Jan Lewandowski built a “polka empire” from his base in Hazleton, Pennsylvania, only to watch it crumble after his arrest on fraud charges. Lewandowski’s rise and fall is played for laughs in The Polka King, starring Jack Black as the flamboyant Polish émigré who attracted legions of polka fans — and fleeced some of them as he tried desperately to keep his business enterprises afloat. Article Continued BelowAn exuberant performer costumed in sequins, Lewandowski and his polka band were popular on the festival circuit throughout the 1980s and ‘90s. Critical acclaim came by way of a 1995 Grammy nomination for best polka album for Jan Lewan and His Orchestra. The Polka King, based on a 2009 documentary about Lewandowski, could boost his profile if not fatten his wallet.

Source: thestar January 01, 2018 20:15 UTC