Considered the “godfather” of Polish rock Franciszek Walicki He was born on July 20, 1920 in Łódź, he was associated with Vilnius family (his parents escaped from this city from the Bolsheviks), and later with Gdynia.
It was in Gdynia that in 1938 he began studying at a maritime school and sailed on a few months’ cruise “Gift of Pomerania” for the Caribbean and to South America. He served under the legendary captain Karol Borchardtauthor of the book “I mean the captain”.
Franciszek Walicki and the history of the “empty envelopes” by Piotr Szczepanik
The Jazz Museum reminds that it was the story of that cruise Franciszek Walicki permanently in the hit Piotr Szczepanik “empty envelopes”: “And if you love someone, remind our last day! Send at least empty envelopes, I want to believe that you still love me.” Walicki’s colleague from the cruise boasted that he was constantly getting letters from the girl, and they really were only empty envelopes.
Franciszek Walicki was a long -time journalist “Głos Wybrzeże”organizer of the first jazz festivals in Sopot (1956-57), publicist, author of texts (he wrote under a pseudonym JACEK GRAŃ), explorer of young musical talents. In order not to irritate the authorities with the Western word, “Rock and Roll” introduced the term “Big Beat” (a strong blow), under which this species of music developed in Poland, later polished as Bigbit.
He was the creator of the first rock bands in Poland: Rhythm and blues, Red and black and Blue-blackmanager Breakout under the leadership Tadeusz Nalepa and Silesian SBB (he was the author of the slogan developing this abbreviation – “Search, storm, build”), Talent Explorer Czesław Niemen, Michaja Burano, Krzysztof Klenczon, Ada Rusowicz, Wojciech Korda And many others.
He co -founded such well -known hits, such as “If you loved, hey” (Breakout), “On the other bank of the rainbow” (Breakout), “Sunday will be for us” (blue-black), “departure” (sbb), “like you” (red guitars), “hey, girl, hey”, “Do you still remember me” and “Have fun in the pacieubabka” (these three performed Czesław Niemen).
“Rock and roll became a symbol of independence”
He was the creator of the Sopot club Non-stop (1961), the first Polish disco (1970) and the first Polish rock magazine (Musicorama). In 1983 he was a co -organizer National Young Talents Tournamentwho won Asylum P and Klaus Mitffoch.
“Rock and roll became a symbol of independence, separateness and freedom. He could not be injected into the corriso of conformism, he was signs and provocative. He opened the way to another world, called to overthrow the walls behind which the paradise was supposed to be” – wrote Franciszek Walicki.
Honored with many state decorations, including in 2009 awarded by the Minister of Culture and National Heritage with the Gold Medal “Merit to Culture Gloria Artis”.
“Francis was a visionary who, thanks to his energy, self -reflection and ingenuity, introduced the new music in the Polish music market, which contributed to the erosion of the inhuman system. Above all doubt, he belonged to the most distinguished cultural animators in post -war Poland” – he recalled Marcin Jacobsonco -creator of the movement Young generation musicFestivals organizer, producer and manager.
“Godfather of the Polish rock’n’roll” died on October 3, 2015 in Gdynia at the age of 95. He was buried in the Witomin cemetery in this city. “It all began with him” – summed up a music journalist Paweł Sztompkefrom the late 1970s associated with Polish Radio (currently in Jedynka).