is probably the most noteworthy of these recordings. In an interview on Tuesday, Eddie Blazonczyk Jr. said he once asked his father why he gave up playing rock n roll and turned to polka. Make sure that the file is a photo. The International Polka Association said on its Web site that Eddie Blazonczyk and the Versatones was unchallenged in its height as Americas No. 1976 Member of Eddie Blazonczyk's Versatones. His record label, Bel-Aire Recordings, and his son, Eddie Blazonczyk Jr., said Tuesday that Blazonczyk died of natural causes Monday at a hospital in the Chicago suburb of Palos Heights. There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. [3], "Eddie Blazonczyk, 70, Polka Singer and Bandleader, Dies", Chicagoan Eddie Blazonczyk Sr. spread polka around the globe, Legendary Chicago-based polka band comes to an end, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Eddie_Blazonczyk&oldid=1068135265, This page was last edited on 26 January 2022, at 20:33. If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. was a big force for what it means to be Polish in America.''. Eddie Blazonczyk, Sr. (July 12, 1941 May 21, 2012) was a Grammy award-winning polka musician and founder of the band The Versatones. Try again later. Let others know about your loved one's death. NOTE: Special thanks to the Blazonczyk Family, and Polka fans everywhere for sharing your photos! Polka had a moment of broad popularity in the postwar years, when musicians like Frank Yankovic had million-selling hits. After hearing his style of the music they werent afraid of polka anymore. IN THE CARE OF. The band formed in 1962, after Blazonczyks brief venture into pop music that landed him on Dick Clarks American Bandstand, and toured the U.S., Canada and parts of Europe. or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. May 24, 2012. [1], Before becoming a polka artist, and founding Chicago-based Bel-Aire Records in 1963, Eddie Blazonczyk recorded under the name Eddy Bell for Mercury Records, Versa Records, and Lucky Four Records, all three labels based in Chicago. Submit an Obit. The email does not appear to be a valid email address. 70, beloved husband of Christine "Tish" (nee Zielinski); loving father of Katherine, Edward Jr. (Cheryl) and Anthony (Rena); cherished grandfather of Cayle, Anya and Anthony Jr.; dearest brother of Louise (the late Alfred) Kurek; proud uncle of many nieces and nephews; special thanks to his caregiver Bronislawa Leciak. But by the early 1960s, he had begun to move away from rock. Find an Obituary. Share. EDDIE BLAZONCZYK OBITUARY. Mr. Blazonczyk was named a National Endowment for the Arts National Heritage Fellow in 1998. CHICAGO (AP) - Grammy Award-winning polka great Eddie Blazonczyk, who began playing the lively music in the 1950s and went on to earn the nickname "Polka King" after starting his own band and label, has died. PHOTO: Eddie Blazonczyk in 1986, the year before he won a Grammy. With a musical landscape that stretches from Eddie Blazonczyk's Versatones to R. Kelly, one can only imagine the musical creativity that will burst forth if the Hawks continue their upward . Eddie Blazonczyk, Sr. (July 12, 1941 - May 21, 2012) was a Grammy award-winning polka musician and founder of the band The Versatones. 1992 Returned with Marion Lush. Your Scrapbook is currently empty. For a communitywhere polka is an important part of their traditional heritage, he maintained it, promoted it, gave it a voice, Jim Bessman, a music journalist and longtime polka aficionado, said of Mr. Blazonczyk. ----Kevin Adams - 05/23/2012 With a warm tenor and a heavy hand on his electric bass, Mr. Blazonczyk (pronounced bluh-ZON-check) created Chicago push, a subgenre of the Polish polka style characterized by its rhythmic drive and the loud bellows shake of the accordion. 0 cemeteries found in Justice, Cook County, Illinois, USA. The Versatones, which picked up a Grammy in 1987, played its last show on Dec. 31, 2011. Blazonczyk played many instruments but preferred the bass, and he sang lyrics in both English and Polish. For a time, Blazonczyk performed pop music with Mercury Records as "Eddie Bell and the Bel-Aires," when he appeared on "American Bandstand." The band formed in 1962, after Blazonczyk's brief venture into pop music that landed him on Dick Clark's "American Bandstand," and toured the U.S., Canada and parts of Europe. EDDIE BLAZONCZYK OBITUARY. He was inducted into the International Polka Hall of Fame in 1970,[2] and was a 1998 National Heritage Fellowship recipient. There was hardly any pay. Blazonczyk has said, "I took his advice, and never regretted it. CHICAGO (AP) Grammy Award-winning polka great Eddie Blazonczyk, who began playing the lively music in the 1950s and went on to earn the nickname "Polka King" after starting his own band and . We might permanently block any user who abuses these conditions. 1 Polka Band. Mr. Blazonczyk was a member of the associations Polka Music Hall of Fame. Please enter your email and password to sign in. 1 Polka Band. Blazonczyk was a member of the associations Polka Music Hall of Fame. He was 70. Try again. He was a big force for what it means to be Polish in America.. "He was very good at what he did," said Dave Ulczycki, president of the International Polka Association. Among his signature songs were Angeline Be Mine Polka and Polka Hero., The sound had traces of rock, left over from Mr. Blazonczyks days in the early 1960s recording rockabilly under the name Eddy Bell, for Mercury and other labels. The Dignity Memorial brand name is used to identify a network of licensed funeral, cremation and cemetery providers that include affiliates of Service Corporation International, 1929 Allen Parkway, Houston, Texas. Sign the Guest Book. He was 70. Live from Pulaski Polka Days - Pulaski, Wi 07/26/1985 - Published on Dec 3, 2006 by Rodgersins. CHICAGO (AP) - Grammy Award-winning polka great Eddie Blazonczyk, who began playing the lively music in the 1950s and went on to earn the nickname "Polka King" after starting his own band and label, has died. Rest in Peace my friend. When I got back to Chicago, I saw the crowds coming out for Marion Lush and Li'l Wally, Grief Support. Blazonczyk was born to Polish immigrant parents on July 12, 1941, in Chicago. He retired in 2001 after suffering health problems. I cannot thank him enough for all the good times, the experience, and most of all the friendship that continued after we left the stage. With over 1,900 locations, Dignity Memorial providers proudly serve over 375,000 families a year. Within two years of that decision, Eddie Jr. said, his father was on tour nationally, playing polka music. cemeteries found in Justice, Cook County, Illinois, USA will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. He retired after having a stroke in late 2001, and his son led the Versatones until disbanding it last year. He met his wife, the former Christine Zielinski, known as Tish, at a polka dance in 1962. There is a problem with your email/password. Failed to report flower. He was 70. CHICAGO (AP) - Grammy Award-winning polka great Eddie Blazonczyk, who began playing the lively music in the 1950s and went on to earn the nickname "Polka King" after starting his own band and label, h Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request. He was a recipient of the 1998 National Heritage Fellowship awarded by the National Endowment for the Arts, which is the highest honor in the folk and traditional arts in the United States. There are no volunteers for this cemetery. Obituary Read. 1 Polka Band." Failed to delete memorial. "After hearing his style of the music they weren't afraid of polka anymore. Mr. Blazonczyk was born on July 12, 1941, in Chicago. Grammy Award-winning polka great Eddie Blazonczyk, who began playing the lively music in the 1950s and went on to earn the nickname ''Polka King'' after starting his own band and label . Then, five years ago last month, Blazonczyk suffered a stroke that affected his left side. Please enter your email address and we will send you an email with a reset password code. His parents operated music clubs in the city and he started playing in the 1950s with Happy Eddie and his Polka Jesters, performing at Polish festivities. By the time Mr. Blazonczyk began his career, it was receding from the mainstream, but the music, and the social rituals surrounding He was 70. Dubbed the "Polka King", he was noted for revolutionizing the traditional polka style by infusing it with rock, Cajun, zydeco and country into his own polka music. Obituaries Section Created with sketchtool. In 1998, he received one the country's most prestigious cultural honors, a National Endowment for the Arts Heritage Fellowship, presented by then First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton at the White House. Share. But he returned to polka in 1962, forming the Versatones and going on tour. All photos uploaded successfully, click on the Done button to see the photos in the gallery. [11], Blazonczyk died of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome on May 21, 2012. based on information from your browser. Eddie Blazonczyk, a Grammy Award-winning polka musician who began playing the lively music in the 1950s and went on to earn the nickname Polka King after starting his own band and record label, died May 21 at a hospital in the Chicago suburb of Palos Heights. Blazonczyk retired in 2001 after suffering a stroke, and his son took over his band, Eddie Blazonczyk and the Versatones. 2023 SCI SHARED RESOURCES, LLC. Blazonczyk was known as the "Polka . Mr. Blazonczyk retired in 2001 after suffering a stroke, and his son Eddie Blazonczyk Jr. took over his band, Eddie Blazonczyk and the Versatones. Are you sure that you want to remove this flower? '', The sound had traces of rock, left over from Mr. Blazonczyk's days in the early 1960s recording rockabilly under the name Eddy Bell, for Mercury and other labels. They knew it was an evolution of the music.". Try again later. Those songs included The Masked Man (Hi Yo Silver) and The Great Great Pumpkin, about an alien squash who gives children advice after first asking them, in a thick Polish accent, What you want, sonny boy?. The horn riffs in and out and around in intricate patterns that . [1], Blazonczyk retired from performing in 2002. EDWARD BLAZONCZYK OBITUARY. To use this feature, use a newer browser. No animated GIFs, photos with additional graphics (borders, embellishments. This memorial has been copied to your clipboard. He met his wife, the former Christine Zielinski, known as Tish, at a polka dance in 1962. This recording is still occasionally heard around Halloween and is highly sought by record collectors. Blazonczyk Sr. died of natural causes at age 70. His parents operated music clubs in the city and he started playing in the 1950s with Happy Eddie and his Polka Jesters, performing at Polish festivities. GREAT NEWS! Blazonczyk's record label, Bel-Aire Recordings, says Blazonczyk died Monday, May 21, 2012, of natural causes at a hospital Palos Heights, Ill. He died of complications from a stroke two months shy of his 71st birthday. Created with sketchtool. Try again later. He was also named a National Heritage Fellow by the National Endowment for the Arts in 1998. and maintained a mini-empire of polka in Chicago, including a record label, a recording studio, a retail store and a music school. He was 70. Some of his biggest hits include Angeline Be Mine Polka and Poor Boy Polka.. Leave a memory or share a photo or video below to show your support. 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