Fun Bio Facts

Favorite color:
Blue, but brown runs a close second.

Favorite food:
Steak medium well with baked potato.

Least liked food:
Not too much that I don't like...tripe soup.

Favorite movie:
Godfather series and James Bond films.

Favorite album:
Too many to mention!

Favorite Polka:
Just because, I do it every week.

Sign:
Taurus (April 20)

Walter Ostanek was born in Duparquet, Quebec. When he was a child, his parents moved to Ontario where Walter can remember them working both day and night to support the family. "We were so poor," Walter says, "my dad would make my hockey sticks by hand so I could play street hockey with the other children in our neighborhood."

Just starting out, music couldn't make ends meet, so Walter took a job at Canadian Tire. It was his work in automotives that has probably led to his fascination with cars. Driving down the highway, Walter is sure to identify any vintage automobile that is passed on the road or found rusting in a farmer's field.

In the midst of a music career that really shows no sign of slowing down, Walter continues to tour steadily and spends most of his sunny summer days at Canada's MarineLand where his band has been a feature attraction for over a quarter century.

Over the course of his career, Walter has had 20 Grammy nominations, and has taken home the award on three occasions. Canada's Polka King recorded over 95 albums and  has worked with Mel Tillis, Roy Clark, Ronnie Milsap, the Oak Ridge Boys, Slim Whitman, and his hero, Frankie Yankovic. "He is the reason I'm here," Walter declares, while on stage at Canada's last grand ballroom, Danceland,  Manitou Beach Saskatchewan. "He is the reason we are all here."

When not performing, Walter is helps his son Richard run Ostanek's Music in St. Catharines, Ontario with his wife Irene. Walter's hobbies include a collection of over 200 accordions and an autograph collection that includes signatures from almost anyone who has played an instrument and performed on a stage...or strapped on a pair of skates and played in the NHL.