ANGIELSKIE TŁUMACZENIE BIOGRAFII JAROSŁAWA KUKULSKIEGO.
1944- 25.05 in Września, Jarosław Kukulski is born
He has graduated from Music High School in Poznań and the Instrumental Faculty of the State Higher Music Academy in oboe studio class (a diploma in 1967). At the same time he completed an internship in Poznańska Opera and the Philharmonic in Zielona Góra. A composer collaborated also with a cabaret ”Nurt” in Poznań.
1968- a Creator started up a big-beat band Waganci which will exist until 1972.
The Minister of National Defence Award for a song ”Wedding ring” (A. Zwierz) at the II Military Song Festival in Kołobrzeg. The song started a new tradition of giving Silver and Golden Ring as a prize.
1969- Anna Maria Szmeterling- in the future known as Anna Jantar, privately a wife of Jarosław Kukulski, joins the band
1970- participation with a song ”The night was coming” at the VIII National Festival of Polish Song in Opole. A performance, supported by Jan Ptaszyna-Wróblewski, leaves no impression. IV Soldiers’ Song Festival in Kołobrzeg turns out to be more favourable, where Waganci get prizes from the Ministers of National Defence and the Minister of Culture and Art.
15 VIII- Jarosław Kukulski and Anna Maria Szmeterling get married in the Registry Office in Poznań. The first hit of Waganci, ”What did I see in you”, maintaining its high position in the charts for a couple of months and taking for most of the time the leading place in the list ”A Rhtyhm Studio”, is considered to be ”A song of the year”.
11 IV 1971 The wedding ceremony took place in the St. Anne’s Church in Poznań. One of the witness was a composer and a friend of the couple- Lech Konopiński.
”Polish Recordings” release the first (and at the same time the last) album- ”a four” of Waganci with a hit ”What did I see in you”
1972- Jarosław Kukulski sets up a new band- Group 6
1973- at the XI National Festival of Polish Song in Opole in the concert ”Interpretations” Anna Jantar presents a song ”The most difficult is the first step” which becomes a hit very soon. However, in the jurors’ voting it takes only the last scoring position in the ranking- the sixth place. Moreover it becomes the most popular song of the summer and probably ”A song of the year” in the listeners’ voting.
1973- ”To be happy” wins a plebiscite for the Radio Song of the Month October.
1974- “A composer of the month“ according to “Non-Stop“.
“So much sun in the whole city“- for this song Anna Jantar gets ”An Audience Prize” at the XII National Festival of Polish Song in Opole in the concert of ”Premieres”, it also gets a title of the most popular song of the summer and ”A song of the year”. This song, performed by Betty Dorsey under the title ”Stay”, becomes a great hit in the Western Europe.
During the ”Premieres” at the Soldiers’ Song Festival Anna Jantar gives a performance with two songs, one of tchem composed by her husband ”When soldiers come back”.
III prize at the festival ”Coupe’d Europe” in Ville for the Polish band, comprising Anna Jantar who sang among others: her husband’s hit- ”The most difficult is the first step” in German, Marianna Wróblewska and Tadeusz Woźniak.
1975- A composer, together with Anna Jantar, Sława Przybylska and Diane Marschal starts a tournée in the biggest cities of Kanada, promoting a Polish song in an international programme. It’s been organised by Canadian and with the help of ”Pagart” and the Canadian agency ”Lewan Show”. During the performances in front of the audience and the Polish immigrant communities, radio presented songs of Jarosław Kukulski (i.a.: ”The most difficult is the first step” and ”To be happy”) and a 30-minute programme, broadcast in ten major TV stations, has been recorded for TV CBC. In May, a Creator travels to Canada again, where he gives concerts together with Wojciech Trzciński, Irena Santor, Vice Vukow, Richard Huet and Jan Lewandowski. The programme also turns out to be a great success.
”So much sun in the whole city“ (performed by Anna Jantar) is announced a hit of the Sopot’75 Festival in the readers plebiscite of ”The voice of the Coast”, it also wins again a title of ”A song of the year”. In the Sopot party a Singer presented also a second song of Jarosław Kukulski- ”A day of hope”.
”Let the ground be full of flowers”- II prize for the composition, I for an arrangement at the Schlagerfestival Drezno ’75.
”Mine, only mine”- the most popular piece of work, a first place among others on the list ”Hits from the Interstudio”, ”The charts of Non-Stop”. A song also scores III place in the plebiscite of the Polish Radio for a hit of the year and II place in the plebiscite of the weekly newspaper ”Panorama”. Jarosław Kukulski scores II place in the plebiscite of ”Panorama” for a composer of the year.
3 III 1976- a daughter of Anna Jantar and Jarosław Kukulski is born- Natalia. A song promoting second of Anna Jantar- ”For every smile” scores a second place in the plebiscite of ”Panorama” for ”A song of the year”. In a concert ”Tip-Top, that is instead of a hit” at the XIV National Festival of Polish Song in Opole, this hit among others is presented by the Artist. During the ”Polish Gala” at the XVI International Polish Festival in Sopot a Singer performs with this song and another composition of her husband- ”A white poem from you”.
Jarosław Kukulski becomes the most popular arranger of the year in the plebiscite of ”Panorama”, scores also second places in the composer’s category.
The plebiscite ”Synkopy” for ”A song of the year”:
IV:
1) ”Mine, only mine”;
4) ”A day without happy end”;
VII:
4) ”A day without happy end”;
10) ”Mine, only mine”;
IX:
6) ”A day without happy end”;
A summary at the end of a year:
7) ”A day without happy end”;
9) ”Mine, only mine”;
1976/1977- Jarosław Kukulski composes a musical setting to the film ”You won’t enjoy the peace” (dir. M. Waśkowski). One of the songs ”Who will tell us” becomes a big hit. The film is shown in the cinemas on the 28 of April 1978. An English company "Standard Music Library" buys the music from this film.
The Creator scores fourth place among the most popular composers of the year in the plebiscite of ”Panorama”.
A song performed by Waldemar Kocoń- ”Love, how much you can” scores the 3. place in the Radio Charts, being noted on this place for 11 weeks.
A song ”Love me, at least for a while” (K. Cwynar) achieves the second place in the radio ”Charts”, and maintains this position for 5 weeks.
”There is always someone waiting somewhere” scores a fifth place in the hit of the month October in the voting of the music editors of the Gama Studio.
1978- ”Disco ball” in January plebiscite of the Studio Gama scores a second place, according to the listeners, becomes a hit of ”Interstudio”.
”Who can miss” becomes a third song of the month of a listeners’ plebiscite of the Studio Gama in March, April and May
In ”The Premieres of the XIV Song Festival” in Zielona Góra, Anna Jantar presents a song ” ”There is always someone waiting somewhere”, in the „Concert of Friendship” performs ”The happiness of the most beautiful years”.
Jarosław Kukulski scores fifth place among the most popular composers of the year in the plebiscite of ”Panorama”.
1979- IX.- ”Where are those people now”- second place in the listeners’ voting and the sixth in the voting of the editors of the Gama Studio.
XI.- ”My only dream”- Warsaw- 1. place, Prague- 1. place, Helsinki- 3. place in the plebiscite of ”Interstudio”.
A song ”Where are now those people” scores a seventh place on the list of ”Non Stop”.
XII.- ”My only dream” becomes a hit of a month in Warsaw and Berlin in the plebiscite of ”Interstudio”.
A composer scores fourth place in the plebiscite of ”Panorama” for the most popular arranger of the year.
1980- ”A fate allowed us”- first place on the charts of the Polish Radio in winter time.
Two compositions of Jarosław Kukulski won the festiwal in Brighton (Great Britain). However an event has been cancelled because of the tragic air disaster from the 14.03.
During the fair Midem in Cannes, among 6 purchased Polish songs, there were 3 of the Jarosław Kukulski compositions.
”Things that the world gave us” (K. Krawczyk) ”A song of the year” in the plebiscite of readers ”Synkopy” and in the listeners’ plebiscite of Studio Gama.
A tenth place in the plebiscite of ”Panorama” for the most popular composer of the year.
1981- in May, in the Musical Theatre in Gdynia, a premiere of the musical ”A great world” with the music of Jarosław Kukulski took place. Libretto has been written by Stefan Went (he was also the director), Wiesław Kurnicki and Jonasz Kofta. With the outlay of the record label ”Tonpress” a disc with four recordings is being released. These are: ”Walking”, ”Only a moment counts”, ”I’m tired” (all from the repertoire of F. Andrzejczak) and ”How wonderfully could it be” (H. Frąckowiak).
Felicjan Andrzejczak presents a song ”I can see too much, I can hear too much”, in the concert of ”The Premieres” at the National Festival of Polish Song in Opole, for which he receives an honourable mention.
1982- ”Anna doesn’t live there anymore” (H. Frąckowiak)- a place nr 10 in the list of the Polish Radio One- 4 weeks in the record.
”Stars of a heart” (H. Frąckowiak)- place nr 1 in the charts of the Polish Radio One- 7 weeks in the record.
A composer leaves to the United States, where he performed in the Cardinal Club in Chicago with a band Trackt which he established on his own.
1984- ”Beatlemania story” (I. Jarocka)- first place in TV charts in May and June, 3rd place in the charts of the Polish Radio One- 5 weeks in the record.
”Tin Mr Alley” (H. Frąckowiak)- the third place in the charts of the Polish Radio One- 5 weeks in the record. This song scores 3rd place in the TV Charts. The song is performed by the Artist during the XXI International Polish Festival and at the XXI National Festival of Polish Song in Opole, together with the song ”Anna doesn’t live there anymore”. Eleni, in turn, performs a song ”Music has your name” on the stage in Opole.
”Everything or nothing” (B.Mec)- 10th position in the charts of the Polish Radio One, one week in the record
”What will dad say” (N. Kukulska)- 3rd place in the charts of the Polish Radio One- 5 weeks in the record.
1985- ”Paper moon” (H. Frąckowiak)- 2nd place in the charts of the Polish Radio One- 11 weeks in the record. A Singer takes part in the concert of ”The Premieres” on the XXI National Festival of Polish Song in Opole, where she performs this song. However the song is missed out in the jury voting.
”The third act” (F. Andrejczak)- 8th place in the charts of the Polish Radio One- 2 weeks in the records. A performer received III prize on the festiwal in Rostock for this song. Jarosław Kukulski composed music to the films: ”A sailing ship” (directed by S. Krysiński) and ”Devil’s fate” (directed by F. Trzeciak).
”Polish Recordings” releases the Composer’s original album, containing the most popular songs composed by Him in 70s and 80s. A phonographic company „Savitor” releases a longplay with the songs of Anna Jantar and Natalia Kukulska, composed by Jarosław Kukulski. A disc gains many purchasers in a short time, which brings with itself an offer to Natalia Kukulska, from the ”Polish Recordings”, of recording a ”big” album. An album, released in 1986, turns out to be a success and is named A Golden Album.
1986- ”An important question” (N. Kukulska and R. Wilhelmi)- 3rd place in the charts of the Polish Radio One- 5 weeks in the record.
A song ”Mr Small Car” (N. Kukulska and F. Andrzejczak) also wins acclaim. In the films: ”Comedians from the yesterday street” (directed by J. Kidawa), ”God’s friend” (W. Brzozowicz) and ”Mr Small Car and the terrible manor” (J. Kidawa) there is a musical setting composed by Jarosław Kukulski.
1987- ”An eccentric dance” (F. Andrzejczak)- 1st place in the charts of the Polish Radio One- 14 weeks in the record.
”A small handful of life” (K. Krawczyk)- 1st place on the charts of the Polish Radio One- 19 weeks in the record.
”A fire in the hour of hearts” (Eleni)- 1st place on the charts of the Polish Radio One- 16 weeks in the record.
”A small sad queen” becomes another children’s hit, composed by Kukulski for his daughter Natalia.
1987- an album ”Natalia’s fairytales” brings Natalia Kukulska, Jarosław Kukulski and Jerzy Dąbrowski a first Platinum Disc Award in the history of Polish music industry.
1987/1988- ”Seven nights” (F. Andrzejczak)- 4th place in the charts of the Polish Radio One- 11 weeks in the record.
1988- ”You have no right” (M.Borys)- 1st place in the charts of the Polish Radio One- 16 weeks in the record. The song is performed by Monika Borys during the Festival of Youth Song in Sopot and at the XXV ” Song Festival” in Zielona Góra in 1989.
”A hero of the year” (M. Borys)- 2nd place in the charts of the Polish Radio One- 11 weeks in the record.
1988/1989- ”A wall and pea” (M. Borys)- 2nd place in the charts of the Polish Radio One- 21 weeks in the record. The song presented at the XXVI ” Song Festival” in Zielona Góra, on the Festival of Youth Song in Sopot and on the XXVI at the National Festival of Polish Song in Opole.
”A request of the children” (N. Kukulska)- 6th place on the charts of the Polish Radio One- 7 weeks in the record.
1989- ”A golden king” (M. Borys)- 1st place in the charts of the Polish Radio One- 12 weeks in the record. ”An Audience Prize” on the XXVI the National Festival of Polish Song in Opole. The hit is performed again by Monika Borys at the XXVII National Festival of Polish Song in Opole with a song ”A sweet lady”.
A son of Monika Borys and Jarosław Kukulski, Piotr, comes to the world. Between 1989-1991 Jarosław Kukulski performs a musical chief of the Festival of Youth Song in Sopot (1989).
1989/1990- ”A sweet lady” (M. Borys)- 2nd place in the charts of the Polish Radio One- 14 weeks in the record.
During the XXVII National Festival of Polish Song in Opole a concert commemorating Anna Jantar was organised. Few songs composed by Jarosław Kukulski was presented there: ”The most difficult is the first step” (J. Jaszkowska), ”For every smile” (Eleni), ”My only dream” (M. Borys), ”A day of hope” (M. Szcześniak), ”A fate allowed us” (E. Dębicka, B. Mec) and together “So much sun in the whole city“ and ”There is always someone waiting somewhere”.
”What did I see in you” (M. Durecka)- 1st place in the charts of the Polish Radio One- 11 weeks in the record. A second place in the competition for ”A song of the year 1990” in the plebiscite of ”Panorama”.
1990/1991- ”You will rescue me” (M. Borys)- 1st place in the charts of the Polish Radio One- 11 weeks in the record.
1991- ”Dance with me” (M. Borys)- 3rd place in the charts of the Polish Radio One- 10 weeks in the record.
”I don’t feel sorrow over my tears” (M. Borys)- 7th place in the charts of the Polish Radio One- 9 weeks in the record.
”Your allotment” (M. Borys and J. Kukulski)- 5th place in the charts of the Polish Radio One- 5 weeks in the record. The song is performer by a duet during the XXVIII National Festival of Polish Song in Opole.
At the XXVII International Polish Festival in Sopot Monika Borys presents two songs- ”A sweet lady” and ”Dance with me”.
The composer arranges Christmas carols for an album recorded by Natalia Kukulska, he also plays the keyboard instruments. A disc achieved a status of A Multiple Platinum Award.
1994- a song ”Hungry years” (N. Kukulska) scores a high place in the plebiscite ”Musical Channel Number One”.
”Polish Recordings” release a compact disc with the most popular songs of the Composer. Jarosław Kukulski arranged 12 songs (himself and together with Aleksander Nowacki) from the period of the Second World War for an album ”A HA soldier”, coming from an order of the General Board’s of the HA in London.
1996- during the International Polish Festival in Sopot Natalia Kukulska presents a song ”A hand”. The song appears very often in the charts, scoring high places. The song is an announcement of the first mature album of Natalia Kukulska, for which Jarosław Kukulski composes a couple of songs ”I will be you, you will be me”, ”Before the sunrise”, ”A limit of hope”). He is also a co-producer of an album.
1997- II prize of Jury and An Audience Prize at the International Polish Festival in Sopot ”The more of you, the less of you” (N. Kukulska). The song scores first places in most of the charts, where it remains in the same place for a several weeks. On the album ”Pulse”, from which it comes, there are 2 more compositions of Jarosław Kukulski (”What would be” and ”Eyelids cover the world”).
1998- a ”Play-box’98” prize in the Plebiscite of the Radio for the song ”The more of you, the less of you” (III place)
1999- another new compact disc with the greatest hits of the Composer appears on the market. It’s titled: ”Unforgettable hits of Jarosław Kukulski”.
During the National Festival of Polish Song in Opole Natalia Kukulska performs a song “So much sun in the whole city“.
2000- On the occasion of the 80. birthday of the Pope John Paul II Jarosław Kukulski composes a song ”From the depth of the hearts” to the words of Jacek Cygan. The song at the special concert is performed by Natalia Kukulska.
2004- Jarosław Kukulski is awarded (by Aleksander Kwaśniewski) with the Order of Polonia Restituta. Also, he receives a title of a freeman of the town of Września- his family town. Another song of the composer ”Beyond the horizon” appears on the album ”Make-ups” by Eva Betla.
2005- the Universal Music Poland company releases two-disc constituting the summing up of the 35- years of the Composer’s work. The first album comprised of the most popular recordings from the repertoire of among others Anna Jantar, Halina Frąckowiak, Felicjan Andrzejczak, the second comprised of the songs composed for Natalia Kukulska.
2007- Another songs of the composer appear on the albums of Irena Jarocka ”Small things” (”Wave” and ”I’m sorry”) and of Michał Bajor ”The other fairytale” (”A quarter of a ballad, a half of a ballad”).
2008- A song ”It should have been like that” appears on the reedition of an album ”Sexi Flexi” of Natalia Kukulska
2009-on the 100. Anniversary of Forest Opera House in Sopot, Natalia Kukulska performs two songs composed by Jarosław Kukulski- ”The more of you, the less of you” and “So much sun in the whole city“.
2010- Jarosław Kukulski died on the 13th of September at the age of 66.
2011- in January an album of Piotr Polk ”My film” with another compositions of Jarosław Kukulski appears. ”Our issues” and ”Don’t remember me”- these are the last released songs in a very rich biography of the composer.
30 September- right after the first death anniversary of the composer- an album ”A small handful of life” is released. On three albums you can find songs performer by Anna Jantar (CD 1), different singers (CD 2) and Natalia Kukulska (CD 3). Altogether 60 compositions which are released together with personal memories of a daughter, Natalia, which are completed with a great amount of photos from a family album.
2012- On the 3rd of June, on the initiative of the Centre of Polish Song in Opole within the scope of opolski festiwal, a concert ”A small handful of life” took place- it was a commemoration of Anna Jantar and Jarosław Kukulski. Natalia Kukulska, who supervised a concert, invited Adam Sztaba- an author of all arrangements, Bartek Prokopowicz- a director, and many other Artists, sometimes not so obvious, to collaborate on this amazing concert. The Artists showed the variety of songs in the repertoir. The exceptional film material with personal reminiscence of Friends of Anna Jantar and Jarosław Kukulski added splendour to the concert. The concert- afterwards- was broadcast by TVP.
Half a year later- on the 4. of December- a DVD+ CD ”A small handful of life” appeared. The recording of the concert in the audio version and DVD, on which apart from the concert you can find a much longer- lasting about 2.5 hours- the recording of the reminiscence of Friends of Jarosław Kukulski and Anna Jantar. Additionally on the album you can find a film showing the preparings to the concert which are narrated by Natalia Kukulska and Adam Sztaba.
The memory remains…
TŁUMACZYŁA KAMILA ANDRYSZCZAK