Karel Duba
Encyclopedia
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. He died on a concert tour in Mongolia.
Duba began to appear at stage as a guitarist with dance orchestras. Following the liberation he performed as a member of various ensembles, The Film Symphonic Orchestra (FISYO
) among others. At the beginning of the 1960s he formed his own professional band. The ensemble used elements of jazz
, rock
and country
in their compositions. Karel Duba Ensemble was also the first Czech music group experimenting with electric guitars. A member of the ensemble and later successful songwriter and bandleader, bass-guitarist Karel Vágner, even called Duba the "first Czech who played electric guitar".
In the 1960s, Duba's band accompanied popular Czech singers, such as Josef Laufer, Karel Gott
, Yvonne Přenosilová, Karel Hála, Hana Hegerová
and Josef Zíma. They also recorded vinyl records for a major Czechoslovak label Supraphon
and performed on concert tours both in Czechoslovakia and abroad.
On 19 August 1968, the Karel Duba Ensemble, accompanied with other musicians, travelled to play in Mongolia
. On 21 August, the group decided to visit the Monument to Soviet Liberators in Ulan Bator. They went by bus, and according to the testimony of František Živný, a founding member of the band, the chauffeur had considerable problems with driving. According to his report, the brakes of the bus apparently failed in the upper part of a hill, and the bus began to back up to the left shoulder of the road. Following that, the uncontrolled bus fell into an abyss. Six members of the expedition, including the bandleader Karel Duba, were found dead.
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
, composer
Musical composition
Musical composition can refer to an original piece of music, the structure of a musical piece, or the process of creating a new piece of music. People who practice composition are called composers.- Musical compositions :...
and bandleader
Bandleader
A bandleader is the leader of a band of musicians. The term is most commonly, though not exclusively, used with a group that plays popular music as a small combo or a big band, such as one which plays jazz, blues, rhythm and blues or rock and roll music....
. Duba was one of the first musicians to play electric guitar
Electric guitar
An electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
in Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
. During his career, he collaborated with important exponents of Czech jazz and pop music. He died on a concert tour in Mongolia.
Biography
During German occupation of CzechoslovakiaGerman occupation of Czechoslovakia
German occupation of Czechoslovakia began with the Nazi annexation of Czechoslovakia's northern and western border regions, known collectively as the Sudetenland, under terms outlined by the Munich Agreement. Nazi leader Adolf Hitler's pretext for this effort was the alleged privations suffered by...
Duba began to appear at stage as a guitarist with dance orchestras. Following the liberation he performed as a member of various ensembles, The Film Symphonic Orchestra (FISYO
City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra
The City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra is a professional, philharmonic symphony orchestra, over 61 years old, predominantly it is composed of Czech and Slovak classical and jazz musicians...
) among others. At the beginning of the 1960s he formed his own professional band. The ensemble used elements of 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...
, rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
and country
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
in their compositions. Karel Duba Ensemble was also the first Czech music group experimenting with electric guitars. A member of the ensemble and later successful songwriter and bandleader, bass-guitarist Karel Vágner, even called Duba the "first Czech who played electric guitar".
In the 1960s, Duba's band accompanied popular Czech singers, such as Josef Laufer, Karel Gott
Karel Gott
Karel Gott is a Czech Schlager singer, and an amateur painter. He is considered as the most successful male singer in former Czechoslovakia and currently in the Czech Republic; he has being voted the Most Favorite Male Singer in the annual national pool Český slavík in total thirty-six times...
, Yvonne Přenosilová, Karel Hála, Hana Hegerová
Hana Hegerová
Hana Hegerová , is a leading Czechoslovakian singer, actress and uncrowned queen of Czechoslovakian chanson. Foreign critics call her "The Great Lady of Chanson", "The Piaf from Prague", and "The Chanteuse with a Slavic Soul"...
and Josef Zíma. They also recorded vinyl records for a major Czechoslovak label Supraphon
Supraphon
Supraphon Music Publishing is a Czech record label, it is oriented mainly towards publishing classical music, with an emphasis on Czech and Slovak composers.- History :...
and performed on concert tours both in Czechoslovakia and abroad.
On 19 August 1968, the Karel Duba Ensemble, accompanied with other musicians, travelled to play in 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...
. On 21 August, the group decided to visit the Monument to Soviet Liberators in Ulan Bator. They went by bus, and according to the testimony of František Živný, a founding member of the band, the chauffeur had considerable problems with driving. According to his report, the brakes of the bus apparently failed in the upper part of a hill, and the bus began to back up to the left shoulder of the road. Following that, the uncontrolled bus fell into an abyss. Six members of the expedition, including the bandleader Karel Duba, were found dead.