HR0303LRB098 11825 MST 44980 r


  
1
HOUSE  RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois General Assembly are 
3saddened to learn of the death of polka sensation Eddie 
4Blazonczyk Sr., who passed away on May 21, 2012; and
  
 
5    WHEREAS, Eddie Blazonczyk Sr. was born on July 12, 1941, in 
6Chicago; he grew up hearing a broad range of polka bands at the 
7Pulaski Ballroom and the Mountaineer Tavern, which were 
8operated on the southwest side of Chicago by his parents; he 
9attended high school in Wisconsin and ventured out into 
10rock-and-roll, initially performing under the name of Eddie 
11Bell and touring with the likes of Buddy Holly, Gene Vincent, 
12and Brenda Lee; and
  
 
  
13    WHEREAS, Eddie Blazonczyk Sr. had his own publishing 
14company, his own label known as Bel-Aire, a music school, and 
15was constantly touring with the Versatones, a band that 
16flourished from the early 1960s until December of 2011; and
  
 
17    WHEREAS, Eddie Blazonczyk Sr. is a 1986 Grammy award winner 
18for the album "Another Polka Celebration"; he received over a 
19dozen Grammy nominations throughout his career and was awarded 
20a National Heritage Fellowship in 1998 presented by then First 
21Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton; and
  
 
 
 
HR0303- 2 -LRB098 11825 MST 44980 r

1    WHEREAS, Eddie Blazonczyk Sr. is survived by his son, Eddie 
2Blazonczyk, Jr.; his wife, Christine "Tish" Blazonczyk; his 
3son, Anthony (Rena); his daughter, Katherine; his 
4grandchildren, Cayle, Anya, and Anthony, Jr.; his sister, 
5Louise Kurek; and many nieces and nephews; therefore, be it
  
 
6    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
7NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 
8we mourn the passing of Eddie Blazonczyk Sr., and extend our 
9sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew 
10and loved him; and be it further
  
 
11    RESOLVED, That to honor his memory we declare Eddie 
12Blazonczyk Sr.'s song "Polka Celebration" as the official 
13Illinois State polka; and be it further
 
14    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
15presented to the family of Eddie Blazonczyk Sr., Governor Pat 
16Quinn, and Secretary of State Jesse White.