Eddie Blazonczyk Sr.
Hall of Fame – 2025
Eddie Blazonczyk Sr. (1941-2012) was born in Chicago, Illinois, the son of immigrants from the rural Tatras Mountains region of southern Poland. His parents owned and operated the Pulaski Ballroom, where Eddie heard some of the most influential polka players of the day, such as Steve Adamczyk, Lil’ Wally Jagiello, and Eddie Zima.
Blazonczyk’s mother directed a music and dance ensemble, and his father played cello in a band, exposing Eddie to Polish Highlander (Goralska) music and popular polka rhythms. Eddie started performing in the early fifties with a four-piece combo known as “Happy Eddie and his Polka Jesters.” They played many Polish weddings, anniversaries, and other engagements throughout the Chicago area.
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 and toured the country including television appearances on Dick Clark’s American Bandstand and the Jim Loundsbury Show. In 1963, he rededicated himself to the Polish music of his heritage, forming his own band, the Versatones. He worked to create a new polka sound that incorporated the more raucous approach of the much-admired Li’l Wally with the polished style of the influential vocalist Marion Lush.
For Eddie, this new polka sound always included a prominently featured chemnitzer concertina. While Eddie would admit that he never perfected the instrument himself, he learned enough to play and record a few songs on concertina with the Versatones. More importantly, he always made certain the band included some of the very best concertina musicians available, placing them front and center of the band. Over the years, this included such great talent as Wally Maduzia (1960s), Ronnie Pastecki (1969-1972), Jerry Darlak (1973-1988) and Eddie Blazonczyk Jr. (1989-2011). Other talented musicians to play concertina with Eddie include Chet Kowalkowski, Junior Wozniak, Lenny Gomulka, Jim Sierzega, Ed Wolinski, Al Piatkowski, and John Zelasko.
Eddie Blazonczyk Sr. was a powerful organizing force in the polka world and received numerous honors for his work. He was one of the five founders of the International Polka Association and promoted many dances and festivals. His Bel-Aire label recorded and distributed a wide range of polka music.