Some of his biggest hits include "Angeline Be Mine Polka" and "Poor Boy Polka.". cemeteries found in Justice, Cook County, Illinois, USA will be saved to your photo volunteer list. There was hardly any pay. This site is provided as a service of SCI Shared Resources, LLC. Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. IN THE CARE OF. Visitation will take place on Wednesday, May 23rd and Thursday, May 24th from 3-9pm Chicago Time . We have set your language to Find an Obituary. GRAMMY-winning polka artist Eddie Blazonczyk Sr. died May 22. 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. EDDIE BLAZONCZYK OBITUARY. [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. Please try again later. [3] He has been called "one of the most important figures in the creation of the contemporary Polish-American polka sound. For a time, Blazonczyk performed pop music with Mercury Records as "Eddie Bell and the Bel-Aires," when he appeared on "American Bandstand." He was 70. Share. He was 70. Within two years of that decision, Eddie Jr. said, his father was on tour nationally, playing polka music. He was very good at what he did, said Dave Ulczycki, president of the International Polka Association. 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. Oops, some error occurred while uploading your photo(s). ''There was hardly any pay. Cyril & Methodius Church, Lemont, Mass 11 a.m. Interment Resurrection Cemetery. Blkazonczyk won a Grammy in 1987 for Best Polka Recording for "Another Polka Celebration." Are you adding a grave photo that will fulfill this request? Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. Blazonczyk's record label, Bel-Aire Recordings, says Blazonczyk died Monday, May 21, 2012, of natural causes at a hospital Palos Heights, Ill. was a big force for what it means to be Polish in America.''. It is with gread sadness to announce that Eddie Blazonczyk Sr. passed away on Monday, May 21st at around 6am Eastern Time (5am Chicago Time). He died of complications from a stroke two months shy of his 71st birthday. PHOTO: Eddie Blazonczyk in 1986, the year before he won a Grammy. At that time, he turned over responsibility for his band, The Versatones, to his son, Eddie Blazonczyk Jr. After hearing his style of the music they werent afraid of polka anymore. Or purchase a subscription for unlimited access to real news you can count on. He was the top guy.". The Versatones, which picked up a Grammy in 1987, played their last show on Dec. 31, 2011. The band toured widely, and through his label, his store, two radio shows and other activities, he was a constant presence in the polka world. His parents, who were Polish immigrants, owned the Pulaski Ballroom, where young Edward saw Marion Lush, Walter Jagiello (known as Li'l Wally) and other leading polka acts of the day. He was named a National Endowment for the Arts National Heritage Fellow in 1998. 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. His parents owned and operated the Pulaski Ballroom, where Eddie heard some of the most influential polka players of the day, such as Steve Adamczyk, Lil' Wally Jagiello, and Eddie Zima. Blkazonczyk won a Grammy in 1987 for Best Polka Recording for "Another Polka Celebration." Help tell the story of your loved ones unique life. Created with sketchtool. Saying Goodbye; my tribute to Eddie Blazonczyk who passed away much too soon, on May 21, 2012. As a teenager, Mr. Blazonczyk played in rock n roll bands and toured with Buddy Holly and Gene Vincent. "After hearing his style of the music they weren't afraid of polka anymore. The younger Blazonczyk described his father as a kind of music mogul, a founding member of the International Polka Association, a disc jockey and polka music promoter who ran a publishing company and music school. Blazonczyk retired in 2001 after suffering a stroke, and his son took over his band, Eddie Blazonczyk and the Versatones. The horn riffs in and out and around in intricate patterns that . This account has been disabled. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. and maintained a mini-empire of polka in Chicago, including a record label, a recording studio, a retail store and a music school. or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. An email has been sent to the person who requested the photo informing them that you have fulfilled their request, There is an open photo request for this memorial. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Resurrection Catholic Cemetery and Mausoleums, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/90601289/eddie-blazonczyk. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots. Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. Help tell the story of your loved ones unique life. The cause was multiple organ failure, said his son Eddie Jr., who took over the operation of his father's band, the Versatones, in 1997. He was 70. 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, has died. In 1998, first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton presented Eddie Blazonczyk presented him with a National Endowment for the Arts 1998 National Heritage Fellowship award. 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. Try again. "After hearing his style of the music they weren't afraid of polka anymore. You have chosen this person to be their own family member. Eddie Blazonczyk Sr. U.S., Newspapers.com Obituary Index, 1800s-current. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. Learn more about managing a memorial . The email does not appear to be a valid email address. From breaking news to special features and documentaries, the NewsdayTV team is covering the issues that matter to you. When I got back to Chicago, I saw the crowds coming out for Marion Lush and Lil Wally, and I wanted to try my hand at that.. To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. Eddie Blazonczyk in 1986, the year before he won a Grammy. 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. EDDIE BLAZONCZYK OBITUARY. He was 70. Palos Heights, Cook County, Illinois, USA. He won a Grammy Award, kept a vigorous touring schedule and maintained a mini-empire of polka in Chicago, including a record label, a recording studio, a retail store and a music school. Within two years of that decision, Eddie Jr. said, his father was on tour nationally, playing polka music. He was 70. Mr. Blazonczyk retired in 2001 after suffering a stroke, and his son Eddie Blazonczyk Jr. took over his band, Eddie Blazonczyk and the Versatones. "He attracted so many people to the polka audience, whereas previously they were scared away by the word polka," Eddie Blazonczyk Jr. said. Try again later. Blazonczyk was born to Polish immigrant parents on July 12, 1941, in Chicago. Flowers added to the memorial appear on the bottom of the memorial or here on the Flowers tab. On our Father's Day show we'll talk with musical fathers & sons: polka kings Eddie Blazonczyk Jr. & Sr., and blues greats Tabby Thomas & Chris Thomas King. 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. 1 Polka Band." The Versatones, which picked up a Grammy in 1987, played their last show on Dec. 31, 2011. Use the links under See more to quickly search for other people with the same last name in the same cemetery, city, county, etc. Are you sure that you want to delete this photo? But by the early 1960s, he had begun to move away from rock. He met his wife, the former Christine Zielinski, known as Tish, at a polka dance in 1962. Failed to delete memorial. She and their son Eddie Jr. survive him, as do another son, Anthony; a daughter, Katherine; and three grandchildren. You may not upload any more photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 20 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 5 photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 30 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 15 photos to this memorial. Eddie Blazonczyk, a polka singer and bandleader who led bouncing, swaying, beer-hoisting dances for generations of Americans as one of that small genre's biggest . This is a more complete version of the story than the one that appeared in print. "He was very good at what he did," said Dave Ulczycki, president of the International Polka Association. 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 His son said many friends have been sending him condolence messages since learning of his father's death. Some of his biggest hits include Angeline Be Mine Polka and Poor Boy Polka.. Blazonczyk retired in 2001 after suffering a stroke, and his son took over his band, Eddie Blazonczyk and the Versatones. He was 70. Mr. Blazonczyk was born on July 12, 1941, in Chicago. ). In this Oct. 6, 1998 file photo, first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton shakes hands with Eddie Blazonczyk at the White House where she presented him with a National Endowment for the Arts 1998 National Heritage Fellowship award. Many of his dozens of albums feature him singing in English on one side and perfectly enunciated Polish on the other. Find an Obituary. EDDIE BLAZONCZYK OBITUARY. Then, five years ago last month, Blazonczyk suffered a stroke that affected his left side. Blazonczyk was born to Polish immigrant parents on July 12, 1941, in Chicago. Eddie Blazonczyk, a polka singer and bandleader who led bouncing, swaying, beer-hoisting dances for generations of Americans as one of that small genres biggest fish, died on Monday in Palos Heights, Ill. Your entry has exceeded the maximum character limit. She and their son Eddie Jr. survive him, as do another son, Anthony; a daughter, Katherine; and three grandchildren. Eddie Blazonczyk, Sr. (July 12, 1941 - May 21, 2012) was a Grammy award-winning polka musician and founder of the band The Versatones. CHICAGO (AP) - Grammy Award-winning polka great Eddie Blazonczyk, who began playing the lively music in the 1950s and went on to earn . Weve updated the security on the site. Among his signature songs were ''Angeline Be Mine Polka'' and ''Polka Hero. . 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. it, held a place in some Americans' ethnic identity. cemeteries found within miles of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Blazonczyk Sr. was 70 and had retired after suffering a stroke in 2001. Lenny LaCour, the owner of Lucky Four Records, encouraged Blazonczyk, at the age of 22, to specialize in polka music, rather than to continue as a rockabilly singer. We reserve the right at all times to remove any information or materials that are unlawful, threatening, abusive, libelous, defamatory, obscene, vulgar, pornographic, profane, indecent or otherwise objectionable to us, and to disclose any information necessary to satisfy the law, regulation, or government request. 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