Birth name Ladislav John Ostanek Name Walter Ostanek | Occupation(s) musician, songwriter Years active 1936–present Spouse Irene Ostanek (m. 1957) | |
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Born 20 April 1935 (age 89) Duparquet, Quebec, Canada ( 1935-04-20 ) People also search for Beny Rehmann, Myron Floren, Bob Kravos |
Walter ostanek clarinet polka instrumentaal
Ladislav John "Walter" Ostanek, CM (born 20 April 1935), is known as Canada's Polka King. He has received thirteen nominations for Grammy Awards and won three.
Contents
- Walter ostanek clarinet polka instrumentaal
- Let s have a party polka walter ostanek brian sklar and western senators polkarama season 05
- Early life
- Career
- Awards and recognition
- Singles
- Walter Ostanek Band
- Walter Ostanek and His Band
- Walter Ostanek and His Polka Band
- Walter Ostanek and His Polka Kings
- Walter Ostanek
- Songs
- References
Let s have a party polka walter ostanek brian sklar and western senators polkarama season 05
Early life
Born in Duparquet, Quebec in 1935, his family moved to St. Catharines, Ontario, when he was a boy. A young Ostanek received his first accordion as a gift in 1944. After several years, Ostanek became a popular entertainer in Southern Ontario, performing Slovenian-style (also known as Cleveland-style) polkas and waltzes. He could be heard frequently on the radio in St. Catharines and Welland. Walter began playing polka after his best friend introduced him to the accordion at age 5.
Career
In 1957 Ostanek formed his own band playing Slovenian-style polka music. In 1963, Ostanek and his band, the Walter Ostanek Band, would record their first of many albums. Over his career, Ostanek would record more than 50 albums and become known as Canada's Polka King. He has received three Grammy Awards and he has been nominated thirteen times. His style has been compared to America's Polka King, Frankie Yankovic of Cleveland. Like the late Yankovic, Walter Ostanek is of Slovene descent.
Ostanek hosted his own television shows (one for fourteen consecutive years), radio shows, and polka tours. He has appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, Phil Donahue, Tommy Hunter Show, Cleveland's Polka Varieties, and his own award-winning TV specials and telethons. He has appeared in concert with Roy Clark, the Oakridge Boys, Ronnie Milsap, Ray Price, Mel Tillis, Brenda Lee, Slim Whitman, Tom T. Hall, T. G. Shepard, Tommy Hunter, Lawrence Welk, Myron Floren, Frank Yankovic, Black Forest Band, and Weiss Blau.
Walter Ostanek is a member of Canada's Walk of Fame as well as the Polka Halls of Fame in Cleveland and Chicago. Currently Ostanek does two main concert sets each year: one at Marineland in Niagara Falls, Ontario, the other during Oktoberfest in Kitchener, Ontario.
He is also the subject of the 2006 Bravo! network documentary The Cult of Walt: Canada’s Polka King. Ostanek is also cited as the inspiration for the Second City Television polka parody, the Shmenge Brothers. and the Osler show.
Walter currently resides in St. Catharines, Ontario. He was the owner of the popular music store "Ostanek's" until 1 April 2013, when the store was converted to a Long & McQuade's. He still plays locally.
Awards and recognition
Singles
Walter Ostanek Band
Walter Ostanek and His Band
Walter Ostanek and His Polka Band
Walter Ostanek and His Polka Kings
Walter Ostanek
Songs
Beer Barrel Polka
Happy Birthday Polka
Let's Have a Party Polka
Pennsylvania Polka
Lee and Ann's Polka
Hoop De Doo Polka
707 Polka
Bernie's Polka
Polka Ivories
Panda's Waltz
My Cheryl's Waltz
Polka Jamboree
My Little Girl Polka
Jo Ann Polka
Frances Darling Frances Polka
V O Polka
Why Did You Take My Heart Away Waltz
My Adobe Hacienda Polka
Sailboat Polka
Y Viva Espana Polka
Stillman's Polka
You Are My Sunshine Polka
Ivory Fingers Polka
Butterfly Polka
Shanty Polka
Big Bang Polka
Lalli's Polka
Bye Bye My Baby Polka
Tobacco Farmers Polka
Tony's Polka
Holiday in Mexico Polka
Ballroom Polka