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Eddie Blazonczyk is a native Chicagoan, son of Fred and Antoinette Blazonczyk, who for years operated the Pulaski Village Ballroom and later the Club Antoinette in Chicago. Eddie started playing polkas in the early fifties with a four-piece combo known as "Happy Eddie and his Polka Jesters". They performed at many Polish weddings, anniversaries and other engagements in Chicagoland.
In 1958 Eddie went into the Pop music field as a song writer and recording artist for Mercury Records. Under the name of Eddie Bell and the Bel-Aires, he recorded a few hits. He toured the country and appeared on television on Dick Clark's American Bandstand and the Jim Loundsbury Show.
In 1962 Eddie came back to the Polka field with a group known as the Versatones. They toured and played in all parts of the U.S.A. and Canada. A Poland European Tour included Italy and France.
Eddie Blazonczyk is also a polka promoter, a disc jockey heard on WTAQ weekly, and president of the Bel-Aire Record Company with studios in Chicago.
Eddie was honored at a testimonial in Buffalo, New York, in 1967, being given a gold key to the city and a gold plaque naming him the Nation's No. 1 Polka Man. This citation was registered with the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C.
Some of Eddie's big hit recordings include "Angeline Be Mine Polka" (voted the best single recording of 1969), "Apples, Peaches, Pumpkin Pie," "Poor Boy Polka" and "My Girlfriend Katie, Polka."
Destined to be a prominent figure in the polka circuit, Chet Kowalkowski began his musical career with the accordion at the age of eight. At twelve, he already won his first merit of achievement for the accordion on the John Nieminski WOPA Polka Show. After entering high school, he became fascinated with the trumpet. His expert ability with this instrument earned him the first chair in the school’s concert band and shortly after that the position of staff sergeant.
Chet entered a polka stage show and received first prize for his trumpeting and vocal expertise. All of these accomplishments motivated him to devote his musical attributes to the polka field.
In the mid-fifties, he played with Dick Billa on Ron Terry’s Polka show, which aired on WGN-TV. During that decade he formed his own group.
Through the years he has performed with top name bands such as the Versatones, Happy Hearts, Dial-a-Tones, Music Explosion, Paliga Polka Dots, Vibrasounds and numerous others.
Chet has also performed with many of polka music’s greatest artists – Eddie Blazonczyk (at top in picture), Marion Lush, the Ampol Aires and Li’l Wally. His career includes radio, TV, stage shows and numerous polka masses. His musical accomplishments enabled him to tour throughout the United States and Poland during his eleven years with Eddie Blazonczyk & the Versatones.
Known to his fans as the “Velvet Voice”, Chet recorded fourteen albums with Eddie Blazonczyk and many more with popular artists.
(Source: www.internationalpolka.com)
Selections:
Wheel Of Fortune Polka
One Of Those Songs Polka
You're The One I've Waited For Waltz
At The Tavern Polka
Rebecca's Polka
You Beautiful Girl Polka
Hello Everybody Polka
Dance and Sing Polka
Cheating But I Don't Care Oberek
When I Leave Polka
He Will Break Your Heart Waltz
My Song Of Love Polka
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Features
- Compact Disc
- 12 Selections
- Total Time 33:00
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