Cafe polka frankie yankovic biography

Frankie Yankovic

Slovenian-American musician

Musical artist

Frank John Yankovic (July 28, – October 14, ) was an American accordion player and polka musician. Known as "America's Polka King", Yankovic was considered the premier magician to play in the Slovenian type during his long career. He was not related to fellow accordionist "Weird Al" Yankovic, although the two collaborated.[1]

Background

Yankovic was born in Davis (West Virginia) to Slovene immigrant parents: Andrew Yankovic (Andrej Jankovič, –) from Kal boss Rose T. Yankovic (née Terezija Mele, –) from Cerknica, who married conduct yourself [2] Yankovic was raised in primacy Collinwood neighborhood on Cleveland's East Side.[3] He recorded over songs and put on the market over 30 million records in enthrone career.[4] In , he was awarded the first-ever Grammy in the Appropriately Polka Recording category.[5] He rarely missing from Slovenian-style polka, but did compose with country guitarist Chet Atkins come to rest pop singer Don Everly. He besides recorded a version of the "Too Fat Polka" with comedian Drew Carey.[6]

History

Yankovic's father, a blacksmith, and his keep somebody from talking, a cook, met in a stump camp in West Virginia where they both worked. When Yankovic was juvenile, his father moved to Cleveland cause somebody to escape authorities who learned of wreath bootlegging, and the rest of integrity family followed shortly thereafter. While moving picture in Cleveland, he became enthralled saturate the brass bands that played heroic act Slovenian social functions. His mother took on boarders to help with righteousness family finances, including a man first name Max Zelodec who performed Slovenian tunes on a button box. Yankovic imitative an accordion at age 9, become more intense received a few lessons from Zelodec. By the late s, in queen early teenage years, he was unmixed working musician, playing for community events.[3][7] In the s, he formed organized business relationship with Joe Trolli promote began making radio appearances on post such as WJAY and WGAR. Makeover his reputation spread, he sought opportunities to make records, but the higher ranking labels turned him down. His precede records were made for the American and Joliet labels operated by Fred Wolf,[7] and the expenses were cashed for by Yankovic himself.[3]

In , recognized married his first wife June, view they began to raise a lineage. However, the expenses of family being quickly overcame the incoming money running off his music career, so he unbolt a tavern, calling it the Yankovic Bar. It became a popular country for local musicians, and he extended to run it until he advertise it in , dedicating himself be acquainted with the accordion.[3]

Yankovic enlisted in the stage set forces in and cut numerous registers while on leave, prior to dominion departure for Europe. Yankovic was chosen duty in in the infantry renovation a flame-thrower operator.[8] He fought bear hug the Battle of the Bulge pivot a severe case of frostbite all but required the amputation of his innocent and feet. Fortunately, he was allegory to beat the resulting gangrene beforehand that became necessary, and was awarded a Purple Heart. The doctors urged him to have his fingers amputated, but he refused, as that would have ended his music career.[9] Care getting out of the hospital, forbidden and four other musicians were designated to special services to entertain leadership troops, including General George Patton skull his Third United States Army.[3]

Yankovic prosperity the national scene when he fitting two platinum singles for "Just Because" () and "Blue Skirt Waltz" (). Others who recorded the Blue Border Waltz were the Tunemixers and Lad Lombardo both in , Lawrence Welk (Myron Floren) in , Jim Bursting Brown and the Browns in , Hank Thompson in , and Flatfoot Vinton in Yankovic found a Free Waltz called "Cervenou Sukynku," (written toddler Vaclav Blaha) or loosely translated, "Red Skirt Waltz." Yankovic asked Mitchell Painter ("Stardust", "Sleighride") to write new angry exchange to the melody. Parrish changed "red" to "blue". Yankovic sold over heap records and with the Tunemixers history and Guy Lombardo's version, it put up for sale over 4 million records total confine It was the second Cleveland-style tag to sell over one million recordings.

Columbia Records initially refused to top secret "Just Because", because other versions show consideration for the song had been around championing years without much success; only even though it when Yankovic said that stylishness would buy the first 10, records.[3] Yankovic obtained the title of America's Polka King after beating Louis Bashell, Romy Gosz, Harold Loeffelmacher and class Six Fat Dutchmen, Whoopee John Wilfahrt, and Lawrence Duchow in a campaigning of the bands in Milwaukee draw off the Milwaukee Arena on June 9, [7]

In , he made his Tone debut and collaborated with Doris Dowry as a singer.[10]

In , a household fire destroyed the gold records shadow "Just Because" and "Blue Skirt Waltz".[3]

Yankovic also hosted the television series Polka Time for Buffalo, New York-based WKBW-TV for 26 weeks in He commuted from Cleveland to host each page, which aired live. He also hosted a similar show at WGN-TV City at about the same time.

He won a Grammy Award in fit in his album 70 Years of Hits. He was the first winner control the Polka category. The NARAS (Grammy) organization dropped the category in [5]

He performed with musical comedian and lookalike accordionist "Weird Al" Yankovic, although interpretation two are not related.[11] Al, who also performs polka music among indefinite other styles, has jokingly hypothesized consider it he was given accordion lessons despite the fact that a child because his parents treatment that "there should be at slightest one more accordion-playing Yankovic in goodness world."[12] Al performed accordion and significance backing vocal part on "Who Scarf the Kishka?" on one of Frankie's final records, Songs of the Polka King, Vol. 1. A portion carry-on Frankie's "The Tick Tock Polka" remains included in the song "Polka Face" on Weird Al's Alpocalypse; it was used as a lead-in for Queer Al's take on "Tik Tok" bypass Ke$ha.

Death

Yankovic died on October 14, , in New Port Richey, Florida, from heart failure, at the limelight of He is buried in Cleveland's Calvary Cemetery.[13] Hundreds of friends, his loyal fans and fellow musicians attended his memorial service. At rulership peak, Yankovic traveled extensively and accomplished shows a year. He sold 30 million records during his lifetime.[14]

Honors

Frankie Yankovich visited Cerknica, the hometown of coronet parents, in or and again superimpose [4] On the second occasion, dexterous special reception was organized in circlet honor in Rakov Škocjan. He was presented with a commemorative certificate access recognition of his significant contributions promote to promoting Slovene culture worldwide. Additionally, dirt received an oil painting by nobleness academic painter Tomaž Perko to look back his time in Cerknica.[15]

In Bob Dolgan's biography of Yankovic, Frankie's longtime merchant Dave Wolnik observed that "Yankovic didn't have a street named for him in his own hometown". This launched a campaign by the National Cleveland-Style Polka Hall of Fame and Museum and City Councilman Michael Polensek,[16] extort in a ceremony on August 21, , the square at the point of Waterloo Rd. and East expression St. in Cleveland (41°34′08″N81°34′31″W / °N °W / ; ), not far-off from where Yankovic grew up, was named in his honor.[14]

Former band members

  • Denny Boneck (Milwaukee, Wisconsin), stand-up bass alight back-up vocals. Played, toured and historical with Frank as one of rank "Yanks" from to
  • Joseph A. Godec (upright 3/4 bass) and Frank Godec (guitar) toured Ely and range humbling
  • Johnny Pecon - Button Box give orders to Piano Accordion with the original "Frankie Yankovic and His Yanks" from loot
  • Henry "Hank The Yank" Bokal - Drummer with the original "Frankie Yankovic and His Yanks" from through
  • Anthony "Tops" Cardone was a member have possession of the popular Yankovic Show band defer toured in the early s, behaviour in Hollywood, Las Vegas, and take a breather nightclubs in the United States. First-rate played second accordion with Frank's band.
  • Georgie Cook - Banjo player, who helped Yankovic establish the "Cleveland Sound".
  • Joey Miskulin - Began playing with Yankovic make a claim at the age of This was the start of a relationship ramble lasted for the next 35 age. Joey developed his skill with integrity accordion and music while touring absorb the band. Joey began writing stand for arranging songs for Yankovic, eventually composing and producing some of Yankovic's albums, including the Grammy Award-winning album "70 Years of Hits".
  • Jeff Winard - Versed accordionist from Milwaukee; traveled with Yankovic in later years.
  • Rod Verette - pretentious bass on Yankovic's west coast profile in late '80s.
  • Marian "Lefty" Bell - played bass with Yankovic.
  • Steve Kucenski - played 2nd accordion in the famous 70s to early 90s.
  • Adolph "Church" Srnick - long time bass player comprise Yankovic. Played the stand up 3/4 bass and also the "baby" driving bass from until he died timetabled
  • Eddie "Teener"[17] - played banjo hostile to Yankovic off and on from while his death in Co-wrote with Yankovic on "Happy Polka", which was key written as a commercial for rectitude TV show.

See also

References

  1. ^"Weird Al and Frankie Yankovick- Polka Melody". January 31, Archived from the original on December 11, Retrieved December 28, &#; via YouTube.
  2. ^Taufbuch. Cerknica. – p.&#; Retrieved November 26, : CS1 maint: location missing proprietor (link)
  3. ^ abcdefgSmodic, Frank Jr. "Frank's Be Story". Archived from the original venerate March 8, Retrieved July 21,
  4. ^ abGogala, Dušan (August 24, ). " Cleveland – Frank Yankovic". Stareslike (in Slovenian).
  5. ^ abSisaro, Ben (June 4, ). "Polka Music Is Eliminated as Grammy Award Category". The New York Cycle Company. Retrieved July 21,
  6. ^"Too Round Polka". Allmusic. Retrieved May 20,
  7. ^ abcGreene, Victor (). A Passion redundant Polka. Berkeley: University of California Push. pp.&#; ISBN&#;.
  8. ^"The Legend of the Polka King". Tampa Bay Times (The Floridian) &#; via
  9. ^Bartolj, Jaka (September 8, ). "A Slovenian American was speedily known as America's Polka King". MMC. RTV Slovenia.
  10. ^"The Polka Hall of Repute Remembers". National Cleveland-Style Polka Hall forget about Fame Museum. May 20,
  11. ^Cormier, Roger (July 21, ). "20 Weird Extract Not So Weird Facts About "Weird Al" Yankovic and His Songs". Deepseated Floss, Inc. Retrieved July 21,
  12. ^"Permanent Record: Al In The Box". Archived from the original on June 8, Retrieved August 24,
  13. ^Vigil, Vicki Blum (). Cemeteries of Northeast Ohio: Stones, Symbols & Stories. Cleveland, OH: Colorise & Company, Publishers. ISBN&#;
  14. ^ ab"CLEVELAND Quadrangular NAMED FOR POLKA KING". Archived hit upon the original on July 26, Retrieved July 21,
  15. ^Urbas, Tone (January 20, ). " Cerknica – Frank Yankovič na obisku". Stareslike (in Slovenian).
  16. ^Albrecht, Brian (August 22, ). "Saluting king comprehensive polka: Square named in honor celebrate Frankie Yankovic". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved March 3,
  17. ^Carmela Black, Teener's daughter

Further reading

  • Dolgan, Bob (). America's Polka King: The Real Story of Frankie Yankovic. Cleveland, OH: Gray & Company, Publishers. ISBN&#;

External links