One For The Road: RIP Polka King Eddie Blazonczyk

By Samantha Abernethy in Arts & Entertainment on May 21, 2012 10:40PM

Chicago's Polka King Eddie Blazonczyk Sr., died today. He was 70 years old. Blazonczyk started one of the world's most beloved polka bands the Versatones in the early 1960s. His son Eddie Blazonczyk Jr., took over the Versatones when his father retired in 2002, and the band played its last show on New Year's Eve.

Blazonczyk won a Grammy in 1986 for "Another Polka Celebration" and a 1998 National Endowment for hte Arts Heritage Fellowship. He was one of five founders (and a member) of the International Polka Hall of Fame. He's also a member of the Broadcasters Hall of Fame and broadcast polka on various Chicago stations, including WPNA 1490 AM and WCEV 1450 AM.

Below are a few videos we found from the 1977 Bel-Aire Polka Days festival in Polonia Grove. This is the full performance, split into four videos. Enjoy.