"America's Polka King”
After his time in the armed forces, Yankovic hit the national scene when he earned two platinum singles for "Just Because" (1947) and "Blue Skirt Waltz" (1949). He won a Grammy Award in 1986 for his album 70 Years of Hits, making him the first Polka category winner.
Frank John Yankovic (July 28, 1915 – October 14, 1998) was an American accordion player and polka musician. Known as "America's Polka King,” Yankovic was considered the premier artist to play in the Slovenian style during his long career. Frank was born on July 28, 1915, in Davis, West Virginia, and was raised in the Collinwood neighborhood on Cleveland's East Side.
While living in Cleveland, he became intrigued by the brass bands that played at Slovenian social functions. Yankovic acquired an accordion at age 9, and by the late 1920s, in his early teenage years, he was a working musician, playing for community events.
Yankovic enlisted in the armed forces in 1943 and cut numerous records while on leave prior to his departure for Europe. He fought in the Battle of the Bulge, where a severe case of frostbite nearly required his hands and feet amputation. Fortunately, he was able to beat the resulting gangrene before that became necessary and was awarded a Purple Heart. The doctors urged him to have his fingers amputated, but he refused, as that would end his music career.
After his time in the armed forces, Yankovic hit the national scene when he earned two platinum singles for "Just Because" (1947) and "Blue Skirt Waltz" (1949). He won a Grammy Award in 1986 for his album 70 Years of Hits, making him the first Polka category winner.
Yankovic died on October 14, 1998, at the age of 83. He is buried in Cleveland's Calvary Cemetery, where hundreds of friends, family, loyal fans, and fellow musicians attended his memorial service. Yankovic’s legacy will not be forgotten, including the 30 million records sold during his lifetime.
