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.