Eddie Blazonczyk

Eddie Blazonczyk is the undisputed king of the Chicago style of polka music. A member of the International Polka Association Polka Music Hall of Fame and the Polka Broadcasters Hall of Fame, Blazonczyk continues to average more than 175 concerts a year with the band Versatones, which he formed in 1963. The son of immigrants from the rural Tatras Mountains region of southern Poland, Blazonczyk grew up surrounded by music. His mother, who directed a traditional gorale (highland) band, and his father, who played cello in a gorale band, operated ballrooms in Chicago, where Blazonczyk was exposed to the leading polka musicians of the '40s and '50s. Making his professional debut with a rockabilly band, Eddie Bell & His Hill Boppers, Blazonczyk formed a rock group, Eddie Bell & His Bell Aires, in 1957. In addition to appearing on American Bandstand, the group released a hit single, "The Masked Man (Hi Yo Silver)." In 1963, Blazonczyk switched to polka music and formed the Versatones. A six-piece group, the Versatones expanded the musical genre to include rock & roll, country & western, Cajun, and Tex-Mex influences. With slower tempos than the East Coast style of polka, the Versatones' sound has been compared to the second-line shuffle rhythms of New Orleans marching bands. In addition to 11 Grammy nominations, Blazonczyk and the group received Grammy Awards for their 1986 album Polka Celebration and their 1998 collection Shakin', Not Stirred. For the past few years, the Versatones have been led by Blazonczyk's son, Eddie Jr., a concertina player. The group also features Eric Koltkamper (accordion, keyboards), Rich Kois (trumpet, clarinet), Joe O'Such (trumpet), and Pete Pirucki (drums). Blazonczyk's wife, Tish, whom he met at a dance in 1962, operates the family business...