Sunshine Records, Polkas.nl & The National Cleveland-Style Polka Hall of Fame presents Walter Ostanek - Today And Forever, 80th Birthday Souvenir! It’s time to celebrate the happiest accordionist anywhere! Walter Ostanek, Canada’s Polka King, marks his 80th birthday with this special collection of classic Cleveland-Style polkas and waltzes. Just listen and try to keep from dancing. When Walter performs, his joy is contagious. His music is the perfect pick-me-up. Walter is one of the living legends of polka music. The three-time Grammy winner has been entertaining since his teens. He first achieved notice in the 1950s as the leader of a young generation of performers inspired by the Cleveland-Style classics – Frank Yankovic, Johnny Pecon, Johnny Vadnal, Eddie Habat and Kenny Bass. Walter’s sunny delivery was ideal for television and his popular polka show brought good-time music into Canadian homes. (One young viewer was the late comic actor John Candy. His bandleader character in the hit film, Home Alone, is a nod to Walter.) Throughout his career, Walter never forgot his Slovenian roots. He was born Ladislav John Ostanek in Duparquet, Quebec, on April 20, 1935. Slovenian music was part of his childhood and friends would come from miles around on Sunday afternoons to sing and play favorite folk melodies at the Ostanek house. That tradition continued when his family moved to St. Catherines, in Ontario’s Niagara peninsula. With television, radio, recordings and regular appearances at Marineland, Walter became a beloved media personality and Canada’s polka superstar. He appeared in concert with Roy Clark, the Oakridge Boys, Ronnie Milsap, Ray Price, Mel Tillis, Brenda Lee, Slim Whitman, Tom T. Hall, Lawrence Welk, Myron Floren, and his close friend Frank Yankovic, America’s Polka King. For his contributions, Walter was one of the first inductees into the National Cleveland-Style Polka Hall of Fame. Recordings have delivered Walter’s bright and breezy polka style to fans around the world, ever since he first stepped up to a studio microphone in 1964. He will soon be releasing his 100th album. With this 80th Birthday CD, you’ll thrill to a digital re-mastering of one of his top-selling recordings along with a selection of bonus tracks. Two of Walter’s signature tunes, “Jo Ann Polka” and “Lee and Ann’s Polka,” highlight this special edition. His good buddy Joey Miskulin, best known as Joey, the Cow-Polka King, from the cowboy combo Riders in the Sky, makes an appearance on several songs. Pop this CD in your player and give a cheer for Walter Ostanek’s 80th year. What better way to pay tribute to Canada’s premier polka personality than to listen and dance as Walter gives his musical all on one of the finest recordings of his career. Živijo, Walter! Mnogo let! Joe Valencic, President National Cleveland-Style Polka Hall of Fame and Museum Release date: April 20, 2015 CD sales: National Cleveland-Style Polka Hall of Fame, Euclid, OH www.polkafame.com Walter Ostanek, St. Catharines, ON www.walterostanekband.com www.polkaconnection.com www.jbswart.nl www.polkas.nl --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Walter Ostanek & His Band (heard on this album) include: IPA & Cleveland-Style Polka Hall of Famer Walter Ostanek, "IPA HOF 1983" - Piano accordion, button box IPA & Cleveland-Style Polka Hall of Famer Joey Miskulin, "IPA HOF 1999" - Piano accordion, piano Murray McFadgen - Vocals Stan Szymkow - Saxophone Norm Kobal - Saxophone Ken Senko - Banjo, guitar Richard Ostanek - Bass Bob Secord - Drums Mark Habat - Drums