Walter Ostanek

Walter Ostanek is a living legend in the world of polka music. During more
than four long decades as a professional performer, he has made somewhere
over 50 recordings, and earned a number of Grammy Awards and
nominations.  He has also been inducted into the National Cleveland-Style
Polka Hall of Fame and the International Polka Hall of Fame, both as a
Lifetime Achievement Honoree.

Ostanek was born in Duperquet, Quebec, in the spring of 1935 as Ladislav
John Ostanek. His parents, both from Yugoslavia, moved the small family to
St. Catharines, Ontario, about the same time young Ostanek started school.
 With a natural love for music, he began playing the button diatonic
accordion when he was only nine. Before he reached his teens, he moved on
to a piano accordion. He excelled with the instrument.

When Ostanek was 16 he put together his first band. The group landed small
gigs, playing a mixture of country & western polkas. After polishing his skills
for a couple more years, he moved on to a radio show called "Abbie Andrews
& his Canadian Ranch Boys." He performed with the act a number of times a
week until about 1956 when he left to form the Walter Ostanek Band.

In 1963, Ostanek completed his debut album, Gay Continental Dance Party.
Ostanek went on to have his own long-running radio program, as well as his
own television series like It's Polka Time and Polka Party.
In the '70s and '80s, between working on a string of recordings, Ostanek
toured through many countries including Austria and Italy. He still found time
 to perform on numerous popular television shows like the Phil Donohue
Show, Lawrence Welk, and the Johnny Carson Show. During this time he
earned several awards and gold records.

In the '90s, albums still appeared from the musician. A few of the many
full-length recordings Ostanek has released over the years are Yearning for
Polkas and Waltzes, Accordionally Yours, Instrumental Button Box Classics
with Canada's Polka King, On Our Way for More Non-Stop Dancing, Music
and Friends, Continental Dance Party With Walter Ostanek & Band, Memories
Polkas and Waltzes, Just for You, and As Time Goes By.