Janek Ledecký

Janek Ledecký is one of the most popular pop stars in the Czech Republic. He first caught the attention of audiences as the front man of the rock band Zentour. They released their first album, entitled Zentour 001, in 1987. In 1993, more than 100 000 copies of the album Zentour 003 were sold /the population of Czechoslovakia was then 15 million/.

1992 he started to play and sing solo. His first solo album „Na ptáky jsme krátký” /„We are too short for birds”/ was so successful that he became a real show-biz megastar. His success was confirmed by many prestigious awards.

Český slavík /„Czech Nightingale”/ popularity contest – silver 1996, bronze 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000

Nomination for Grammy Award 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995

Award from Bravo Silver Otto magazine second after Michael Jackson 1995

Award from Czech DJ’s Diskoslavík 1992, 1993

Award from Popcorn magazine Golden Microphone 1993

Second in the „TÝTÝ” Tv poll favourite singer from the TV screen Award from Warner Bros. The best selling music video cassette – live concert 1994

His second album „Právě teď” /„Right Now”/ appeared in 1993, while he was simultaneously singing the main role in the musical „Pěna dní” /„Foam of the Days”/ at the ABC Theatre in Prague. In May 1994 his second album went gold and in the autumn of the same year his third live album was released. That album also went gold, as did a concert video. The high point of 1994 was the last concert of his tour, when he played to a full house at Lucerna /most prestigous Prague´s concert hall/. He received a Platinum Disc for selling 50 000 albums /The population of the Czech Republic at the time was 10 million/. With producer Ivan Kral /Patti Smith Group, Iggy Pop/ he finished the album „Některý věci jsou jenom jednou” /„Some things happen only once”/. Songs from this album filled the entire Top Ten and some are still there now. In February 1996 this album went gold. In 1996 Janek launched a new album called „Sliby se maj plnit o Vánocích a 9 dalších” /„Promises to keep at Christmas and nine others”/. The album immediately went gold and the Lucerna concert aired by Czech TV broke all records – 62 % of viewers). In 1997 he received a Grammy Award from Chris Rea.

In the summer of the same year he recorded a new album called „Mít kliku” /„To Have A Luck”/ and he signed a contract with BMG. He spent 1998 composing music for the musical Hamlet. The opening nights were on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd of November 1999 in the new Kalich Theatre in Prague. Highlights album went gold three months after releas.

Janek is still in the media spotlight, touring with his band he gives interviews to all of the magazines, newspapers, TV channels and radio stations in the Czech and Slovak Republics.

Encouraged by an amazing Hamlet´s success, Janek Ledecký completed his new musical based on the life of the famous Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei. The musical, entitled „Galileo”, was the most eagerly anticipated premiere of 2003 year in Prague. It was opened on 15 February 2003 and made more than 400 performances. Highlights album went gold as well as the last edition of Janek´s Christmas album. Recently Janek is working on an English version of Galileo and finishing his new musical based on Shakespeare´s Othello.

„Czech Nightingale” popularity contest

Lucerna is the most prestigious concert hall in the Czech Republic. To get a full house at Lucerna is confirmation of the quality and popularity of a singer or band.