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Polka Eddie keeps heritage alive
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Neighbors | Grace Wyler .Eddie Vallus, 73, has been playing the accordion since 1948. Vallus, a Grammy Award nominee, has written over 48 polkas and waltzes.
By GRACE WYLER gwyler@vindy.com
After over 60 years of experience playing the accordion, Poland resident Eddie Vallus, 73, is a part of local music history.
Vallus was born in Youngstown in 1936, one of nine children of Katherina and Joseph Vallus, a steelworker from Czechoslovakia.
Vallus, the second youngest, began playing the accordion at age 12. Given his Slovak heritage, it was only natural that he learned to play the Slovenian-style polka music from his parents’ home country.
Vallus spent much of his adolescence playing in polka bands at weddings and school functions.
In 1953, Vallus joined the Johnny Butchko Band, which began playing on local television. The group’s regular Sunday show, “Polka Party,” was the first live show to air on Youngstown’s Channel 27.
Vallus started his own polka band — the first incarnation of the Eddie Vallus Band — in 1963. The group, which played together for 18 years, played dance clubs, parties and weddings throughout the Youngstown area.
EVB II, as Vallus’ second band is known, formed in 1993. The five band members play polka masses at local churches, and also play rock classics from the 1950s and 1960s.
“We were around when those songs were the hits,” Vallus said. “There is almost 200 years of experience between us.”
Vallus has recorded 12 albums and written over 48 polkas and waltzes for his family and friends.
“Around here, I am known as the ‘Waltz King,’” Vallus said. “Nobody else in the area has written as many waltzes as I have.”
In addition to writing music for friends and family, Vallus wrote a song for Youngstown in 1985, titled “Y-Town Youngstown” — the first song written about the city in almost 200 years. The song was used at Youngstown State University athletic events.
His band has also recorded songs for the Cleveland Browns and Kelly Pavlik.
Vallus has been awarded various distinctions throughout his musical career.
A charter member of the Pennsylvania-Ohio Polka Pals, Vallus recorded a waltz for POPPS’ 1989 Grammy-nominated album. He was recognized as POPPS “Man of the Year” in 1993.
He was inducted into the Cleveland Polka Hall of Fame in 2003. He serves on the board for the Hall of Fame and wrote the musical arrangement for the Hall of Fame’s annual awards ceremony.
Vallus teaches music from his home, and also helps organize POPPS educational assemblies at local schools to ensure that younger generations learn about their ethnic music heritage.
“We are trying to keep the ethnic culture alive,” he said.