[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 75 (Wednesday, May 23, 2012)]
[Senate]
[Page S3511]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   REMEMBERING EDDIE BLAZONCZYK, SR.

  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, on Monday morning, Eddie Blazonczyk, Sr., 
passed away in Palos Heights, IL. He was known in the greater Chicago 
area as the Polka King. Eddie was born in Chicago in 1941 to Polish 
immigrant parents--both musicians. It is no surprise, then, that Eddie 
started playing the accordion at the age of 12. Eddie's first love was 
rock and roll, but, influenced by his mother's fondness for the music 
of her homeland, he was soon playing polka music.
  In 1962, Eddie Blazonczyk joined a local polka band called the 
Versatones, a union that would last for the rest of his life. His son, 
Eddie Blazonczyk, Jr, still plays with the band. Today, the Versatones 
are the most sought after polka band in the music industry. While they 
are popular in communities all over the country, Chicago has always 
been home to the band, and Chicago knows polka.
  The Chicago metropolitan area is steeped with Polish customs and 
heritage. It has the largest Polish population outside of Poland, and 
the Polish language is the third most commonly spoken language in the 
greater Chicago area. In Illinois, the first Monday of March is Casimir 
Pulaski Day, a day when all State government buildings are closed in 
remembrance of ``the father of the American cavalry.'' The 
International Polka Association moved to Chicago in 1968. We even have 
a Chicago style of polka music, distinguished by heavier clarinet and 
trumpet and, of course, the button-box accordion. Eddie Blazonczyk 
helped define Chicago style polka, even as he grew into his unofficial 
role as polka royalty.
  In 1967, a congressional committee awarded 26-year-old Eddie 
Blazonczyk and the Versatones the title of ``The Nation's #1 Polka 
Band.'' In 1970, Eddie was elected into the International Polka 
Association Polka Music Hall of Fame. The Versatones also have 16 
Grammy nominations and a Grammy award in 1986 for their ``Another Polka 
Celebration'' album. First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton presented him 
with the National Endowment for the Arts 1998 National Heritage 
Fellowship for preserving Polish Heritage Music.
  I extend my sympathies to Eddie's wife Christine--Tish, as many know 
her; his daughter Kathy; his sons Eddie and Tony; his grandchildren 
Cayle, Anya, and Anthony; and his many nieces and nephews. Eddie took a 
traditional sound and infused it with rock and roll, Cajun, zydeco, and 
country, creating something both familiar and entirely different. The 
Polish American community lost a music hero this week, but his legacy 
will live on at weddings, celebrations, and parties for generations to 
come.

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