The Versatones classic six piece format and multi-influential roots have developed from a mixture of past Rock & Roll experience, Country & Western, Cajun, and Tex-Mex music. But it's the progressive sound which the Versatones have achieved with their six pieces which has modernized polka music. Heralded as "today's true alternative dance music", this is no longer your grandparents' polka!
Born in 1967, Eddie Blazonczyk Jr was raised in the music industry. Obviously influenced by his father's career, he followed in his footsteps playing polka music and by 1989, he was touring with the Versatones as well. In 1997, after playing and singing alongside his father the previous 8 years, Eddie Blazonczyk Jr took over the operations of the Versatones. In 2002, Eddie Blazonczyk Sr retired from the band due to health reasons. The following year, Eddie Jr and the Versatones received their 14th Grammy nomination for their recording "My Father's Shoes". Today Eddie Jr and the Versatones proudly carry on a legacy started over 40 years ago on the South Side of Chicago, the evolution and advancement of polka music and their heritage. To see Eddie Blazonczyk's Versatones perform "live", you will truly understand why they have been proclaimed the Nations 1 Polka Band!
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The Steve Drzewicki Band finally made it big (lol), their on You Tube!!! There are 7 videos up, courtesy of Paul Ahren, from their performance @ St.Stan's Polish Fest in Bay City, MI on June 27th,2008.
These video's feature polka music newest fiddling sensation: Brien Ahren, age 12. Along with The Steve Drzewicki Band. If you didn't get a chance to see Brien do his thing on Friday. You will clearly see Brien has the crowd in the palm of his hand.
Steve Drzewicki on drums,vocals/ Stan Kowalski on Accordian/ Ricky Klulka on Concertina/Mike Corbin on Bass and Trumpet/Gary Muller on Bass and Trumpet/Doug Lull on Trumpet.
Just click on this link: http://www. youtube. com/watch?v=6DJA4wkNjeg and it will take you to "Mountaineers" polka and links to the 6 other videos. If that link doesn't work, type in DRZEWICKI in the search part and it will pop up. You don't need to be a member of You Tube to watch the videos, but if you want to comment on them. You need to be a member.
Just dropping by to tell you gentlemen that you really rocked SummerDance in Chicago last night! Keep up the good work! (image from anonymousmyspace. com)
