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
As creator of the Polka Mass, Father George Balasko has made a truly unique contri-bution
to Cleveland-style polkas. Father Balasko grew up with polka music in his Cleveland
neighborhood. When the Vatican permitted musical variations on the liturgy in the
1960s, Father Balasko reworked the beloved melodies of his youth with English lyrics
that appealed to church-goers of all nationalities. Accompanied by the Bobby Timko
Orchestra, he celebrated the very first Polka Mass on Memorial Day, 1972, at Holy
Rosary Church in Lowellville, Ohio, near Youngstown. He subsequently released "All
Ye Nations, Sing out Your Joy: The Polka Mass Goes International." Father Balasko
co-founded the Jewish-Christian Dialogue in 1974, hosting pilgrimages to the Holy
Land and a syndicated TV series. His Polka Mass is a feature of many community festivals.
Inducted in 1992
National Cleveland Style Polka Hall of Fame
Trustees Honor Roll Recipient
FATHER GEORGE BALASKO
1934
www.polkafame.com © National Cleveland Style Polka Hall of Fame and Museum, 605
East 222nd Street, Euclid, OH 44123, USA.
