HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 1986-07-16, Page 31Canad
s Polka Kin
Walter Ostanek, long known as Canada's
Polka King, can now lay claim to the title
legitimately since his induction into the In-
ternational Polkas Association's Polka Rall
of Fame on August 6th, 1933, the first
Canadian, and in fact the only person out-
side the U.S.A., to be so honoured.
Success did not arrive suddenly. In a
field where competition is fierce, fans are
deman. i ng, and names can be made or
forgotten almost overnight, Walter has
been a constant and dedicated contender.
Born in Duperquet1 Quebec, of Yugosla-
vian parents, on April 20th, 1935, Walter
was exposed to the sounds of the accordion
from the beginning. In a culture where
family and music are almost synonomous.
the accordion was a tradition, his grand-
father and uncles in Yugoslavia all being
masters of the art. That he should have
fallen in love with this instrument is no ac-
cident then. At the age of nine, shortly
after the family had moved to the Niagara
Peninsula, Walter became the proud
owner of his own first button accordion,
which he learned to play without formal in-
struction. His natural talent and ability
soon became evident and by the time he
was twelve he persuaded his father to in-
vest in a piano accordion for him, and
started taking formal lessons.
At about this same time, in Cleveland,.
Ohio, Frankie Yankovic'was hitting the big
time with two million -selling polka hits,
and Walter, later to become president of
Frankie's Canadian fan club, and a closet
personal friend of the star, was hooked.
In 1951 Walter formed his first Country
and Western Polka Band and for two years
was leader of his own group. Then, a the
grand old age of 1:0, he joined Abbie An-
drews and His. Canadian Ranch Boys and
got hisfirst exposure to the world of radio,
with the group's three shows a week.
• e,y the time he was 21 Walter had been
playing the accordion for close to 13 years,
and the urge to lead his own group was
strong, 4o the Walter Ostanek and was
formed. On 26th of January 1957 the newly
formed group played it's first engagement
at German Village in Niagara Falls, On-
tario. In the years that were to follow, t''
band would build a reputation as one of the
finest, most versatile groups of musicians
in the business. In the meantime there
would be long hard hours on the rbad,
away from home, • as well as local
engagements, and radio and T.V. shows.
In 1963 Walter cut his first .L. P. album
and since that time has recorded more
than 14 single 45's, as well as 27 L.P.'s.
In 1973 the Walter Ostanek Band receiv-
ed a trophy in the Octoberfest Parade at
Kitchener, Ontario, and for the past seven
years has been featured annually at the
Kitchener -Waterloo Oktoberfest, a gruell-
ing nine -day musical marathon.
In 1974. Walter received a Gold Record
from Arc Record Co. presented by
America's Polka King, Frankie Yankovic.
He . also receiveda pluque for dedicated
work in the Polka field from the Polka
Variety TV Show in Cleveland, Ohio. The
following year, in March 1975, saw him ap-
pear as a guest with Franki Yankovic on
the Phil Donohue Show, along with
Lawrence Welk. On the Johnny Carson
Show he , shared guest honours with
will 'Saturd
Frankie Yankovic, and in 1977 in Honolulu,
owaii, he was ;guest on the' Don Ho
Show, at the Polynesian Palace.
Between 1975 and 1977 Walter appeared
on the Pig & Whistle Show on channel. 9,
four times in each season. His, other TV
credits include appearances on the Tom-
my Hunter network show, the Channel 9.
Telethon as well as, the Montreal Telethon.
In March 1979 Walter received a Silver
Award 2nd prize for a one hour Christmas
Special, an event in which 200 independent
TV stations in Canada participated. ,
In August 1979 Walter toured
Yugoslavia, Italy and Austria with his son
Richard and Franki Yankovic. Two years
later he was to be found aboard the S.S.
Norway, the largest cruise ship in the
world, on a weeks appearance. Then in
February 1983, along with fifteen All Time
Great Polka Band Leaders, he made a one
week appearance on the S.S. Vera Cruz.
The names of artists he has appeared
with in recent years looks like a list of con-
tenders in an All Time Great Music
Awards Show, and includes names such as
Rohnie Milsap, the Oakridge Boys, Slim
Whitman, Ray Price, Conway Twitty, Mel
Tillis', Brenda Lee,, Gordie Tapp, Roy
Clairk, George Jones and many more.
Not content with personal appearances,
band performers and TV shows, The
Walter Ostanek Band is featured regularly
on radio too. For ten years Walter had his
own weekly radio show on CHOW Radio in
Welland, Ontario. At present he has three
separate slots on radio in St. Catharines.
Polka Time canbe heard between 5:15 and
7:00 p,m every Saturday on CKTB 610
AM, while Fiddle Country is aired over CJ -
97:7 FM between 7:050 and 9:60 p.m
also on Satu r.e., yy. On Sundays you can
hear Walter's Down Home Country Show
over CJQ' 97.7 FM between 0,00 and 7:00
p'.m., as well Wednesd : y 111:65 till 12 mrnid
night. Going into his 10th season on Chan-
nel 13 CIKC'1! TV is Walter's show Polka
Time on Sundays from 6:30 to 7:00 p.m.
What does this man do in i s spare time
y might be tempted to wonder. Walter
makes his home in St. Catharines, Ontario,
with his wife Irene of 27 years, his
daughter Chery Susan and sign Richard.
Their mail box is shaped like ... you guess-
ed it ... an accordion. When he is not play-
ing an engagement, on the road or in a
recording studio, Walter can be found at
the Walter Ostanek Music Centre, 41
Geneva Street, in downtown St.
Catharines, surrounded by musical in-
struments, live musicians, aspiring
musical students, and a collection of
photographs that pay tribute to a musical
career that has earned him the recognition
of his peers for over 25 years of dedication
to music, and in particular the promotion
of Polka Music.
Walter works hard at his craft and ex-
pects his musicians to do likewise, and
when they are dressed and on stage the
result is a happy blend of enthusiasm and
respect for . each other, combined with
great talent and an obvious love of good
music..A winning combination that has
earned the Walter Ostanek Band a devoted
following!
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