He was 70. [5], Blazonczyk was nominated for 11 Grammy Awards,[12] and his album Another Polka Celebration won the 1986 Grammy for Best Polka Recording. Share. Learn more about managing a memorial . ''He Copyright 2023 Newsday. The Versatones, which picked up a Grammy in 1987, played its last show on Dec. 31, 2011. 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He was 70. Blkazonczyk won a Grammy in 1987 for Best Polka Recording for "Another Polka Celebration." . He retired after having a stroke in late 2001, and his son led the Versatones until disbanding it last year. Leave a memory or share a photo or video below to show your support. 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. Cyril & Methodius Church, Lemont, Mass 11 a.m. Interment Resurrection Cemetery. Photos larger than 8Mb will be reduced. Find an Obituary. You are only allowed to leave one flower per day for any given memorial. 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. 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. EDDIE BLAZONCZYK OBITUARY. 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. 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?. and I wanted to try my hand at that.''. They knew it was an evolution of the music.". He was 70. By the time Mr. Blazonczyk began his career, it was receding from the mainstream, but the music, and the social rituals surrounding Save to an Ancestry Tree, a virtual cemetery, your clipboard for pasting or Print. "He attracted so many people to the polka audience, whereas previously they were scared away by the word polka," Eddie Blazonczyk Jr. said. He won a GRAMMY win came in 1986 for Best Polka Recording . Learn more about merges. Mr. Blazonczyk played many instruments but preferred the bass, and he sang lyrics in both English and Polish. They knew it was an evolution of the music.". He was 70. But he returned to polka in 1962, forming the Versatones and going on tour. She and their son Eddie Jr. survive him, as do another son, Anthony; a daughter, Katherine; and three grandchildren. memorial page for Eddie Blazonczyk Sr. (12 Jul 1941-21 May 2012), Find a Grave Memorial ID 90601289, citing Resurrection Catholic Cemetery and Mausoleums, . For a time, Blazonczyk performed pop music with Mercury Records as "Eddie Bell and the Bel-Aires," when he appeared on "American Bandstand." Then, five years ago last month, Blazonczyk suffered a stroke that affected his left side. Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. I was fortunate enough to perform as a Versatone from 1987-1994, and in that time I spent over 1000 nights with Eddie onstage. He was 70. The email does not appear to be a valid email address. Blazonczyk was known as the "Polka . He joined the Versatones, so named because of their versatility. Funeral Friday 9:30 a.m. from Modell Funeral Home, 12641 W. 143rd St. Homer Glen to Sts. Which memorial do you think is a duplicate of Eddie Blazonczyk (90601289)? By Ben Sisario. He was 70. 1976 Member of Eddie Blazonczyk's Versatones. ). English "The Great Great Pumpkin", released on Lucky Four #1012, is probably the most noteworthy of these recordings. EDDIE BLAZONCZYK OBITUARY. 1 Polka Band. Blazonczyk was a member of the associations Polka Music Hall of Fame. 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 horn riffs in and out and around in intricate patterns that . Resurrection Catholic Cemetery and Mausoleums, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/90601289/eddie-blazonczyk. A cause of death was not revealed. He retired in 2001 after suffering health problems. 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. Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. 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. 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 . Leave a memory or share a photo or video below to show your support. For decades, his group was unchallenged as America's number 1 polka band by the International Polka Association and he was inducted into the Polka Music Hall of Fame. EDWARD BLAZONCZYK OBITUARY. His parents operated music clubs in the city and he started playing in the 1950s with "Happy Eddie and his Polka . 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. He won a Grammy in 1987 for his album ''Another Polka Celebration,'' tying that year with 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 . But by the early 1960s, he had begun to move away from rock. Are you adding a grave photo that will fulfill this request? Year should not be greater than current year. Let others know about your loved one's death. Blazonczyk was known as the "Polka King" and started his own polka music label in the 1960s. 1992 Returned with Marion Lush. "He was very good at what he did," said Dave Ulczycki, president of the International Polka Association. 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. 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. For a time, Blazonczyk performed pop music with Mercury Records as Eddie Bell and the Bel-Aires, when he appeared on American Bandstand. But he returned to polka in 1962, forming the Versatones and going on tour. Yet Mr. Blazonczyk was also devoted to Polish musical customs. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Rest in Peace my friend. Before becoming a polka artist he was a rock-a-billy instrumentalist who preferred to play bass and sing, recording for Mecury Records as Eddie Bell and the Bel-Aires in the 1950s. "For them this is truly the day that the music died," Blazonczyk said. Verify and try again. During this period Blazonczyk toured with Buddy Holly, Gene Vincent and Brenda Lee. Visit Homepage. cemeteries found within miles of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. But by the early 1960s, he had begun to move away from rock. Eddie Blazonczyk Sr. U.S., Newspapers.com Obituary Index, 1800s-current. If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. There was hardly any pay. The association said on its website that Eddie Blazonczyk and the Versatones was unchallenged in its height as Americas No. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. For them this is truly the day that the music died, Blazonczyk said. Created with sketchtool. He was 70. He has been called "one of the most important figures in the creation of the contemporary Polish-American polka sound." GREAT NEWS! He was inducted into the International Polka Hall of Fame in 1970,[2] and was a 1998 National Heritage Fellowship recipient. 1990 Returned with Eddie Blazonczyk. Visitation Wednesday and Thursday 3 to 9 p.m. (708) 301-3595 or www.modellfh.com. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Help tell the story of your loved ones unique life. This site is provided as a service of SCI Shared Resources, LLC. 0 cemeteries found in Justice, Cook County, Illinois, USA. 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 Sr. 1950 United States Federal Census. If you notice a problem with the translation, please send a message to [emailprotected] and include a link to the page and details about the problem. Family members linked to this person will appear here. Share. Visitation will take place on Wednesday, May 23rd and Thursday, May 24th from 3-9pm Chicago Time . He was inducted into the International Polka Hall of Fame in 1970, and was a 1998 National Heritage Fellowship recipient. Thanks for your help! By clicking Sign up, you agree to our privacy policy. (Khue Bui/AP). 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. 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 . it, held a place in some Americans' ethnic identity. cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Eddie Blazonczyk was born on July 12, 1941, in Chicago, the son of immigrants from the rural Tatras Mountains region of southern Poland. All photos uploaded successfully, click on the Done button to see the photos in the gallery. 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. Your Scrapbook is currently empty. A system error has occurred. Eddie Blazonczyk. 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. To use this feature, use a newer browser. 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. Edward Eddie A. Blazonczyk Sr. 12 July, 1941 - 21 May, 2012. 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 fish, died on Monday in Palos Heights, Ill. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. The Versatones, which picked up a Grammy in 1987, played their last show on Dec. 31, 2011. His parents operated music clubs in the city and he started playing in the 1950s with "Happy Eddie and his . Please reset your password. Rest in Peace my friend. 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. Please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person. His record label, Bel-Aire Recordings, and his son, Eddie Blazonczyk Jr., said yesterday that Blazonczyk died of natural causes Monday at a hospital in the Chicago suburb of Palos Heights. Try again later. 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. Blazonczyk played many instruments but preferred the bass, and he sang lyrics in both English and Polish. 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. It may take up to 1 hour for your comment to appear on the website, Edward A. Blazonczyk Sr., 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. 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. [7] The records he made for these labels were rockabilly sides, and novelty songs. [5], Eddie Blazonczyk was born in Chicago, Illinois to Polish immigrant parents[6] of Goral heritage. He was 70. Your entry has exceeded the maximum character limit. He attracted so many people to the polka audience, whereas previously they were scared away by the word polka, Eddie Blazonczyk Jr. said. Eddie Blazonczyk in 1986, the year before he won a Grammy. Mr. Blazonczyk was named a National Endowment for the Arts National Heritage Fellow in 1998. 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. He was 70. Use the links under See more to quickly search for other people with the same last name in the same cemetery, city, county, etc. 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?''. 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. He was 70. Polka had a moment of broad popularity in the postwar years, when musicians like Frank Yankovic had million-selling hits. Sign the Guest Book. They knew it wasn't 'She's Too Fat For Me' or 'Roll Out the Barrel.' 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. 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. Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? (The polka category was eliminated in 2009.). Some of his biggest hits include Angeline Be Mine Polka and Poor Boy Polka.. or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. Learn about how to make the most of a memorial. Send a note, share a story or upload a photo. This site is provided as a service of SCI Shared Resources, LLC. Eddie Blazonczyk Sr. 1941-2012. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots. 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