Karel (je) Gott - The singer with the golden voice
Karel Gott is a sensation like no other in this part of the world. He is considered the most successful male vocalist in Czechoslovakia and the Czech Republic. On July 14 this year, Gott celebrated his 80th birthday. Yesterday, October 1, 2019, we lost him to acute leukemia.
If you can imagine Elvis Presley, Tom Jones, Frank Sinatra and maybe Neil Diamond all rolled into one, that is how I would describe Karel Gott, or Kaja, as he was affectionately known to his fans. He had it all: the looks, the voice, the charm, and the style. And he could sing across multiple genres, too. Gott won Czechoslovakia's and the Czech Republic's top music awards (Český Slavík--Czech Nightingale) a total of 41 times. He achieved measurable success outside Czechoslovakia, especially in the German-speaking countries. Even Poland has heard of Karel Gott. He supposedly sold up to 100 million records worldwide, with about a quarter of those in the German-speaking world.
Karel Gott was born in Plzeň (Pilsen, in the western part of what was Czechoslovakia (now the Czech Republic) on July 14, 1939, and since the age of six he has lived in Prague. Initially, he wanted to study art, but he failed the entrance exams to UMPRUM (Academy of Arts, Architecture, and Design) and so he began training as an electrician instead. He was working as an electrician in the late 1950s when he tried out at an amateur singing contest. However, he was not very successful. Later, he decided to train as a professional singer at the Prague Conservatory of Music, where he studied opera. Because he was also interested in jazz and popular musical trends, he was also trained in more contemporary musical styles.
By 1962, Gott was singing professionally and released his first single on the Supraphon label: a duet with jazz singer Vlasta Průchová. He continued to take private singing lessons, despite leaving the conservatory, until 1966. As his popularity grew during the 1960s, he began composing his own songs and touring the country and abroad. By 1967, he was performing in Cannes, and a bit later, in Las Vegas. Gott went on to enjoy popularity on television, and he has made several appearances in films, often appearing as himself.
In 1990, Karel Gott decided to retire from performing and gave a farewell tour. However, the tour was so popular that he was forced to reconsider his decision. By 1996, he re-established his popularity and won the Český Slavík every year but for one or two. He was awarded the Distinguished Merit Award by the Czech government in 2009, and in 2014, he released his autobiography in German Zwischen zwei Welten (Between Two Worlds).
Despite being diagnosed with cancer in 2015, Karel Gott continued to remain active almost until his death. He enjoyed painting, and he exhibited his works in various galleries throughout Europe. He leaves behind two adult daughters from previous relationships and two younger daughters with his current spouse. This past year, Gott released a new song, sung as a duet, with his 13 year-old daughter Charlotte Ella Gottová. In less than a single day after its release, the YouTube video got hundreds of thousands of views, proving that the unmistakable voice of Karel Gott is still as popular as ever. Yes, Karel je Gott -- Karel is God. Kaja, may you rest in eternal peace.
A few Karel Gott singles from my collection