| Walter Ostanek |
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'''Ladislav Walter Ostanek, , 1935 in Duparquet, Quebec ), is a well known Accordion ist 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 . Performing Cleveland-Style Polkas And Waltzes . He could be heard frequently on the radio in St. Catharines and Welland . In 1963, Ostanek and his band, Walter Ostanek 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 Slovenia n decent. Ostanek hosted his own television shows (one for fourteen consecutive years), radio shows, and polka tours. He has appeared on the '' The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson '', '' Phil Donahue '', '' Tommy Hunter Show '', Cleveland's '' Polka Varieties '', and his own award-winning TV specials and telethons. He has appeared in concert with Roy Clark , The Oakridge Boys , Ronnie Milsap , Ray Price , Mel Tillis , Brenda Lee , Slim Whitman , Tom T. Hall , T. G. Shepard , Tommy Hunter , Lawrence Welk , Myron Floren , Frank Yankovic and Weiss Blau. Walter Ostanek is a member of in Niagara Falls, Ontario , the other during Oktoberfest in Kitchener, Ontario . He is also the subject of the 2006 polka parody, the Shmenge Brothers . {Link without Title} Walter currently resides in St. Catharines, Ontario. He is the owner of the popular music store "Ostanek's". He still plays locally. AWARDS AND RECOGNITION
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