HR0303 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0303 LRB098 11825 MST 44980 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois General Assembly are saddened to learn of the death of polka sensation Eddie Blazonczyk Sr., who passed away on May 21, 2012; and

WHEREAS, Eddie Blazonczyk Sr. was born on July 12, 1941, in Chicago; he grew up hearing a broad range of polka bands at the Pulaski Ballroom and the Mountaineer Tavern, which were operated on the southwest side of Chicago by his parents; he attended high school in Wisconsin and ventured out into rock-and-roll, initially performing under the name of Eddie Bell and touring with the likes of Buddy Holly, Gene Vincent, and Brenda Lee; and

WHEREAS, Eddie Blazonczyk Sr. had his own publishing company, his own label known as Bel-Aire, a music school, and was constantly touring with the Versatones, a band that flourished from the early 1960s until December of 2011; and

WHEREAS, Eddie Blazonczyk Sr. is a 1986 Grammy award winner for the album "Another Polka Celebration"; he received over a dozen Grammy nominations throughout his career and was awarded a National Heritage Fellowship in 1998 presented by then First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton; and

WHEREAS, Eddie Blazonczyk Sr. is survived by his son, Eddie Blazonczyk, Jr.; his wife, Christine "Tish" Blazonczyk; his son, Anthony (Rena); his daughter, Katherine; his grandchildren, Cayle, Anya, and Anthony, Jr.; his sister, Louise Kurek; and many nieces and nephews; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Eddie Blazonczyk Sr., and extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further

RESOLVED, That to honor his memory we declare Eddie Blazonczyk Sr.'s song "Polka Celebration" as the official Illinois State polka; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Eddie Blazonczyk Sr., Governor Pat Quinn, and Secretary of State Jesse White.