Marek Grechuta
{{Short description|Polish singer}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Marek Grechuta
| image = Marek Grechuta.jpg
| caption = Marek Grechuta (1980)
| image_size = 200
| background = solo_singer
| birth_name =
| alias =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1945|12|10|df=y}}
| birth_place = Zamość, Poland
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2006|10|9|1945|12|10|df=y}}
| death_place = Kraków, Poland
| origin =
| instrument = Piano, vocals
| genre = Sung poetry, Progressive rock
| occupation = Singer-songwriter, pianist
| years_active = 1967–2006
| label =
| associated_acts =
| website = {{URL|www.marekgrechuta.pl}}
}}
Marek Michał Grechuta (10 December 1945 – 9 October 2006) was a Polish singer, songwriter, composer, and lyricist.
Early life
Grechuta was born on 10 December 1945 in Zamość, Poland. He studied architecture at Tadeusz Kościuszko University of Technology in Kraków.{{cite news|url=https://culture.pl/en/artist/marek-grechuta |title=Marek Grechuta |access-date=February 16, 2020}}
Career
While studying at university, he met the composer Jan Kanty Pawluśkiewicz. Together, they founded the student cabaret Anawa in 1967. In the same year, Grechuta was placed second in the VI National Contest of Student Musicians (VI Ogólnopolski Konkurs Piosenkarzy Studenckich) and received an award for the album "Tango Anawa", with lyrics by him and music by Jan Kanty Pawluśkiewicz. In 1968, he won several awards at the Festival of Polish Music in Opole.{{cite news|url=https://culture.pl/en/artist/marek-grechuta |title=Marek Grechuta |access-date=February 16, 2020}}
In 1969, Grechuta played a minor role in Andrzej Wajda's film Hunting Flies. In 1971, he left Anawa and founded the band WIEM (W Innej Epoce Muzycznej, In a Different Musical Era; note that wiem means I know in Polish).{{cite news|url=https://culture.pl/en/artist/marek-grechuta |title=Marek Grechuta |access-date=February 16, 2020}}
Grechuta had many popular hits, often characterized by poetic and literary elements. Along with P. Birula and K. Szwajgier, he co-authored the music for Exodus (written by L. A. Moczulski) at the STU Theatre in Kraków (1974), and co-wrote the musical adaptation of Stanisław Ignacy Witkiewicz's Szalona lokomotywa (The Crazy Locomotive) with K. Jasiński and J. K. Pawluśkiewicz in 1977.{{cite news|url=https://culture.pl/en/artist/marek-grechuta |title=Marek Grechuta |access-date=February 16, 2020}}
In 2003, Grechuta collaborated with the group Myslovitz and re-recorded their older song "Kraków". His song "Dni, których nie znamy" is commonly regarded as the unofficial anthem of the football club Korona Kielce.{{Cite web |title=Ważne są dni, których jeszcze nie znamy |url=https://www.korona-kielce.pl/w/wa%C5%BCne-s%C4%85-dni-kt%C3%B3rych-jeszcze-nie-znamy |access-date=2025-05-28 |website=Korona Kielce |language=pl-PL}}
Personal life
In 1970, Grechuta married his wife, Danuta. They had a son, Łukasz.
He died on 9 October 2006 in Kraków and was buried in the Rakowicki Cemetery.
Discography
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- [https://archive.today/20130416092557/http://www.culture.pl/web/english/resources-music-full-page/-/eo_event_asset_publisher/eAN5/content/marek-grechuta Marek Grechuta] at culture.pl
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Category:Polish male composers
Category:Sung poetry of Poland
Category:Burials at Rakowicki Cemetery
Category:Polish cabaret singers
Category:Recipients of the Gold Medal for Merit to Culture – Gloria Artis
Category:Commanders of the Order of Polonia Restituta
Category:Officers of the Order of Polonia Restituta