|
Ladislav Walter Ostanek (b. April 20, 1935 at Duperquet, Quebec)
Walter Ostanek is a well known accordionist from St. Catharines, Ontario where his family settled as a boy.
Young Walter received his first accordion as a gift in 1944. After several years, Ostanek became a popular entertainer in Southern Ontario. He could be heard frequently on the radio in St. Catharines and Welland.
In 1963, Ostanek and his band would record their first of many albums. Over his career, Ostanek would become known as Canada's Polka King. He has received three Grammy Awards and he has been nominated thirteen times. His style has been compared to America's Polka King, Frankie Yankovic of Cleveland. As was the late Yankovic, Walter Ostanek is of Slovenian decent.
Walter Ostanek is a member of Canada's Walk of Fame as well as the Polka Halls of Fame in Cleveland and Chicago.
|
