Radoslav Lorković facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Radoslav Lorković
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Lorković performing at the Woody Guthrie Folk Festival Okemah, Oklahoma July 12, 2008
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| Born | September 3, 1958 Zagreb, Croatia
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| Alma mater | University of Iowa |
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| Awards | Iowa Blues Hall of Fame – 2020 Inductee |
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| Origin | Iowa City, United States |
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| Years active | 1975–present |
Radoslav Lorković (born September 3, 1958) is a musician from Croatia. He is known for playing folk and blues music, especially on the piano and accordion. He has released six solo albums and three live albums. Radoslav has also played and recorded with many famous artists like Odetta and Asleep at the Wheel. His music career started in 1975, and he has traveled all over the world, performing in many different places.
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Radoslav's Early Life and Music
Radoslav Lorković grew up in a family full of musicians. He listened to classical music from a very young age. His grandmother, Antonija, sang him folk songs from Croatia, Slovenia, and the Czech Republic.
Radoslav's love for the piano came from his other grandmother, Melita Lorković. She was once a top pianist in Yugoslavia. His great-grandfather was also a famous music conductor in Eastern Europe. Radoslav's mother remembers him singing along to classical music when he was just a toddler. By age one, he could sing notes perfectly! When he was three, he would put on shows for his grandfather and friends. They would throw coins at him and shout, "Sing, Radoslav, sing!"
After growing up with these European music styles, Radoslav's family moved. When he was five, they went to London. At six, they moved to Minnesota, and three years later, they settled in Iowa. He lived there for many years.
Starting a Music Career
Radoslav began playing the piano when he was seven years old. In high school, a friend who played piano introduced him to blues music. This was a big moment for Radoslav. He said that hearing his friend play the blues amazed him. His friend taught him some basic blues patterns. This led Radoslav to practice six hours a day, just for fun! Soon after, he started learning music by listening to it.
His friend also took him to a concert by the band Grateful Dead. After that, Radoslav and his friend started their own band. They bought instruments and learned many songs. Radoslav played the piano in his living room, often when his mom was out. This is how he became a musician.
While playing at a place called The Sanctuary in Iowa City, Iowa, a producer named Bo Ramsey heard him. For several years during college, Radoslav was part of Ramsey's band, The Third Street Sliders. Later, he started playing piano for singer-songwriters like Greg Brown and Richard Shindell.
Even though Radoslav has released his own albums, he is best known for his amazing piano skills. He has added his beautiful music to many other artists' songs, both live and in the studio. In the 1990s, Radoslav met musician Jimmy LaFave. In 2005, Radoslav joined LaFave's band and moved to Austin. LaFave called him a "mad genius" and said Radoslav's showmanship added a lot to their live shows.
Radoslav's piano playing on LaFave's 2015 album, The Night Tribe, was highly praised. Radoslav said that Jimmy LaFave was a "true rocker" who brought out that side in him.
Around the same time, Radoslav also became a piano player for the famous blues singer Odetta. He said that Odetta was the best musician he had ever played with. She taught him a lot about music, not just with words, but with her actions and expressions.
Discovering the Accordion
At some point, Radoslav found the accordion. He said that as a trained pianist, he was surprised by how much he loved the accordion. He found it to be a very expressive instrument. He believes the accordion is one of the most flexible instruments out there. He even pretends he's playing a lead guitar when he plays it!
Radoslav travels all over the world to perform. He often plays at music festivals, like the Woody Guthrie Folk Festival in Okemah, Oklahoma. People sometimes call him the "Croatian Sensation." He is known for being one of the busiest musicians at the festival. He first attended in 2005 with Jimmy LaFave's band. A few years later, he was performing his own solo shows and playing with many other artists. His accordion version of Woody Guthrie's song "The Jolly Banker" was described as "dazzling."
Radoslav has also performed on Garrison Keillor's radio show, Prairie Home Companion. For several years, he has played with Ellis Paul at his New Year's Eve shows in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Radoslav's first recording, Clear and Cold (1990), was re-released in 2013. A review of the album mentioned that while he is known for his accordion skills, this album really showed off his classical piano training.
The Red Accordion Story
In 1992, during a show in Italy, Radoslav received a red accordion as a gift. This accordion became his constant travel partner. It was the only accordion he played for the next 20 years! The accordion case was covered in stickers from all the folk festivals he had attended around the world. Photographers often loved to take pictures of it.
Sadly, on March 10, 2012, the accordion and its case were stolen after a performance in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Local news outlets shared the story, hoping the accordion would be returned. Radoslav also asked for its return on social media.
Then, on Christmas Day 2012, a woman in Tulsa, Oklahoma received the accordion as a gift. When she looked closely, she found Radoslav's name. After doing some research, she discovered that the accordion had been stolen earlier that year. She contacted Radoslav, and within a few days, his beloved red accordion was back with him!
Radoslav's Photography
Radoslav's interest in photography started in high school. He unexpectedly became a yearbook photographer for his class of 1975 at Iowa City High School. He later studied photography at the University of Iowa. Radoslav often takes photos while traveling for his music performances. You can see these pictures on his Facebook page.
Radoslav's Music Albums
- Clear and Cold (1990)
- The Line (1992)
- High and Dry (1996)
- Blue Parade (2005)
- Wastelands and Casinos (2010)
- The Po, the Mississippi (2018)
Live Albums
- Live from Castello Scaligero (1997)
- Live from Cortile Mercato Vecchio (1998)
- Homer: A Piano Odyssey (2013)
