Eddie Vallus

National Cleveland Style Polka Hall of Fame and Museum

605 East 222nd Street
Euclid, OH 44123

USA

E-mail: Polkashop@aol.com

Phone: 216-261-3263

Toll Free: 1-800-66POLKA

Fax: 216-261-4134

Eddie was born Sept. 2, 1936, in Youngstown, a son of the late Joseph and Katherina (Gayan) Vallus.

Eddie Vallus led one of the best-known Cleveland-Style polka bands in the Youngstown, Ohio, area and was a long-time promoter of the music through his activities with the Penn-Ohio Polka Pals. He passed away on Wednesday, January 27, at age 79.

He played the accordion in bands since his early teens. Eddie’s polka music career began in 1953 with the Johnny Butchko Orchestra, alongside famed accordionist Joe Fedorchak. Eddie, Joe and the band were regulars on the Youngstown television show, “Polka Party,” from 1958 to 1961. He led his own band for 18 years, before forming the Eddie Vallus Band II in 1992.

Two generations of students learned the accordion from him. He was a prolific recording artist and published five accordion songbooks. Eddie composed 48 polkas and waltzes for friends and family. In 1985 he wrote “Y-Town Youngstown,” a song used to promote the city. Johnny Pecon, Frank Yankovic, Flaco Jimenez and Slavko Avsenik, to name a few, were some of the musicians he idolized. Eddie dedicated his whole life to the music he loved, polkas and waltzes. Eddie Vallus recorded 12 albums.

Together with Fr. George Balasko, originator of the Polka Mass, the Eddie Vallus Band II appeared at countless Polka Masses and was, until recently, still in demand for festivals and special events. Eddie was a founding member of the Penn-Ohio Polka Pals and was honored by the polka organization in 1993. He had been a member of the Musicians Union for more than 60 years. He was a past trustee of the National Cleveland-Style Polka Hall of Fame and Museum and was inducted for his lifetime achievements in 2012.

Inducted in 2012