Download Free Karel Gott * Songs

Karel Gott music biography continued...

Prague since age 6. Early in life, Gott developed and interest in music and studied opera and voice at the Prague Conservatory. He released his first single, a duet with jazz singer Vlasta Pruchova, on Supraphon Records in 1962. In 1963 Gott was offered a place at the recently founded Prague Semafor theater, which was then at the forefront of the emerging Czechoslovakian pop music scene A year later his first solo single appeared, a Czech version of Henry Mancini's "Moon River," as well as his song Oèi snìhem zaváté (Eyes Covered by Snow), which became the year's best-selling record. Shortly afterwards, Gott received the first of twenty-six (Golden Nightingale) awards, given to the most popular artist of the year. By this time a major Czech star, Gott established the Apollo Theater in 1965, appearing in the programs "Pilgrimage for Two" and "Evening Prayer" while building a repertoire with his orchestra. He got an even bigger break in 1967 when he was signed by Polydor/Deutsche Grammophon. In the same year, Gott got a taste of the overseas market by spending six months performing daily at the New Frontier Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.



Between 1967 and 2000, Polydor released over 125 albums and 72 singles for Karel Gott in German speaking countries in Europe. During this period, Gott's international stature also grew by leaps and bounds. In 1985, he was awarded the title of National Artist for his exceptional artistic contributions. In 1986, he received Polydor's Golden Needle, which up until then had only ever been given to Leonard Bernstein and Herbert von Karajan. In the early 90s Gott dropped out of the music scene to pursue his other love—painting—but the late 90s saw renewed interest in his career. He remains popular in a number of countries and has performed widely outside The Czech Republic, in countries as varied as the United Arab Emirates, China, Cuba, and Japan. Sometimes known as the Frank Sinatra of the East, Gott has proven that talent knows no geographic bounds.