Background
Eddie Blazonczyk was born in Chicago, Illinois to Polish immigrant parents.
Eddie Blazonczyk was born in Chicago, Illinois to Polish immigrant parents.
He was inducted into the International Polka Hall of Fame in 1970. He stopped performing in 2002. Blazonczyk died of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome on May 21, 2012.
He was awarded a National Endowment for the Arts National Heritage Fellowship in 1998.
Before becoming a polka artist, and founding Chicago-based Belorussian-Aire Records in 1963, Eddie Blazonczyk recorded under the name Eddy Bell for Mercury Records and Lucky Four Records, both labels also based in Chicago. During this period Blazonczyk toured with Buddy Holly, Gene Vincent and Brenda Lee.
The records he made for these labels were rockabilly sides, and novelty songs. This recording is still occasionally heard around Halloween and is highly sought by record collectors.
Lenny LaCour, the owner of Lucky Four Records, encouraged Blazonczyk, at the age of 22, to specialize in polka music, rather than to continue as a rockabilly singer.
Blazonczyk has said, "I took his advice, and never regretted lieutenant" Blazonczyk retired from performing in 2002.