Jiří Jelínek (trumpeter)
Encyclopedia
Jiří Jelínek was a Czech painter
, illustrator
, jazz
trumpeter and popular singer, one of the music legends of the Semafor Theatre in 1960s. His hoarse singing voice - similar to Louis Armstrong
's - earned him the nickname "The Czech Satchmo".
He studied painting and illustration as a pupil of František Tichý, but also showed early promise as a talented and skilful trumpeter. At first he worked as a professional painter and illustrator, and played in various amateur jazz ensembles, but in 1945 he began a part-time professional career as a trumpeter with the Karel Vlach
Orchestra and the Gustav Brom
Orchestra and began to use the distinctive, hoarse singing voice which later became one of his most notable characteristics. Jelínek left the Karel Vlach Orchestra and joined the Taneční orchestr Československého rozhlasu (Dance Orchestra of the Czechoslovak Radio), still dividing his time between his two part-time professional careers. In 1963 joined the Semafor Theatre as a replacement for Waldemar Matuška
of the successful Semafor duo Matuška/Pilarová
. In the event, both Matuška and Pilarová left to work with the Rokoko Theatre, and the Semafor's founders, Jiří Suchý
and Jiří Šlitr
, brought in Jana Malknechtová to partner Jelínek. Suchý and Šlitr composed "Motýl" (The Butterfly) for the duo. It became one of the best-selling recordings of its time. Jelínek sang other Semafor hits, including "Zčervená", "Bolí mě hlava" and Chlupatý kaktus. He also took an acting role in the 1964 film "Kdyby tisíc klarinetů". Jelínek admired (and convincingly imitated) the famous jazz trumpeter and singer Louis Armstrong, who he met during Armstrong's first visit to Prague
and to whom he dedicated the song "Hello Satchmo". In 1963 he left the Semafor Theatre to perform with his own sextet. In 1968 he was one of the few members of the Karel Duba
Orchestra to survive a tragic bus accident during their tour of Mongolia
. The incident left a permanent mark on Jelínek's state of mind. He gradually retired from music, devoted himself to painting and worked for Czech Railways
in Prague's Main railway station
until his death in 1984 in Prague.
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
, illustrator
Illustrator
An Illustrator is a narrative artist who specializes in enhancing writing by providing a visual representation that corresponds to the content of the associated text...
, jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
trumpeter and popular singer, one of the music legends of the Semafor Theatre in 1960s. His hoarse singing voice - similar to Louis Armstrong
Louis Armstrong
Louis Armstrong , nicknamed Satchmo or Pops, was an American jazz trumpeter and singer from New Orleans, Louisiana....
's - earned him the nickname "The Czech Satchmo".
Biography
Jelínek was born at Tisa u Žlutic.He studied painting and illustration as a pupil of František Tichý, but also showed early promise as a talented and skilful trumpeter. At first he worked as a professional painter and illustrator, and played in various amateur jazz ensembles, but in 1945 he began a part-time professional career as a trumpeter with the Karel Vlach
Karel Vlach
Karel Vlach was a Czech dance orchestra conductor and arranger.He founded his first orchestra in 1938. Many important composers, instrumentalists and arrangers of the Czech jazz scene gradually went through his band. In 1947-48 Vlach's orchestra cooperated with the V+W Theatre...
Orchestra and the Gustav Brom
Gustav Brom
Gustav Brom, was a Czech big band leader, arranger, clarinettist and composer. He achieved fame in Europe and abroad from the 1940’s right through to his death in 1995...
Orchestra and began to use the distinctive, hoarse singing voice which later became one of his most notable characteristics. Jelínek left the Karel Vlach Orchestra and joined the Taneční orchestr Československého rozhlasu (Dance Orchestra of the Czechoslovak Radio), still dividing his time between his two part-time professional careers. In 1963 joined the Semafor Theatre as a replacement for Waldemar Matuška
Waldemar Matuška
Waldemar Matuška was a Czech singer who became popular in his homeland during the 1960s and 1970s. In 1986, he emigrated to the United States.-Early career:...
of the successful Semafor duo Matuška/Pilarová
Eva Pilarová
Eva Pilarová - born on 9 August 1939 in Brno, is a Czech singer and actress. Four times winner of the Golden Nightingale in category singers in accordance to the reader's poll Czech Nightingale...
. In the event, both Matuška and Pilarová left to work with the Rokoko Theatre, and the Semafor's founders, Jiří Suchý
Jirí Suchý
Jiří Suchý is a Czech film actor, writer and stage actor. He also writes music. Currently he is the owner of the theatre Semafor in Prague where he has performed for many years and helped establish in 1959.-References:...
and Jiří Šlitr
Jiří Šlitr
Jiří Šlitr was a Czech songwriter, pianist, singer, actor and painter. Together with Jiří Suchý he significantly influenced Czech pop music and theatre in the 1960s.- Biography :...
, brought in Jana Malknechtová to partner Jelínek. Suchý and Šlitr composed "Motýl" (The Butterfly) for the duo. It became one of the best-selling recordings of its time. Jelínek sang other Semafor hits, including "Zčervená", "Bolí mě hlava" and Chlupatý kaktus. He also took an acting role in the 1964 film "Kdyby tisíc klarinetů". Jelínek admired (and convincingly imitated) the famous jazz trumpeter and singer Louis Armstrong, who he met during Armstrong's first visit to Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
and to whom he dedicated the song "Hello Satchmo". In 1963 he left the Semafor Theatre to perform with his own sextet. In 1968 he was one of the few members of the Karel Duba
Karel Duba
Karel Duba was a Czech guitarist, composer and bandleader. Duba was one of the first musicians to play electric guitar in Czechoslovakia. During his career, he collaborated with important exponents of Czech jazz and pop music...
Orchestra to survive a tragic bus accident during their tour of Mongolia
Mongolia
Mongolia is a landlocked country in East and Central Asia. It is bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south, east and west. Although Mongolia does not share a border with Kazakhstan, its western-most point is only from Kazakhstan's eastern tip. Ulan Bator, the capital and largest...
. The incident left a permanent mark on Jelínek's state of mind. He gradually retired from music, devoted himself to painting and worked for Czech Railways
Ceské dráhy
České dráhy or Czech Railways is the main railway operator of the Czech Republic. In 2010 its consolidated revenues reached CZK 41.0 bn...
in Prague's Main railway station
Praha hlavní nádraží
Praha hlavní nádraží is the largest and most important railway station in Prague in the Czech Republic. It was originally opened in 1871 and named Franz Joseph I after Franz Joseph I of Austria. During the First Republic and from 1945 to 1953 the station was called Wilson station after former...
until his death in 1984 in Prague.
Filmography
- Kdyby tisíc klarinetů (If a Thousand Clarinets) 1964
- Vratné lahve 2006 (song "Motýl" (The Butterfly), together with Jana Malknechtová)