Eddie Blazonczyk
Encyclopedia
Eddie Blazonczyk is a polka
musician and leader of the band The Versatones. He was born in Chicago to Polish Immigrant parents. Their album Another Polka Celebration
won the 1986 Grammy in the Polka Category. He was awarded a National Endowment for the Arts
National Heritage Fellowship in 1998. 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
and Lucky Four Records
, both labels also based in Chicago. The 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 record
collectors.
Polka
The polka is a Central European dance and also a genre of dance music familiar throughout Europe and the Americas. It originated in the middle of the 19th century in Bohemia...
musician and leader of the band The Versatones. He was born in Chicago to Polish Immigrant parents. Their album Another Polka Celebration
Another Polka Celebration
Another Polka Celebration is an album by Eddie Blazonczyk. In 1986, the album won Blazonczyk the Grammy Award for Best Polka Recording....
won the 1986 Grammy in the Polka Category. He was awarded a National Endowment for the Arts
National Endowment for the Arts
The National Endowment for the Arts is an independent agency of the United States federal government that offers support and funding for projects exhibiting artistic excellence. It was created by an act of the U.S. Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government. Its current...
National Heritage Fellowship in 1998. Before becoming a polka
Polka
The polka is a Central European dance and also a genre of dance music familiar throughout Europe and the Americas. It originated in the middle of the 19th century in Bohemia...
artist, and founding Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
-based Bel-Aire Records in 1963, Eddie Blazonczyk recorded under the name Eddy Bell for Mercury Records
Mercury Records
Mercury Records is a record label operating as a standalone company in the UK and as part of the Island Def Jam Motown Music Group in the US; both are subsidiaries of Universal Music Group. There is also a Mercury Records in Australia, which is a local artist and repertoire division of Universal...
and Lucky Four Records
Lucky Four Records
Lucky Four Records was a Chicago, Illinois based record company, located at 5411 W. Diversey Avenue, that existed from 1960 to 1963. The label was founded and owned by Lennie LaCour, who was also a singer, songwriter, and record producer....
, both labels also based in Chicago. The records
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
he made for these labels were rockabilly
Rockabilly
Rockabilly is one of the earliest styles of rock and roll music, dating to the early 1950s.The term rockabilly is a portmanteau of rock and hillbilly, the latter a reference to the country music that contributed strongly to the style's development...
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
Halloween
Hallowe'en , also known as Halloween or All Hallows' Eve, is a yearly holiday observed around the world on October 31, the night before All Saints' Day...
and is highly sought by record
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
collectors.
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 CelebrationAnother Polka CelebrationAnother Polka Celebration is an album by Eddie Blazonczyk. In 1986, the album won Blazonczyk the Grammy Award for Best Polka Recording....
1986 (Grammy Winner) - A Polka Celebration 1985
- 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