# Eddie Blazonczyk

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American polka musician (1941–2012)

Eddie Blazonczyk Born (1941-07-12)July 12, 1941 Chicago, Illinois Died May 21, 2012(2012-05-21) (aged 70) Palos Heights, Illinois Genres Polka, rockabilly Instruments vocalist, electric bass[1] Labels Bel-Aire Records, Mercury Records, Versa Records, Lucky Four Records

Musical artist

**Eddie Blazonczyk, Sr.** (July 12, 1941 – May 21, 2012) was an American [polka](/source/Polka) musician and founder of the band The Versatones. He was inducted into the International [Polka Hall of Fame](/source/Polka_Hall_of_Fame) in 1970,[2] and was a 1998 [National Heritage Fellowship](/source/National_Heritage_Fellowship) recipient.[3] He has been called "one of the most important figures in the creation of the contemporary Polish-American polka sound."[4] He released more than 60 albums.[5]

## History

Eddie Blazonczyk was born in [Chicago, Illinois](/source/Chicago%2C_Illinois), to Polish immigrant parents[6] of [Goral](/source/Gorals) heritage.[1]

Before becoming a [polka](/source/Polka) artist, and founding [Chicago](/source/Chicago)-based [Bel-Aire Records](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bel-Aire_Records&action=edit&redlink=1) in 1963, Eddie Blazonczyk recorded under the name Eddy Bell for [Mercury Records](/source/Mercury_Records), Versa Records, and [Lucky Four Records](/source/Lucky_Four_Records), all three labels based in Chicago. During this period Blazonczyk toured with [Buddy Holly](/source/Buddy_Holly), [Gene Vincent](/source/Gene_Vincent) and [Brenda Lee](/source/Brenda_Lee).[7] The [records](/source/Gramophone_record) he made for these labels were [rockabilly](/source/Rockabilly) sides, and [novelty songs](/source/Novelty_songs). "The Great Great Pumpkin", released on Lucky Four #1012, is probably the most noteworthy of these recordings. This recording is still occasionally heard around [Halloween](/source/Halloween) and is highly sought by [record](/source/Gramophone_record) collectors. [Lenny LaCour](/source/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. Blazonczyk has said, "I took his advice, and never regretted it."[8]

He is credited with inventing the rhythmic polka subgenre known as "Chicago push,"[5] although ironically the name given to the style comes from bands who came after and were inspired by Blazonczyk, notably the Chicago Push. Musicologist Norm Cohen wrote that "in his illustrious career, Blazonczyk and his Versatones were the primary ambassadors of Polish-American polka, touring constantly and playing well over 200 road gigs per year."[9]

The Versatones played a mix of both traditional and original tunes, with Blazonczyk singing in both [Polish](/source/Polish_language) and English. The band consisted of a fiddler and [concertina](/source/Chemnitzer_concertina)[10] player, two trumpeter/clarinetists, a drummer and Blazonczyk himself on vocals and electric bass. Though his focus remained on the polka genre, Blazonczyk was a fan of [rock](/source/Rock_music), [country](/source/Country_music), [bluegrass](/source/Bluegrass_music) and [Cajun](/source/Cajun_music) music and liked to incorporate those styles into his music when he felt it was appropriate.[1]

Blazonczyk retired from performing in 2002. At that time, he turned over responsibility for his band, The Versatones, to his son, Eddie Blazonczyk Jr. The Versatones played their last performance on New Year's Eve, 2011.[11]

## Death

Blazonczyk died of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome on May 21, 2012.[5]

## Awards and honors

Blazonczyk was nominated for 11 Grammy Awards,[12] and his album *[Another Polka Celebration](/source/Another_Polka_Celebration)* won the [1986 Grammy](/source/28th_Grammy_Awards) for [Best Polka Recording](/source/Grammy_Award_for_Best_Polka_Album). He was a recipient of the 1998 [National Heritage Fellowship](/source/National_Heritage_Fellowship) awarded by the [National Endowment for the Arts](/source/National_Endowment_for_the_Arts), which is the highest honor in the folk and traditional arts in the United States.[3]

## Discography

- *Live and Kickin'* 2001

- *Another Day At The Office* 2000

- *Smokin' Polkas* 1999

- *Shakin' not Stirred* 1998

- *Holiday Favorites* 1997

- *Greatest Hits-Vol 2* 1997

- *Music, Music, Music* 1996

- *Polkatime-20 Of The Greatest Hits* 1996

- *Better Than Ever* 1995

- *Always, Forever And A Day* 1994

- *A New Batch Of Polkas* 1993

- *All American Polkas* 1992

- *All Around The World* 1991

- *Everybody Polka* 1990

- *Good Ol' Days* 1989

- *25th Anniversary Album* 1988

- *Let's Celebrate Again* 1987

- *[Another Polka Celebration](/source/Another_Polka_Celebration)* 1985 (1986 Grammy Winner)

- *Polka Fireworks* 1984

- *Polka Thriller* 1983

- *Custom Made Polkas* 1982

- *Polka Medley Album* 1982

- *Polka Music's Here To Stay* 1981

- *Polka Festival* 1981

- *Hawaiian Polka Tour* 1980

- *Polka Cruise* 1980

- *More Honky Style Polkas Vol 3* 1979

- *Roaring Polkas* 1978

- *Wide World Of Polkas* 1977

- *Award Winning Polkas* 1977

- *Polka Jamboree* 1976

- *We Were Made For Each Other* 1976

- *Polka Spotlite* 1976

- *A Polka Christmas* 1975

- *Polka Concert* 1975

- *More Honky Style Polkas Vol 2* 1974

- *More Country Flavored Polkas Vol 2* 1974

- *Polka Hits* 1973

- *Langer Sisters Meet Eddie Blazonczyk's Versatones* 1972

- *Country Flavored Polkas* 1972

- *Honkey Style Polkas* 1971

- *Polka Music Hall Of Fame* 1971

- *Something A Little Bit Different* 1970

- *America's Most Wanted Polka Band* 1969

- *Polkas A Plenty* 1969

- *Poland European Tour* 1968

- *Let's Hear A Polka* 1967

- *Polish Party* 1967

- *Christmas Time* 1966

- *Happy Polka Music* 1966

- *Po Staro Krajsku- Old Country Style Vol 2* 1966

- *Polka Tour* 1965

- *Musically Yours* 1965

- *Po Staro Krajsku- Old Country Style* 1964

- *Something New Just For You* 1964

- *Here Come The Versatones* 1963

- *Polka Parade* 1963

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Center1982_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Center1982_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Center1982_1-2) American Folklife Center (1982). [*Ethnic Recordings in America: A Neglected Heritage*](https://books.google.com/books?id=GpifAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA155). American Folklife Center, Library of Congress. pp. 155–. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9780844403397](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780844403397).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Eddie Blazonczyk, Sr"](https://web.archive.org/web/20140407074037/http://www.internationalpolka.com/eddie-blazonczyk.html). International Polka Association. Archived from [the original](http://www.internationalpolka.com/eddie-blazonczyk.html) on April 7, 2014. Retrieved April 6, 2014.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-NEA1998_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-NEA1998_3-1) ["NEA National Heritage Fellowships 1998"](https://web.archive.org/web/20200813021132/https://www.arts.gov/honors/heritage/year/1998). *www.arts.gov*. National Endowment for the Arts. Archived from [the original](https://www.arts.gov/honors/heritage/year/1998) on August 13, 2020. Retrieved December 18, 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** [*American Folk Music and Folklore Recordings: A Selected List*](https://books.google.com/books?id=F17gAAAAMAAJ&pg=PP14). American Folklife Center, Library of Congress. 1990. pp. 14–.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-NYTobit_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-NYTobit_5-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-NYTobit_5-2) Sisario, Ben (May 24, 2012). ["Eddie Blazonczyk, 70, Polka Singer and Bandleader, Dies"](https://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/25/arts/music/eddie-blazonczyk-70-polka-singer-and-bandleader-dies.html). *The New York Times*. Retrieved September 12, 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Govenar_6-0)** Govenar, Alan (2001). "Eddie Blazonczyk: Polish American Musician and Bandleader". *Masters of Traditional Arts: A Biographical Dictionary*. Vol. 1 (A-J). Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-Clio. pp. 78–79. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [1576072401](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/1576072401). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [47644303](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/47644303).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** [Chicagoan Eddie Blazonczyk Sr. spread polka around the globe](https://www.chicagotribune.com/2012/05/21/chicagoan-eddie-blazonczyk-sr-spread-polka-around-the-globe/) Retrieved 2013-05-21

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Dave Hoekstra, ["Almost Famous"](http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/almost-famous/Content?oid=911129). *[Chicago Reader](/source/Chicago_Reader)*, February 6, 2003. Retrieved 2012-01-28

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Cohen2007_9-0)** Norm Cohen (2007). [*Ethnic and Border Music: A Regional Exploration*](https://books.google.com/books?id=1yraAAAAMAAJ). Greenwood Press. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-313-33192-3](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-313-33192-3).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["People B – ConcertinaMusic.com"](https://concertinamusic.com/people-b/). Retrieved July 13, 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** Philip Potemka, [Legendary Chicago-based polka band comes to an end](http://www.nwitimes.com/entertainment/columnists/offbeat/article_a19bd30b-8f11-5f31-aa9c-b0c0082284e6.html). NWI.com, February 20, 2011; Retrieved 2012-01-28

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["Artist: Eddie Blazonczyk Sr"](https://www.grammy.com/artists/eddie-blazonczyk-sr/678). *www.grammy.com*. Recording Academy. 2017. Retrieved November 11, 2017.

## External links

- [Eddie Blazonczyk's Versatones](http://www.versatones.com/) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20090309005354/http://www.versatones.com/) March 9, 2009, at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine)

- [Polka Association Honors](https://web.archive.org/web/20080516223846/http://www.internationalpolka.com/blazonczyk-eddie.htm)

Authority control databases International ISNI VIAF GND WorldCat National United States Poland Artists MusicBrainz Grammy Awards

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Eddie Blazonczyk](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddie_Blazonczyk) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddie_Blazonczyk?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.