“Back to Back Hall of Fame Polkas” is noteworthy as it represents the: 21st time a Walter Ostanek album has been nominated for the "Best Polka Album" GRAMMY AWARD, and the 3rd Grammy Nomination for Jerry Darlak & the Touch! For the Sunshine Records label, this marks the 16th GRAMMY nomination within the years 1998 - 2009...a truly remarkable string of Polka Music hits...and "Back to Back Hall of Fame Polkas" may very well represent the finest offering of them all! Since 2009 was also the final year of the Polka Category in the NARAS GRAMMY Awards, this album is part of the final group of recordings provided the honor and recognition that the "Best Polka Album" Grammy Award category bestowed upon it's recipients. A polka music fan would be well served to add this historic offering by some fantastic musicians to their collection. A great variety album, the songs are distributed as such: WALTER OSTANEK (heard on tracks 1, 2, 6, 8, 10, 12 - 14) is joined by his friends: JERRY DARLAK & THE TOUCH (heard on tracks 16 - 25), BOB KRAVOS AND HIS BAND (heard on tracks 3, 5, 7, 9, 11), and special guests EDDIE KLANCNIK (heard on track 4), JOEY BAJUK (heard on track 15), and JOHNNY LIBERA (heard on track 12). From Cleveland-Syle Polkas and Waltzes, to the lively drivin’ Polish Chicago sound, rounded out by a beautiful melodic tune sung by Jon Libera, “Waltz of The Angels” this album has it all. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The list of Polka Music Hall of Famers heard on this recording is simply astounding - quite possibly the best collection of Polka Music talent ever assembled on one album...including: WALTER OSTANEK - "Canada's Polka King," IPA Hall of Fame (HOF 1983), Cleveland-Style Polka Hall of Fame, 3 time GRAMMY AWARD winner for "Best Polka Album" JERRY DARLAK - IPA Hall of Fame (HOF 1997), 2 time GRAMMY AWARD winner for "Best Polka Album" (as member of Eddie Blazonczyk's Versatones) MIKE NOWAKOWSKI - IPA Hall of Fame (HOF 2004) BOB KRAVOS - Cleveland-Style Polka Hall of Fame RON SLUGA - Cleveland-Style Polka Hall of Fame (2005) JOHNNY LIBERA - IPA Hall of Fame (HOF 1982) And many, many other tremendously talented musicians in addition to those noted above (all are listed below.) ALSO, the majority of tracks on this album were engineered by an IPA Hall of Famer: GARY RHAMY - IPA Hall of Fame (HOF 2006)! If this album did not win the GRAMMY AWARD in 2009, one can only imagine that the winning record must have been one of the best sounds ever recorded in recent history! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Consider some of the reviews given to "Back to Back Hall of Fame Polkas" at the time: Review by: Stephen May Sunshine's BACK TO BACK HALL OF FAME POLKAS boasts more than 20 numbers by an impressive array of International Polka Hall of Fame greats including Canadian "Polka King" Walter Ostanek, Cleveland's Bob Kravos, and Buffalo's Jerry Darlak & The Touch. With bright production, traditional playing in the Chicago-Slovenian style, and fun titles such as "I'm a Jerk," "Saxy Polka," and "Beer Beer Beer Polka," BACK TO BACK HALL OF FAME POLKAS was nominated for a 2009 Grammy for Best Polka Album (Vocal or Instrumental). Review by: Polka Connection.com Walter Ostanek, Bob Kravos, Eddie Klancnik, Joey Bajuk, and Jerry Darlak & the Touch present a vast array of Slovenian and Polish style polka music! This album has 25 tracks with some excellent musicianship. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Walter Ostanek, Grammy Award winner in 1993, 1994 & 1995, "Canada’s Polka King", was honored for his 25 years as a band leader and for his promotion of polka music by being inducted into the International Polka Hall of Fame in 1983 and the National Cleveland-Style Polka Hall of Fame in 1988. When the Walter Ostanek Band appears in public, they always do their best to please and keep their audience happy. Through this kind of dedication, Walter has accomplished many memorable steps. Members of Walter Ostanek Band heard on this album include: Walter Ostanek, David Austin, Brian O'Boyle - Piano Accordion Brian O'Boyle, Ralph Delligatti - Piano Joey Bajuk - Button Accordion Ron Sluga, Frank Okicki, Ken Senko, Gary Meissner, Eddie Klancnik, Dennis Lepage - Banjo-Guitar Richard Kuciemba, Ken Klanckik - Saxophone Ralph Delligatti, Jerry Zagar, Steve Fortin, Richard Ostanek - Bass Guitar Mark Habit, Glen Gratto, Eddie Klancnik - Drums Murray McFadgen - Vocals Steve Smith - Hawaiian Guitar Graham Townsend - Fiddle / Violin ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jerry Darlak and the TOUCH, the Award Winning polka band from Western New York, includes two members of the International Polka Association Hall of Fame: Jerry Darlak and Mike Nowakowski. The band has also received three nominations for “Best Polka Album” at the 45th, 46th, and 51st annual GRAMMY AWARDS, with this album being the latest to be recognized with a Grammy Nomination. Members of Jerry Darlak & the Touch heard on this album include: Jerry Darlak - Concertinas, Vocals Ken Machelski - Vocals, Trumpet Ray Barsukiewcz - Vocals, Trumpet, Sax, Clarinet Mike Nowakowski - Vocals, Accordion Rick Pijanowski - Drums, Vocals Tadj - Vocals, Bass Guitar Steve Michaels - Piano, Vocals ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bob Kravos was born 1967 into a Cleveland, Ohio based Slovenian-American family where the heritage of Slovenian-American style polkas flourished. Bob is the great nephew of the legendary America's Polka King Frankie Yankovic, who popularized the Slovenian-Cleveland Style of polka music. At the age of six, Bob saw his great-uncle playing the accordion on stage and decided he would like to do the same. Bob's greatest musical mentors were Frankie Yankovic and another legend, Joey Miskulin, who was a member of The Yankovic Band playing second accordion for many years. Bob was honored with a grant from The State of Ohio to take lessons with Joey while Bob's great-uncle Frank would also periodically stop by the house and give him a few pointers. Frankie taught him how to be an entertainer and Joey Miskulin showed how to do excellent finger work on the accordion keyboard. Bob is known for his accordion runs and fill finger work repertoire. Right out of high school, Bob traveled with Frankie Yankovic for a period of seven years. Bob played all across the country with Frank. Being with the Yankovic Band, Bob did television appearances on The Polka Variety Show. In 1987, Bob formed his own band, Bob Kravos And The Boys In The Band, which plays a wide variety of music. Though focused on Slovenian-Style polkas they also enjoy performing country, pop, swing, rock, and more. The Kravos-Style music is a twist between Yankovic, Rodick, Vadnal and his own Kravos flavor. The Polka Hall of Fame has honored the band and all of its members with multiple awards, including, for Bob Kravos and Norm Kobal, the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award. Members of Bob Kravos Band heard on this album include: Bob Kravos - Accorion, Solovox, Vocals, Bass, Piano Dave Austin - Accordion Grant Kozera - Solovox, Vocals Frank Okicki - Banjo John Gerl - Drums Jack Tankovich, Dolores Stachurski, Denny Bucar, Andrea Walnik, Bojeff Winward, Ron Sluga - Vocals ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ed Klancnik's musical journey began when he was just two years old. His parents gave him a "Mickey Mouse" drum set for Christmas, and on the front of it was an image of Disney characters playing the banjo, guitar, bass and drums. Coincidentally, these were the four instruments that he would ultimately pursue. When he was growing up, Ed spent several hours a week in the family’s basement practicing with his father, Gaylord Klancnik. It wasn't long before he began to “sit in” with his Dad’s band and at age 13, officially joined the Klancnik Brothers Orchestra. That same year, he also played his first official “gig” with the legendary Steve Meisner. While in school, Ed Klancnik studied music and took private lessons. At age 16, he was given the opportunity to play banjo and guitar with The Don Wojtila Orchestra. Don and the members of his band would later play a major role in the shaping of Ed’s musical approach. In addition to his father, Ed Klancnik’s next biggest influence was easily that of Jack “Porky” Ponikvar. It was through Jack that Ed developed much of his progressive technique, finesse and, most certainly, attitude. A graduate of Michigan State University, Ed spent the next several years playing in a rock band that he co-founded with his friend, Jim "Sal" Bonomo. The group performed original material, toured all over the United States, and recorded 3 self-produced albums. It was at this time that Ed began to record music as a part-time hobby. In 1995 he and his father made their first recording together, which was an original song called “Fast Eddie’s Polka." It would be the first of several Gaylord Klancnik Orchestra tracks to appear on Walter Ostanek Grammy nominated projects over the next ten years. These recordings also allowed Ed to work with Gary Rhamy who ultimately inspired him to begin recording full-time. In 1997, Ed Klancnik moved to Nashville, Tennessee where he was able to meet numerous musicians, recording engineers and record producers. As a performing musician, Ed started playing gigs around town and began to pick up recording sessions on drums. Ranch Recordings was founded in 1998 to meet the constant demand of musicians, songwriters and independent labels who were seeking the use of his technical resources and talented friends. Ed Klancnik has performed across the United States as well as Canada, Mexico, Brazil and Europe. He has played with dozens of bands in the polka, rock, pop, country, and big band fields. Ed has worked on over 60 full length albums as either a musician, recording engineer, producer, or graphic designer. He has been associated with 12 Grammy nominated projects including "Polkas United" which he co-produced in 2004. Ed has also made several television and radio appearances, and is credited on a Disney / Pixar animated blockbuster release. Twice recognized by the National Cleveland Style Polka Hall of Fame, Ed Klancnik continues to push the boundaries of polka music through his musical and artistic abilities. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Members of the Joey Bajuk Band heard on this album include: Joey Bajuk - Button Box Ralph Delligatti - Bass, Piano Mark Habit - Drums Eddie Rodick III - Banjo, Guitar