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EspañolFRANKIE YANKOVIC
'Frankie Yankovic' (July 15, 1915 Davis, West Virginia - October 14, 1998) was a polka musician. Known as "America's Polka King", he was the premier artist to play in the Slovenian style.
Of Slovenian descent, he was from Cleveland, Ohio. Yankovic released over 200 recordings in his career. In 1986 he was awarded the first ever Grammy in the Best Polka Recording category.
Yankovic seldom strayed from the Slovenian-style polka, but did record with country singer Chet Atkins, pop singer Don Everly, and a version of the “Too Fat Polka” with comedian Drew Carey, also from Cleveland.
Yankovic enlisted in the Armed Forces in 1943, and cut some records while on leave, prior to his departure for Europe. He fought in the Battle of the Bulge, where a severe case of frostbite nearly resulted in the amputation of his hands and feet; fortunately, he was able to beat the gangrene before that became necessary, and was awarded a Purple Heart. He became an accomplished accordion player.
Yankovic was not related to "Weird Al" Yankovic, but Al did play accordion for "Who Stole the Kishka" on one of Frankie's final records, ''Songs of the Polka King, Vol. 1''.
Yankovic died on Oct. 14, 1998, in New Port Richey, Florida, due to heart failure, at the age of 83. He was buried in Calvery Cemetary in Cleveland [1]. Hundreds of friends, family, his loyal fans and fellow musicians showed up to send him off.
At his peak, Yankovic was performing on the road in 325 shows a year. Before he died, Yankovic had sold 30 million records and won the first Grammy awarded for a polka album, in 1986.
The Square at the intersection of Waterloo and East 152, not far from where Frankie grew up was named in honor of Frankie Yankovic in a dedication ceremony on August 21, 2007.
Dave Wolnik, Frankie's long time drummer, observed in the Bob Dolgan biography of Yankovic published last year that the famed musician didn't have a street named for him in his own hometown. That launched a campaign for the square by the National Cleveland-Style Polka Hall of Fame and Museum and City Councilman Michael Polensek, according to Dolgan.
[2]
★ "Pennsylvania Polka," performed by Frankie Yankovic, was played (numerous times) in "Groundhog Day."
★ Co-authored his 1977 autobiography with Cleveland journal Bob Dolgan. In 2006 Dolgan wrote ''America’s Polka King'', an entirely new Yankovic biography.
1. http://www.interment.net/data/us/oh/cuyahoga/calvary/index.htm
2. http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/cuyahoga/118777214838490.xml&coll=2
★ Slovenian Americans
★ Biography on Polkas.com
★ Newspaper Article
★ Biography on ElvisPelvis.com
★ Lifetime Achievement Honoree, sample music
★ Memorial on Polkas.com
★ Dennis Kucinich's letter to Clinton in support of awarding Yankovic a National Medal of Arts
★ Profile of Frank Yankovic at The Remington Site
Of Slovenian descent, he was from Cleveland, Ohio. Yankovic released over 200 recordings in his career. In 1986 he was awarded the first ever Grammy in the Best Polka Recording category.
Yankovic seldom strayed from the Slovenian-style polka, but did record with country singer Chet Atkins, pop singer Don Everly, and a version of the “Too Fat Polka” with comedian Drew Carey, also from Cleveland.
Yankovic enlisted in the Armed Forces in 1943, and cut some records while on leave, prior to his departure for Europe. He fought in the Battle of the Bulge, where a severe case of frostbite nearly resulted in the amputation of his hands and feet; fortunately, he was able to beat the gangrene before that became necessary, and was awarded a Purple Heart. He became an accomplished accordion player.
Yankovic was not related to "Weird Al" Yankovic, but Al did play accordion for "Who Stole the Kishka" on one of Frankie's final records, ''Songs of the Polka King, Vol. 1''.
Yankovic died on Oct. 14, 1998, in New Port Richey, Florida, due to heart failure, at the age of 83. He was buried in Calvery Cemetary in Cleveland [1]. Hundreds of friends, family, his loyal fans and fellow musicians showed up to send him off.
At his peak, Yankovic was performing on the road in 325 shows a year. Before he died, Yankovic had sold 30 million records and won the first Grammy awarded for a polka album, in 1986.
| Contents |
| Square in Frankie's Hometown named in his honor |
| Trivia |
| References |
| See also |
| External links |
Square in Frankie's Hometown named in his honor
The Square at the intersection of Waterloo and East 152, not far from where Frankie grew up was named in honor of Frankie Yankovic in a dedication ceremony on August 21, 2007.
Dave Wolnik, Frankie's long time drummer, observed in the Bob Dolgan biography of Yankovic published last year that the famed musician didn't have a street named for him in his own hometown. That launched a campaign for the square by the National Cleveland-Style Polka Hall of Fame and Museum and City Councilman Michael Polensek, according to Dolgan.
[2]
Trivia
★ "Pennsylvania Polka," performed by Frankie Yankovic, was played (numerous times) in "Groundhog Day."
★ Co-authored his 1977 autobiography with Cleveland journal Bob Dolgan. In 2006 Dolgan wrote ''America’s Polka King'', an entirely new Yankovic biography.
References
1. http://www.interment.net/data/us/oh/cuyahoga/calvary/index.htm
2. http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/cuyahoga/118777214838490.xml&coll=2
See also
★ Slovenian Americans
External links
★ Biography on Polkas.com
★ Newspaper Article
★ Biography on ElvisPelvis.com
★ Lifetime Achievement Honoree, sample music
★ Memorial on Polkas.com
★ Dennis Kucinich's letter to Clinton in support of awarding Yankovic a National Medal of Arts
★ Profile of Frank Yankovic at The Remington Site
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