[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 80 (Thursday, May 31, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E934]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           HONORING EDDIE ``THE POLKA KING'' BLAZONCZYK, SR.

                                  _____
                                 

                          HON. DANIEL LIPINSKI

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 31, 2012

  Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Eddie 
Blazonczyk, Sr., who passed away on May 21, 2012 at the age of 70. Mr. 
Blazonczyk was a Polish-American icon who spread the beauty and joy of 
polka music around the world.
  Mr. Blazonczyk was born the son of Polish immigrants in Chicago on 
July 12, 1941. His parents owned Polish music clubs in the city, 
influencing their son to play the accordion, drums, guitar, and bass 
guitar, and to sing in classic Polka tradition.
  Eddie was so versatile and talented that he was signed to play pop 
music by Mercury Records, even making an appearance on American 
Bandstand. However, Eddie returned to his polka roots and founded The 
Versatones, one of the most popular polka bands in the world. Eddie and 
his band spread his unique Chicago Style polka around the world, 
introducing the fun music to people of all backgrounds. Eddie would 
become known as the ``Polka King'' as he opened one of the most 
prestigious polka music recording studios in America, Bel-Aire 
Recordings, in 1963. He then founded the International Polka 
Association in 1968 to promote the genre of music throughout the world, 
and is now enshrined in the Association's Hall of Fame.
  Eddie played the music he loved with The Versatones until 2001. 
During his tenure with The Versatones, the band gained many honors 
including a Grammy Award for Best Polka Album in 1987 with their hit 
record, Another Polka Celebration. Mr. Blazonczyk was also awarded a 
National Heritage Fellowship in 1998 for his work in celebrating the 
art of polka music.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in offering condolences to Mr. 
Blazonczyk's family, and to thank Eddie Blazonczyk for spreading his 
art, his joy, and his passion to generations of polka fans.

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