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Wednesday 13 January 2021

King Karol

Karol Duchoň was one of the biggest Slovak pop stars of the 1970s and early 1980s. He could really belt out a tune and was often referred to as "the Slovak Tom Jones". If you listen to the first of today's selections, his take on "Soul Man", you can see why. 

Karol would no doubt have been a star for much longer if he had not sadly left us at the tender age of 35 due to his wild ways. As his shakily translated Wikipedia entry puts it "He lived fast, he didn't want to miss or experience anything. He was a heavy alcoholic and this was a sign of his early departure. He died on 5 November 1985 in Bratislava".

"Kos Zázrakov" - Karol Duchoň

"Kreslím Si Ta Ráno i Večer" - Karol Duchoň

Here's Karol wowing local office workers with his funky backing band. I don't know their name but my guess would be the Beige Brothers. 

3 comments:

  1. Is that his auntie and cousins as backing singers?

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  2. Very enjoyable tracks today Ernie. Is that second a cover, it somehow seems familiar. Or am I talking nonsense?

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    1. If it is a cover they're not owning up to it, as it is credited to Peter Smékal and Tomáš Janovic. But I couldn't rule it out.

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