Jacek Kaczmarski
Jacek Kaczmarski (March 22, 1957, Warsaw - April 10, 2004, Gdansk) was a Polish singer, songwriter, poet and author. He was considered a voice of Solidarity for his commitment to the fight for freeing Poland from the communist rule. His protest songs criticized the regime and appealed to traditions of patriotic resistance to past oppression of Polish people. He remains to be best known for songs on social and political themes ("Mury" (Walls), "Obława" (Wolf hunt).
He made his debut in 1977 on Student Song Festival, where he was awarded first prize for his work "Obława" ('Wolf hunt'). In 1980 he won 2nd prize of Opole Festival for "Epitafium dla Włodzimierza Wysockiego" (Epitaph for Vladimir Vysotsky'). After the imposition of the martial law in Poland Kaczmarski chose to emigrate (1981 - 1990). From 1982 he was an editor and journalist with Radio Free Europe, where he had his own broadcast "A Quarter with Jacek Kaczmarski".
After his return to Poland (after Round Table and downfall of communist rule in Poland) he toured the country with his friend, artist Zbigniew Łapiński. The tour was recorded and released ('Live') and it achieved Gold album status in 2001. His other albums included "Mury" ('Walls'), "Nasza klasa" ('Our class'), "Raj" ('Paradise'), "Muzeum" ('Museum'), "Pochwała Łotrowstwa" ('Praise for villainess'), "Wojna Postu z Karnawałem" ('A war of Fast with Carnival').
Kaczmarski was known not only for his politically motivated lyrics but also for characteristic (very dynamic, sometimes even aggressive) acoustic guitar playing and expressive performance. He performed before contrastingly different audiences - to groups of friends in their homes and campus venues to big concert halls in Poland, Europe and America.
Kaczmarski suffered from cancer of the larynx which was attributed to his heavy smoking. After the diagnosis had been made he couldn't afford the costs of continuing the treatment. In response a nationwide fundraising campaign was organized.
He died in a hospital in Gdansk.