Eddie Forman Orchestra

Friday, Aug. 1
5-6 p.m.
The Morning Call Festplatz

Saturday, Aug. 2
12-2 p.m.
The Morning Call Festplatz

About Eddie Forman Orchestra

Eddie was born on June 3, 1953 in Hadley, Massachusetts. His parents, both of Polish descent, exposed him to polka music at an early age. They were strong believers in keeping the Polish traditions and Polish music alive in the family. As a young boy, Eddie was inspired to play the accordion by watching Myron Floren on the Lawrence Welk show. At the age of 5, when he began taking accordion lessons from two local accordionists his accordion was bigger than he was.

Growing up with Happy Louie as his mentor, Eddie was inspired by his musicianship and professionalism. This encouraged Eddie to start up his own band, The Eddie Forman Orchestra in August of 1968 at the age of 15. Persistence and perseverance were Eddie's driving force behind his success.

It is Eddie's love for music and his Polish heritage that has kept him in the polka business for 38 years. His band has appeared at many prominent Polka Festivals and Polka Weekends. Eddie, along with his wife Carol, organizes bus tours taking their large following of dedicated fans to various polka venues. They have also organized seven Caribbean polka cruises

Eddie graduated in 1976 from Westfield State College with a degree in music education. He has been a full-time music director at Hopkins Academy High School in Hadley , MA (his alma mater). He has more than 60% of the total school population involved in the music programs. Eddie has received prestigious awards for his contribution as a music educator. In 1997, he received the Distinguished Alumni Award from Hopkins Academy . Eddie has acquainted his students to the Polish heritage as every year his marching band participates in the Pulaski Day Parade in Northampton , Mass. , as well as having four former students play for their "band director" in the EFO.

The Eddie Forman Orchestra has one of the largest followings in the New England area. Eddie has been quoted as saying "It is people like you that have kept me playing for 38 years, and as long as you are here, so am I." Eddie credits not only his musical talents, but his followers, his wife Carol, and the musicians in his orchestra for his success. He is known for his standard polkas with Polish lyrics. He has one of the hardest working bands giving the fans an abundance of music.