Marika Gombitová facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Marika Gombitová
Singer at Neoluxor book store in Prague, Czech Republic on 28 November 2016.
Born	Mária Gombitová (1956-09-12) 12 September 1956 (age 68) Turany nad Ondavou, CSSR
Occupation	singer-songwriter musician author
Years active	1975–present
Musical career
Genres	Pop rock electronic
Instruments	Piano keyboard guitar harmonica bongos vocals
Labels	OPUS Jumbo Universal Monitor
Associated acts	Modus Lehotský Žbirka Lučenič Hammel Patejdl
Signature

Marika Gombitová (born September 12, 1956) is a famous Slovak singer, songwriter, and musician. She first became known as a singer in the band Modus. Later, she started her own solo career.

Her first solo song, "Boľavé námestie", came out in 1977. She became very popular with her hit song "Študentská láska" in 1978. Her first album, Dievča do dažďa, was released in 1979. The main song from this album, "Vyznanie", won several music awards, including one at the Intervision Song Contest in Poland in 1980. This song was even called "The Hit of the Century" in her country in 2007.

Before her second album, Môj malý príbeh (1981), Marika had a serious car accident. This accident meant she had to use a wheelchair, possibly for the rest of her life. But Marika was strong and returned to singing. Her comeback album, Slnečný kalendár (1982), continued her pop-rock sound. She then explored other music styles. Her album Mince na dne fontán (1983) sold very well. Her next album, №5 (1984), showed her trying out electronic music and received great reviews.

Marika continued to have success with her synth-pop albums like Voľné miesto v srdci (1986) and Ateliér duše (1987). These albums had many radio hits and led to sold-out concerts. Her album Kam idú ľudia? (1990) had a more rock sound. Before taking a break from public life, she released her last studio album of pop songs, Zostaň (1994).

Marika Gombitová is seen as a very important person in Slovak music. She has won many awards and is one of the most successful solo artists in Slovak music history. Six of her nine albums are listed among The 100 Greatest Slovak Albums of All Time. In Slovakia, she is often called "The Songstress of the 20th Century." Many local artists say she has inspired them. She was added to the ZAI Hall of Fame when she was only forty years old. Her music is still popular on the radio today.

Biography

Early Life and Start in Music

Marika Gombitová was born on September 12, 1956, in a village called Turany nad Ondavou in eastern Slovakia. She was the seventh child in her family.

When she was nine, she started taking piano lessons at a local art school. She tried to study singing but then decided to study engineering in Košice. While in high school, she sang with a band called Profily. She also performed with other orchestras.

In 1975, Marika made her first recordings at Slovak Radio in Košice. The next year, Janko Lehotský, the leader of the band Modus, asked her to join his group. After finishing school, she moved to Bratislava. She first appeared on Slovak Television in 1976, singing songs she co-wrote with Lehotský. At first, she sang backup vocals for Modus on many singles. Her solo career began with the song "Úsmev", which won an award in 1977. She then released her first solo single, "Boľavé námestie." In 1977, she was ranked as the 46th most popular female singer in Czechoslovakia.

Big Hits and a Life-Changing Event

Marika's second solo single, "Študentská láska", came out in 1978. This song won two awards and was the best-selling single in Slovakia that July. She also sang four songs for the movie soundtrack of Smoliari (1979). Her popularity grew quickly, and she became one of the top female singers in Czechoslovakia.

In 1979, Marika and Modus recorded their first album together. She also released her own first album, Dievča do dažďa. With her hit song "Vyznanie", Marika entered the Intervision Song Contest in Poland in August 1980. She won first prize in the competition, sharing it with Nikolai Gnatiuk from Russia.

Sadly, in 1980, Marika was in a serious car accident. This accident caused her to become paralyzed and need a wheelchair. It was a very difficult time, but she showed incredible strength and courage.

Artistry

Her Unique Voice

Marika Gombitová has a special voice. Before her accident, she had a vocal range of over two octaves. She trained with a voice coach who helped her develop a unique sound. Her voice was often described as "metallic" and "sharp," but also beautiful. Critics praised her ability to express strong emotions through her singing. Some even compared her voice to the sound of organ pipes.

After her accident, Marika had to learn a new way to sing because her lungs were affected. Even so, her voice remained strong and expressive. Reviewers continued to be amazed by her singing. They noted her "singing artistry" and "expressive style." Her live performances were also praised for her "excellent vocal abilities."

Over the years, Marika's voice became deeper and richer. She continued to impress critics with her "flawless intonation." In recent years, she has mostly sung in her middle vocal range.

Music Videos and Live Shows

Before music videos became popular with MTV in the 1980s, artists in Czechoslovakia showed their music through TV programs. Marika first appeared on national television in 1976. She performed songs like "Túto pieseň spievam vám" and "Ty vieš, mama." Her song "Letná pieseň" was also popular on TV charts.

During this time, the government in her country controlled what artists could sing about. Marika didn't have full control over her creative work until later.

Her car accident in 1980 affected her ability to make music videos and perform live. However, she still made important contributions to music videos. Many of her songs won awards on video charts. These included "Muž Nula" (1984), "Zem menom láska" (1985), "Chlapci v pasci" (1986), "Koloseum" (1988), and "Paradiso" (1995).

In 1987, Marika worked with director Ladislav Kaboš to create a video album called Ateliér duše. This was the first video album by a Slovak artist. It featured seven short films to promote songs from her album. In 1990, Marika was the first local singer to appear on an Austrian video chart, presenting her song "Babylónia."

Discography

Studio albums

Filmography

Tours

• 2016: Marika Gombitová a priatelia (a special concert with other artists)
• 2017: Sen Mariky Gombitovej (a Christmas concert with special guests)

Books

• 2016: Úlomky spomienok (co-written with Miroslav Graclík)

Legacy and Awards

Marika Gombitová has received many awards for her successful music career. She was named "The Songstress of the Century" around the year 2000. People also call her "The First Lady" or "The Queen of Slovak Pop Music." As of 2016, she has won 46 awards and been nominated 124 times. Many of her albums have also received awards for their sales.

Her double win at the Bratislavská lýra festival in 1978 for "Študentská láska" was a big moment in her solo career. She also won an Intervision award in 1980 for her live performance of "Vyznanie" and "Chcem sa s tebou deliť." Her famous song "Vyznanie" was chosen as "The Hit of the Century" in 2007 by Slovak public TV.

Marika Gombitová has sold over one million records. In 1996, she became one of the first artists to be added to the ZAI Hall of Fame. She also holds the record for the most albums listed among The 100 Greatest Slovak Albums of All Time. Six of her solo albums are on this list, along with other albums she worked on with Modus and Miro Žbirka.

She has often been voted as one of the most popular female singers in national music polls. She won the Slovenský slávik award twice (1997–1998) and was a runner-up eight times. She has also received other important awards, including the Main Prize from the Culture Ministry of Czechoslovakia (1986), the Freedom of the City from her hometown of Turany nad Ondavou (2007) and Stropkov (2013), and "The Woman of the Year" title (2008). In 2014, she received the Hall of Fame OTO Award.

See also

• Slovak popular music
• The 100 Greatest Slovak Albums of All Time
• Honorific nicknames in popular music
• List of singer-songwriters