In
Memoriam: In
Memoriam:
Frank Yankovic
On a bright, warm, and sunny day befitting his
music, Polka King Frankie Yankovic was laid to rest. In the
Collinwood neighborhood proud of his fame, signs that read,
"Free Parking for the King", greeted an estimated 300
cars that processed from the Zele Funeral Home to St. Mary
Catholic Church.
The
The funeral Mass began at 11AM with St. Mary pastor Fr. John
Kumse concelebrating the Rite of Christian Burial with two
well-known "polka priests". The Mass included three
eulogies (by Yankovic grandchildren and polka promoter Tony
Petkovsek ) and traditional English, Slovenian, and Latin songs.
The Ave Maria was sung by Cleveland celebrity Rocco
Scotty.
An accordion
serenade honored the casket as it left the church for the hearse,
and Frank's wife Ida, the families, and the 700 Mass attendees
happily sang Just Because and the Blue Skirt Waltz in
tribute. Frank had told Ida he wanted no tears at his passing,
and the singing continued all the way to Calvary Cemetery, where
250 mourners celebrated Yankovic's life in song. 
Ida Yankovic
403 Ashwood Court
Greensburg, PA 15601
(724) 771-4754
Top Left: The King is serenaded on his final road trip.
Middle Right: Wife Ida,
comforted by grandson
Matt Smodic, arrives at St. Mary Catholic Church.
Below: Ida singswith
family members and friends.
Above: Fr. John Kumse, St. Mary pastor, incenses the casket during Mass.
Frankie Yankovic 1915-1998
FRANK YANKOVIC, "America's Polka King," is
personally responsible for catapulting Slovenian Cleveland-Style
Polkas from an obscure ethnic art form into national prominence as
a mainstay of American musical culture.
Beginning his professional music career nearly sixty years ago,
Frank began promoting Cleveland-Style Polkas nationally after
World War II and, in the process of dedicating his life to this
endeavor, has literally been "on the road" ever since.
Of course, Frank's greatest triumphs were his 2 million-seller
hits, "Just Because" in 1948 followed shortly by the
even-bigger "Blue Skirt Waltz." At that time, gold
records were a rarity for any artist, let alone a purveyor of
polkas. In recognition of the long and successful career that
ensued, Frank received the first Grammy Award in the polka
category in 1986.
In a lifetime of barnstorming and whistle-stops, Frank has
appeared in major ballrooms throughout the United States
performing side-by-side with the likes of Duke Ellington, Spike
Jones, and Bob Hope. His travels have taken him from regular
engagements on the West Coast/Nevada Circuit including Las Vegas,
Reno, and Lake Tahoe, to remote auditoriums in the far reaches of
Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania.
Frank's prolific recording career began on his own
"Yankee" label before his rise to prominence. Later, in
1946, Frank signed with Columbia Records to commence what would
turn out to be a twenty-seven year relationship followed by
contracts with RCA and Polygram Records.
Likewise, Frank has established a proud
record of promoting Cleveland-Style Polkas on national television
appearing with David Frost, Fay Emerson, Patti Page, Kate Smith,
Arthur Godfrey, Jackie Gleason, Doris Day, Phil Donahue, Johnny
Carson, and Lawrence Welk.
Frank's very successful approach has been to make everyone
comfortable with Cleveland-Style music by translating the
original Slovenian lyrics to English and applying the traditional
Anglo-European polka beat while retaining the beautiful Slovenian
melodies as a base.
In deference to his Slovenian heritage
and constituency, however, Frank always performs at least one
polka in his native tongue. Over the years, the result has been
to share our beautiful ethnic heritage with literally millions of
happy folks who might otherwise have never had the opportunity.
In Frank's own words, "Polkas make you forget your
troubles.. . it's the happiest music this side of heaven."
What else needs to be said ?