Ladislav John "Walter" Ostanek, CM [1] [2] (born 20 April 1935) is a Canadian musician. He is known as "Canada's Polka King." He has received twenty-one nominations for Grammy Awards and won three. [3]

The story of Walter Ostanek, “Canada’s Polka King”, begins in the small town of Duparquet, Quebec, where he was born Ladislav John Ostanek on April 20, 1935, of Slovenian heritage (descent). Who could have known then, that this young boy would become the world’s polka music ambassador.

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Apr 19, 2023 · So when one of my all-time favourite musicians, Canada's Polka King Walter Ostanek, was coming to TCU Place on a cold January night for Winterruption, I couldn't miss this show. Why? Because...

We’ve had the pleasure of recording well over 80 polka albums and polka videos since 1957. We’ve even been fortunate enough to be recognized three times by the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences with the highest honour in the music business, the Grammy Awards.

The story of “Canadaʼs Polka King”, Walter Ostanek begins in the small town of Duparquet, Quebec, where he was born Ladislav John Ostanek on April 20, 1935, of Slovenian heritage (decent).

Four years later, in 1951, Walter Ostanek formed his first Country and Western-Polka Band. After two years, he joined with Abbie Andrews & his Canadian Ranch Boys working on their radio show three times weekly. At the age of twenty-one, Walter once again formed his own group.

Dec 18, 2008 · Walter (b Ladislav John) Ostanek. Accordionist, composer, b Duparquet, near Rouyn, Que, of Yugoslavian parents, 20 Apr 1935. Raised in St Catharines, Ont, he began playing button accordion at nine and turned to piano accordion at 12.

Walter Ostanek is a living legend in the world of polka music. He is known to many as Canada's Polka King -- a title he has well-earned. During more than four long decades as a professional performer, he has made somewhere over 50 recordings, and earned a number of Grammy Awards and nominations.

Aug 1, 2021 · Born in Duparquet, Quebec, of Yugoslavian parents, Ostanek mastered the piano accordion by age 12. At 16, he formed a band and joined the union. Seventy years and more than 80 polka albums later—plus three Grammys, a star on its Walk of Fame, and a Member of the Order of Canada—he is Canada’s reigning polka king.