Editing Eddie Blazonczyk

{{Short description|American polka musician (1941–2012)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2020}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| honorific_prefix = 
| name             = Eddie Blazonczyk
| honorific_suffix = 
| image            = 
| image_upright    = 
| image_size       = 
| landscape        = <!-- yes, if wide image, otherwise leave blank -->
| alt              = 
| caption          = 
| background       = non_vocal_instrumentalist
| native_name      = 
| native_name_lang = 
| birth_name       = 
| alias            = 
| birth_date       = {{birth date|1941|07|12}}
| birth_place      =  [[Chicago]], Illinois
| origin           = 
| death_date       = {{Death date and age|2012|05|21|1941|07|12}}
| death_place      = [[Palos Heights]], Illinois
| genre            = [[Polka music|Polka]], [[rockabilly]]
| occupation       = 
| instrument       = vocalist, electric bass<ref name="Center1982" />
| years_active     = <!-- YYYY–YYYY (or –present) -->
| label            = Bel-Aire Records, [[Mercury Records]], Versa Records, [[Lucky Four Records]] 
| associated_acts  = 
| website          = <!-- {{URL|example.com}} or {{Official URL}} -->
}}
'''Eddie Blazonczyk, Sr.''' (July 12, 1941 &ndash; May 21, 2012) was an American [[polka]] musician and founder of the band The Versatones.  He was inducted into the International [[Polka Hall of Fame]] in 1970,<ref>{{cite web|title=Eddie Blazonczyk, Sr. |url=http://www.internationalpolka.com/eddie-blazonczyk.html |publisher=International Polka Association |access-date=6 April 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407074037/http://www.internationalpolka.com/eddie-blazonczyk.html |archive-date=7 April 2014 }}</ref> and was a 1998 [[National Heritage Fellowship]] recipient.<ref name="NEA1998">{{cite web |url=https://www.arts.gov/honors/heritage/year/1998|title=NEA National Heritage Fellowships 1998 |author=<!--Not stated-->  |website=www.arts.gov |publisher=National Endowment for the Arts |access-date=December 18, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200813021132/https://www.arts.gov/honors/heritage/year/1998 |archive-date=August 13, 2020 |url-status=dead}}</ref> He has been called "one of the most important figures in the creation of the contemporary Polish-American polka sound."<ref>{{cite book|title=American Folk Music and Folklore Recordings: A Selected List|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=F17gAAAAMAAJ&pg=PP14|year=1990|publisher=American Folklife Center, Library of Congress|pages=14–}}</ref> He released more than 60 albums.<ref name="NYTobit" />

==History==
Eddie Blazonczyk was born in [[Chicago, Illinois]], to Polish immigrant parents<ref name="Govenar">{{cite book |last=Govenar |first=Alan |year=2001 |chapter=Eddie Blazonczyk: Polish American Musician and Bandleader|title=Masters of Traditional Arts: A Biographical Dictionary |volume=1 (A-J)|location=Santa Barbara, CA |publisher=ABC-Clio |pages=78–79|isbn=1576072401|oclc=47644303}}</ref> of [[Gorals|Goral]] heritage.<ref name="Center1982" />

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. During this period Blazonczyk toured with [[Buddy Holly]], [[Gene Vincent]] and [[Brenda Lee]].<ref>[https://www.chicagotribune.com/2012/05/21/chicagoan-eddie-blazonczyk-sr-spread-polka-around-the-globe/ Chicagoan Eddie Blazonczyk Sr. spread polka around the globe] Retrieved 2013-05-21</ref> The [[gramophone record|records]] he made for these labels were [[rockabilly]] sides, and [[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]] and is highly sought by [[gramophone record|record]] collectors.  [[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."<ref>Dave Hoekstra, [http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/almost-famous/Content?oid=911129 "Almost Famous"]. ''[[Chicago Reader]]'', February 6, 2003.  Retrieved 2012-01-28</ref>

He is credited with inventing the rhythmic polka subgenre known as "Chicago push,"<ref name="NYTobit" /> 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."<ref name="Cohen2007">{{cite book|author=Norm Cohen|title=Ethnic and Border Music: A Regional Exploration|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1yraAAAAMAAJ|year=2007|publisher=Greenwood Press|isbn=978-0-313-33192-3}}</ref>

The Versatones played a mix of both traditional and original tunes, with Blazonczyk singing in both [[Polish language|Polish]] and English. The band consisted of a fiddler and [[Chemnitzer concertina|concertina]]<ref>{{cite web |title=People B – ConcertinaMusic.com |url=https://concertinamusic.com/people-b/ |access-date=13 July 2021}}</ref> 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 music|rock]], [[Country music|country]], [[Bluegrass music|bluegrass]] and [[Cajun music|Cajun]] music and liked to incorporate those styles into his music when he felt it was appropriate.<ref name="Center1982">{{cite book|author=American Folklife Center|title=Ethnic Recordings in America: A Neglected Heritage|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GpifAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA155|year=1982|publisher=American Folklife Center, Library of Congress|pages=155–|isbn=9780844403397}}</ref>

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.<ref>Philip Potemka, [http://www.nwitimes.com/entertainment/columnists/offbeat/article_a19bd30b-8f11-5f31-aa9c-b0c0082284e6.html Legendary Chicago-based polka band comes to an end]. NWI.com, February 20, 2011; Retrieved 2012-01-28</ref>

==Death==
Blazonczyk died of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome on May 21, 2012.<ref name="NYTobit">{{Cite news|url = https://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/25/arts/music/eddie-blazonczyk-70-polka-singer-and-bandleader-dies.html|title = Eddie Blazonczyk, 70, Polka Singer and Bandleader, Dies|last = Sisario|first = Ben|date = 24 May 2012|work = The New York Times|access-date = 12 September 2014}}</ref>

==Awards and honors==
Blazonczyk was nominated for 11 Grammy Awards,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.grammy.com/grammys/artists/eddie-blazonczyk-sr |title=Artist: Eddie Blazonczyk Sr. |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=2017 |website=www.grammy.com |publisher=Recording Academy |access-date=11 November 2017}}</ref> and his album ''[[Another Polka Celebration]]'' won the [[28th Grammy Awards|1986 Grammy]] for [[Grammy Award for Best Polka Album|Best Polka Recording]]. 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.<ref name="NEA1998" />

==Discography==
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
*''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]]'' 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
{{div col end}}

==References==
<references/>

==External links==
*[http://www.versatones.com/ Eddie Blazonczyk's Versatones] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090309005354/http://www.versatones.com/ |date=March 9, 2009 }}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20080516223846/http://www.internationalpolka.com/blazonczyk-eddie.htm Polka Association Honors]

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[[Category:Polka musicians]]
[[Category:American people of Polish descent]]
[[Category:Grammy Award winners]]
[[Category:Musicians from Chicago]]
[[Category:1941 births]]
[[Category:2012 deaths]]
[[Category:National Heritage Fellowship winners]]