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 12 September 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. In 1978, her song "Študentská láska" became a big hit. Her first album, Dievča do dažďa, was released in 1979. The main song from this album, "Vyznanie", won many music awards. It even won at the 4th Intervision Song Contest in Poland in 1980. Years later, "Vyznanie" was called "The Hit of the Century" in Slovakia.

Before her second album, Môj malý príbeh (1981), Marika had a serious car accident. This accident caused her to use a wheelchair, possibly for the rest of her life. After some recovery, she returned to music. She released new hit songs and even went on tour again. Her comeback album, Slnečný kalendár (1982), continued her pop-rock sound. She then explored other music styles. Her album Mince na dne fontán (1983) won an award for being a best-seller. Her next album, №5 (1984), showed her trying out electronic music. This album received very good reviews.

Marika continued to have success with her music. Her albums Voľné miesto v srdci (1986) and Ateliér duše (1987) had many popular songs played on the radio. She also had sold-out concerts and released a video album. Her album Kam idú ľudia? (1990) had a more rock sound. This marked the end of a very busy period for her. Before she stepped away from public life for a while, 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 honors. She 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 inducted into the ZAI Hall of Fame when she was only forty. Her songs are still popular on the radio and are often covered by other artists.

Biography

Early Life and Start in Music

Marika Gombitová was born on 12 September 1956, in the village of Turany nad Ondavou, in eastern Slovakia. She was the seventh child in her family. From the age of nine, she took piano lessons in her local art school. She later studied engineering in Košice. While in high school, she sang with an amateur band called Profily. She also performed with other orchestras for a short time.

In 1975, Marika made her first recordings at Slovak Radio Košice. The next year, Janko Lehotský, the leader of the Modus band, asked her to join his professional 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 backing vocals on Modus singles. Her solo singing with the band began with the song "Úsmev" in 1977. This song won an award at the Bratislavská lýra festival. After this, she recorded her first solo single, "Boľavé námestie." In 1977, she was ranked as the 46th Most Popular Female Singer in Czechoslovakia.

Hit Songs and a Life-Changing Event

Marika's second solo single, "Študentská láska," came out in 1978. This song won two awards at the Bratislavská lýra '78 festival. It was also the best-selling single in Slovakia in July that year. She recorded four songs for the movie soundtrack Smoliari in 1979. Her popularity in the national music poll quickly grew.

In 1979, Marika and Modus went into the studio to record their first album, Modus. She also released her own first album, Dievča do dažďa. With her song "Vyznanie," Marika entered the 4th 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. She suffered multiple injuries that left her needing a wheelchair. This was a very difficult time for her.

Her Music Style

Voice and Singing Before the Accident

Marika Gombitová has a wide vocal range. Early in her solo career, she had vocal training. Her voice was unique and different from other pop stars of her time. Critics often described her voice as "beautifully metallic" and "original." They praised her ability to sing melodies in a special way. One critic even compared her voice to the sound of "organ pipes." Another described it as "circularly laserlike."

After her first solo album, Dievča do dažďa (1979), people noticed her unique vocal style. Critics loved her "original vocal, excellent technique, and flawless phrasing." They said she was great at showing the emotions in her songs.

Voice and Singing After the Accident

After her accident, Marika had to learn a new way to sing. She lost some control over her breathing due to her injuries. Even so, her voice still sounded amazing to reviewers. They continued to praise her "singing artistry" and "expressive style" on her comeback album, Slnečný kalendár (1982). Critics noted her "excellent vocal abilities" during her live performances.

Over the years, Marika's voice became deeper and richer. One critic observed that her "once thin laser voice gained new positions." In the 1990s, some critics found her singing on Kam idú ľudia? (1990) less natural. However, they still noted her "flawless intonation." In recent years, Marika has mostly sung in her medium voice range.

Music Videos and Live Shows

Music Videos

Before music video channels like MTV, artists in Czechoslovakia showed their work on TV programs. Marika Gombitová first appeared on national television in 1976. She performed songs like "Túto pieseň spievam vám." She also introduced her song "Ty vieš, mama" on another show. Her song "Letná pieseň" and her duet "S tou nádejou choď spať" were also popular on TV charts.

During that time, the government controlled what could be shown or sung. This meant Marika did not have full control over her creative work. This changed a bit later, allowing more freedom.

Marika's physical disability after her accident affected how she made music videos and performed live. However, she still made important contributions to local music videos. Her songs won on popular video charts like 5 x P and Triangel. Songs like "Muž Nula" (1984), "Zem menom láska" (1985), "Chlapci v pasci" (1986), "Koloseum" (1988), and "Paradiso" (1995) were number-one hits.

In 1987, Marika worked with director Ladislav Kaboš and cameraman Ján Ďuriš. They created a video album called Ateliér duše. This was the first video release by a Slovak artist. It included seven films promoting songs from her album of the same name. In 1990, Marika became the first local singer to appear on an Austrian video chart. She presented her song "Babylónia" for the ORF channel.

Live Performances

Marika Gombitová has performed many live concerts throughout her career. Even after her accident, she continued to tour and perform for her fans. Her tours, like Mince na dne fontán Tour (1983) and Adresa ja, adresa ty Tour (1985–87), were very popular. She also performed with the band Modus on their tours. In recent years, she has made special guest appearances, including with Miro Žbirka in 2016. She also had her own special concerts, like "Marika Gombitová a priatelia."

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)

Awards and Honors

Marika Gombitová has received many awards for her successful music career. Around the year 2000, she was named The Songstress of the Century. People also call her "The First Lady" or "The Queen of Slovak Pop Music." As of 2016, she has received 124 awards or nominations. She has also earned music certifications for her album sales.

Her double win at the Bratislavská lýra in 1978 for "Študentská láska" was a big moment in her solo career. She also won a Silver award in 1979 for "Vyznanie" and a Bronze in 1980 for her duet "Tajomstvo hier" with Lehotský. In 1980, she received an Intervision award for her live performance in Poland. Her famous song "Vyznanie" won a country-wide competition in 2007 as The Hit of the Century.

Marika Gombitová sold over one million records during the vinyl era. On 2 March 1996, she became one of the first artists inducted into the Hall of Fame by the ZAI Academy. 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. Her work with Modus and Žbirka, and her songs for the Neberte nám princeznú soundtrack, are also included.

Marika has often been voted as a top singer in national music polls. She won the Slovenský slávik award twice (1997–1998). She was also the runner-up for the most popular Female Singer eight times. This includes three times at Zlatý slavík (1980, 1982–1983) and five times at Slávik (1998, 2000–2002, 2005). She has also received other honors, such as the Main Prize from the Culture Ministry of Czechoslovakia (1986). She was given the Freedom of the City in her hometown of Turany nad Ondavou (2007) and in Stropkov (2013). She was named Woman of the Year in 2008 and received the Hall of Fame OTO Award in 2014. In 2023, she received the Special Crystal Wing Awards.

See also

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