Obituaries Section Created with sketchtool. Save to an Ancestry Tree, a virtual cemetery, your clipboard for pasting or Print. NOTE: Special thanks to the Blazonczyk Family, and Polka fans everywhere for sharing your photos! ''He 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. Learn more about merges. Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. Within two years of that decision, Eddie Jr. said, his father was on tour nationally, playing polka music. The Versatones, which picked up a Grammy in 1987, played their last show on Dec. 31, 2011. Obituary Read. Mr. Blazonczyk retired in 2001 after suffering a stroke, and his son Eddie Blazonczyk Jr. took over his band, Eddie Blazonczyk and the Versatones. With over 1,900 locations, Dignity Memorial providers proudly serve over 375,000 families a year. 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. In the world of polka invisible to many Americans but a steady cultural presence in parts of the Midwest and elsewhere Mr. Blazonczyk was one of the few figures to find a national audience. Thank you for fulfilling this photo request. Leave a memory or share a photo or video below to show your support. Let others know about your loved one's death. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots. In 1998, first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton presented Eddie Blazonczyk presented him with a National Endowment for the Arts 1998 National Heritage Fellowship award. Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. 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 . There are no volunteers for this cemetery. A cause of death was not revealed. He retired after having a stroke in late 2001, and his son led the Versatones until disbanding it last year. Your entry has exceeded the maximum character limit. Find an Obituary. Review. They knew it wasn't 'She's Too Fat For Me' or 'Roll Out the Barrel.' The horn riffs in and out and around in intricate patterns that . 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. 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. Then, five years ago last month, Blazonczyk suffered a stroke that affected his left side. memorial page for Eddie Blazonczyk Sr. (12 Jul 1941-21 May 2012), Find a Grave Memorial ID 90601289, citing Resurrection Catholic Cemetery and Mausoleums, . Weve updated the security on the site. Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. Visitation will take place on Wednesday, May 23rd and Thursday, May 24th from 3-9pm Chicago Time . Please omit flowers. 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 . Funeral Friday 9:30 a.m. from Modell Funeral Home, 12641 W. 143rd St. Homer Glen to Sts. PHOTO: Eddie Blazonczyk in 1986, the year before he won a Grammy. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Blazonczyk, Sr., Edward A. But by the early 1960s, he had begun to move away from rock. Eddie Blazonczyk, Sr. (July 12, 1941 May 21, 2012) was a Grammy award-winning polka musician and founder of the band The Versatones. To add a flower, click the Leave a Flower button. 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. 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. They knew it was an evolution of the music.". His parents, who were Polish immigrants, owned the Pulaski Ballroom, where young Edward saw Marion Lush, Walter Jagiello (known as Lil Wally) and other leading polka acts of the day. Also music for daddy-o's by Horace Silver, Johnny Cash, Lightnin' Hopkins, Gene Austin, and Regina Carter. Please ensure you have given Find a Grave permission to access your location in your browser settings. Please omit flowers. . But he returned to polka in 1962, forming the Versatones and going on tour. Blazonczyk played many instruments but preferred the bass, and he sang lyrics in both English and Polish. Send flowers or a gift to a service or family's home. He was 70. Thanks for your help! Try again later. Failed to remove flower. [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. Grief Support. 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. The International Polka Association said on its Web site that Eddie Blazonczyk and the Versatones was unchallenged in its height as Americas No. "After hearing his style of the music they weren't afraid of polka anymore. 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). Blazonczyk Sr. was 70 and had retired after suffering a stroke in 2001. [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. Let others know about your loved one's death. Blazonczyk was born to Polish immigrant parents on July 12, 1941, in Chicago. . He died of complications from a stroke two months shy of his 71st birthday. As a teenager, Mr. Blazonczyk played in rock n roll bands and toured with Buddy Holly and Gene Vincent. <p> 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. Oops, we were unable to send the email. (PHOTOGRAPH BY ASSOCIATED PRESS). But polka was growing. During this period Blazonczyk toured with Buddy Holly, Gene Vincent and Brenda Lee. I'll never forget you Eddie B. Condolences to the entire Blazonczyk Family, and a special thanks goes out to you for sharing him with us. Send a note, share a story or upload a photo. In the world of polka -- invisible to many Americans but a steady cultural presence in parts of the Midwest and elsewhere -- Mr. Blazonczyk was one of the few figures to find a national audience. Eddie Blazonczyk was born to Polish immigrant parents on July 12, 1941, in Chicago. Rest in Peace my friend. (The polka category was eliminated in 2009.). The email does not appear to be a valid email address. Though his focus remained on the polka genre, Blazonczyk was a fan of rock, country, bluegrass and Cajun music and liked to incorporate those styles into his music when he felt it was appropriate. From breaking news to special features and documentaries, the NewsdayTV team is covering the issues that matter to you. It beat the hell out of you, Eddie Jr. remembers his father telling him. 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 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. Try again. Eddie Blazonczyk Sr. 1950 United States Federal Census. This browser does not support getting your location. By Ben Sisario. Quickly see who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried. 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. You can always change this later in your Account settings. GREAT NEWS! 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. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Your account has been locked for 30 minutes due to too many failed sign in attempts. The band formed in 1962 and toured North America and Europe. This memorial has been copied to your clipboard. His son said many friends have been sending him condolence messages since learning of his father's death. Live from Pulaski Polka Days - Pulaski, Wi 07/26/1985 - Published on Dec 3, 2006 by Rodgersins. or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. 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. Search above to list available cemeteries. based on information from your browser. He was 70. Sympathy Ideas. Visitation Wednesday and Thursday 3 to 9 p.m. (708) 301-3595 or www.modellfh.com. They knew it wasn't 'She's Too Fat For Me' or 'Roll Out the Barrel.' ). 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. Some of his biggest hits include Angeline Be Mine Polka and Poor Boy Polka.. CANDLE HAS BEEN LIT CANDLES HAVE BEEN LIT, We are reviewing your submission. [3] He has been called "one of the most important figures in the creation of the contemporary Polish-American polka sound. You need a Find a Grave account to continue. His label, Bel-Aire Recordings, confirmed the death but did not disclose the cause. 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 . 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. 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. 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 1985 Member of Lenny Gomulka & Chicago Push. [1], Blazonczyk retired from performing in 2002. He was named a National Endowment for the Arts National Heritage Fellow in 1998. 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. At that time, he turned over responsibility for his band, The Versatones, to his son, Eddie Blazonczyk Jr. His music rocks, it rolls, it hops, it pushes. Submit an Obit. But by the early 1960s, he had begun to move away from rock. This flower has been reported and will not be visible while under review. Blazonczyk was known as the "Polka King" and started his own polka music label in the 1960s. His parents operated music clubs in the city and he started playing in the 1950s with "Happy Eddie and his . 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. They knew it wasnt Shes Too Fat For Me or Roll Out the Barrel. They knew it was an evolution of the music.. 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. OBITUARY Edward Eddie A. Blazonczyk Sr. July 12, 1941 - May 21, 2012. 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. Are you adding a grave photo that will fulfill this request? 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